Friday, February 1, 2002
Wahine adjust Hawaii has worked through four practice sessions knowing the starting lineup has undergone an adjustment for the upcoming four-game, Western Athletic Conference women's basketball road trip.
for trip
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comChelsea Wagner starts at the shooting guard position in place of April Atuaia, who is out indefinitely with a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
Wagner, a freshman from Springfield, Ore., has played in 15 of the Wahine's 17 games. Along with Michelle Gabriel, Christa Brossman, Jade Abele and Kim Willoughby, Wagner has been a part of UH coach Vince Goo's regular rotation off the bench, getting about 14 minutes per game.
"Chelsea can contribute in all areas. We have a lot of confidence in her," said Goo. "She might shoot the 3 a little better than April, but she also might be more streaky than April."
Wagner is more of a finesse player than Atuaia and probably won't crash the boards as much, but the Wahine won't change their game plan on this road trip.
"Chelsea can defend. She has played both the 2 and 3 spots and will guard an opposing perimeter shooter," Goo said.
Hawaii has shown a lot of balance on offense in recent games, with four players scoring in double figures in each of the last two home games. Wagner has the ability to be a part of that balance.
The Wahine (13-4, 6-2 WAC) play San Jose State (11-7, 6-3) tomorrow and Texas-El Paso on Monday in the game that was postponed in December when winter weather messed up travel arrangements. The team then visits Louisiana Tech on Thursday and Southern Methodist on Feb. 9.
Except for UTEP, Hawaii will play the other teams for the second time this season, and Goo isn't expecting it to be easy in all the foreign gyms. The Wahine had mixed success at the Stan Sheriff Center in the three home encounters.
"San Jose State scored 50 points in the second half against us. Louisiana Tech beat us by 12, and we beat SMU by one. Now we're going to be playing at their place," Goo said. "I don't see us doing anything different because we've got four games in eight days. We're either playing a game or we're in an airport."
The Wahine are in third place, a half-game behind 6-2 Rice and a half-game ahead of 6-3 SJSU. Louisiana Tech leads the conference with a 10-0 record and enjoys a No. 6 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
No one in the UH camp concedes a loss to Louisiana Tech, but the Lady Techsters have won more than 60 consecutive conference games at home. A loss to the other three teams would dampen the Wahine's hopes of finishing in second place.
Notes: Hawaii has 10 players on the road trip. Reserve center Arijana Sijercic (injured right hand) and reserve forward Julia Washington remain at home with Atuaia. ... The Wahine received votes in both polls this week, earning four points in the AP Top 25 poll and nine points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll. ... Hawaii leads the series with San Jose State 30-5 and has won all eight games with UTEP. ... All four games will be broadcast live on KCCN-AM 1420.
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