Wednesday, February 13, 2002
UH home again It isn't what most teams aim for, but in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball, it's no secret that everyone besides Louisiana Tech is battling for second place.
in crucial stretch
for second place
Fourth-place Hawaii hosts Tulsa
and Rice, the WAC's second-
and third-place teamsBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comWell, maybe just three teams.
Only a half game separates fourth-place Hawaii from Tulsa and Rice. Both opponents are tied for second but neither team has played its second contest against Louisiana Tech.
The Rainbow Wahine face the Golden Hurricane (15-8, 10-3) and the Owls (16-6,10-3) in two crucial conference games. Hawaii (16-5, 9-3) plays Tulsa tomorrow at 7 p.m. and Rice on Sunday at 2 p.m.
"(They're) very big (games). We're 9-3. They're 10-3. We're in fourth place right now," Wahine coach Vince Goo said. "What better way than to go head-to-head. (The Golden Hurricane) shuffled their lineup a little bit. They're playing really well.
"They're going to come out and pressure defensively and we're going to have to handle that pressure. (And) we're going to have to defend their personnel. They all can score. (Leela) Farr has been hot. (Alyssa) Shriver is a good post player. (Carla) Morrow is a very good wing. They've got people who can score."
Farr was named the WAC player of the week after averaging 19.5 points, five rebounds and four assists in wins over Texas-El Paso and Boise State. The senior had a career-high 29 points against UTEP.
After losing three straight, including a home loss to the Rainbow Wahine, the Golden Hurricane are riding a five-game win streak. They tore through the lower half of the WAC, defeating Fresno State, Southern Methodist, Nevada, Boise State and UTEP by an average of 18.8 points a game.
Tulsa is one victory shy of tying its single-season record of 16 set back in 1984. Their 10 conference wins are already a Golden Hurricane record. And Tulsa has fared well on the road, losing only twice so far.
Hawaii is coming off a moderately successful road trip. The Rainbow Wahine had a key victory against San Jose State to start the trip and they sandwiched wins against UTEP and SMU around a loss to Louisiana Tech.
"Nobody else goes in there and wins," Goo said. "The SMU game could have gone either way going into the trip. We're fortunate to have pulled it out and play well.
"It's good to be home. That road trip was four games in eight days. No one can imagine the things that we went through. It was very draining physically and emotionally on our players."
But after a day off on Monday, the Rainbow Wahine had an intense and spirited practice yesterday and feel ready to battle.
Notes: Sophomore April Atuaia worked out with the team yesterday. Atuaia was limited in a few drills but did everything else in practice. Hawaii trainers will consult with doctors to see if any more damage can occur if she continues to play. She is doubtful for the games this week. Atuaia suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament two weeks ago and missed the Wahine's road trip. ... Hawaii's Christen Roper and Tulsa's Alyssa Shriver are fifth and sixth in the country in blocked shots. Roper averages 3.1 blocks per game with Shriver a shade under at 3.0. ... Hawaii leads the all-time series against Tulsa 7-1 and 5-4 over Rice.
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