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Beavers boot Wahine CORVALLIS, Ore. >> Three trips to the mainland in four weeks probably took a toll on the Hawaii basketball team.
in NWIT first round
Road-weary Hawaii can't
UH men lose to Xavier
erase a 19-point deficit in a 62-50
season-ending loss to Oregon StateStaff and wire services
A 10-minute, first-half span in which the Rainbow Wahine scored zero points left them trailing host Oregon State by 19 with fewer than four minutes left before intermission.
The deficit was just too much to overcome. Oregon State ended UH's season with a 62-50 victory in the first round of the National Women's Invitation Tournament before a crowd of 2,182 at Gill Coliseum.
Hawaii committed 12 turnovers in the opening half and was unable to adjust to the Beavers' defense.
"We did not execute really well. They extended out with their defense and even when we got good shots, layups even, we couldn't score," Wahine coach Vince Goo said. "What I really thought was we didn't have any physical energy. That was unavoidable under the circumstances."
An early clue to lack of energy is missed layups. It usually signifies tired bodies, especially the legs, which are so important in getting off good shots.
And, with the OSU defense pushing the Wahine away from the basket, UH's post people were not on the spots called for on the various offensive plays.
Karena Greeny sank two free throws to make the score 9-7 OSU with 15 minutes left in the first half. The next UH point came on a free throw by Christa Brossman after 10 minutes of offensive frustration. UH trailed 27-8.
During that span, OSU post players Ericka Cook and Brina Chaney haunted the Wahine by hitting jumpers in the 12- to 14-foot range, something the UH coaches did not expect.
"Obviously we didn't scout them too well although we had six game tapes on them," said Goo.
Hawaii adjusted its defense in the second half using perimeter players to double down on OSU's post players. This was effective, but it also opened up space for Felicia Ragland, a 5-foot-9 guard who was a first-team All-Pacific-10 selection.
She led all players with 24 points, and added seven rebounds and two steals as well.
The Wahine did conclude the first half with a 9-2 run to trail 31-17. They continued to whittle away at OSU's lead in the second half, narrowing the gap to eight points, 46-38, on consecutive 3-pointers by Chelsea Wagner with 8:30 to play.
But, Ragland scored the next four points from the foul line and the closest the Wahine came after that was a 10-point deficit, 50-40, with about six minutes remaining.
"We did have more energy in the second half, but it wasn't physical energy. We were just playing on emotion," said Goo.
"I've got to give our kids credit for getting the deficit down to eight points. The biggest offensive difference was at the foul line. The free throw situation was reversed from what we're used to."
The Wahine made 7 of 8 at the charity stripe, but the Beavers were 16 of 18. During the season, the Wahine converted more free throws than their opponents attempted.
Hawaii finished the season with a 23-8 record. The Beavers (17-14) play at Oregon Sunday.
Wagner led UH with 16 points and Gabrielova had 14.
After the game Goo spoke to his players about the 2001-02 campaign.
"I told them this was not the most experienced or the most talented team," Goo said. "But this was a team that exceeded my expectations more than any other team. That's why it was one of my most enjoyable years of coaching."
Notes: Senior point guard Janka Gabrielova made two 3-point baskets giving her 49 for the season, one better than the old record held by Kylie Galloway (1997-98). ... Junior center Christen Roper blocked two shots, giving her 75 for the season and 171 in her career. ... Goo's career record is 310-132 (.701).
Oregon St. 62, Hawaii 50
Beavers (17-14) fg fga ft fta min reb a tp Cook 4 9 0 0 27 3 1 8 Chaney 4 8 4 6 28 10 0 12 Smith 3 10 0 0 29 1 3 7 Estavan 1 6 2 2 36 2 7 5 Ragland 8 18 6 6 36 7 1 24 Rukstelyte 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Jones 1 2 2 2 18 1 2 4 Estell 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Chapman 0 2 2 2 24 6 1 2 Team 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Totals 21 57 16 18 200 33 15 62 Wahine (23-8) fg fga ft fta min reb a tp Allen 0 5 0 0 18 0 0 0 Greeny 2 7 2 2 33 6 3 7 Roper 2 6 2 2 28 9 2 6 Gabrielova 6 12 0 0 36 4 0 14 Wagner 5 13 2 2 33 5 1 16 Willoughby 2 3 0 0 24 5 0 4 Abele 1 4 0 0 11 0 3 2 Macfarlane 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 Brossman 0 1 1 2 13 1 0 1 Gabriel 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Team 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 Totals 18 52 7 8 200 39 9 50 Key-fg: field goals; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.
Halftime - Oregon St. 31, Hawaii 17
3-point goals - Hawaii7-21 (Gabrielova 2-6, Wagner 4-10, Greeny 1-2, Abele 0-2, Brossman 0-1), Oregon St. 4-15 (Ragland 2-6, Estavan 1-3, Smith 1-4, Jones 0-1, Chapman 0-1). Personal fouls - Hawaii 15, Oregon St. 16. Technical fouls - none. Steals - Hawaii 2 (Roper, Gabrielova), Oregon St. 8 (Cook 3, Ragland 2, Chaney, Smith, Chapman). Blocked shots - Hawaii 2 (Roper 2), Oregon St. 2 (Cook, Chaney). Turnovers - Hawaii 19, Oregon St. 11. Officials - Nakasone, Duncan, Schumaker. T - NA. A - 2,182.
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