The Hawaii women's basketball team is on the road this week for the first time in the 2002-03 season. Hawaii gets first shot
at WAC road tripBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Wahine had two practice sessions to absorb information about Southern Methodist and No. 12 Louisiana Tech, their Western Athletic Conference opponents tomorrow and Saturday. The team arrived in Dallas today and practices in Moody Coliseum tonight.
"We try to get as much done at home, then the day before the game it is mostly review," said UH assistant coach Serenda Valdez. "If there is anything new, it's the out-of-bounds plays our opponent uses. That doesn't take long."
Normally, the coaches concentrate in practice on the first team the Wahine play on a two-game weekend and it helps if the upcoming foes are similar to those teams played recently, but that is not the case this week.
"These two teams are a lot different from the past weekend. They have height, good post people and a much stronger inside game," said Hawaii coach Vince Goo.
"SMU has a lot of returnees and they are really solid. We are back to the level of competition we saw in the preseason. Both teams have a lot of shooters and quickness."
A year ago, SMU coach Rhonda Rompola never knew from day to day how many players were going to make it out of the trainer's room to practice or play a game. This year the Lady Mustangs (6-5, 0-1 WAC) are healthy. They lost by just 10 points to visiting Louisiana Tech in their conference opener last Saturday.
Hawaii (8-3, 2-0) won both games last year, but it wasn't until the final minute that the Wahine pulled out a seven-point victory in Dallas.
"I know we lead the series (11-1). (But) our games with SMU have always been tough because they play great team defense," said Valdez.
Junior guard Andrea Cossey, an annual thorn in the Wahine side, leads the Lady Mustangs with 14.4 points per game and is their top 3-point shooter. Junior guard Shanta Ramdhanny follows with 11.1 ppg.
Hawaii starters Christen Roper, Jade Abele, Natasja Allen and April Atuaia have scoring averages in double figures. Kim Willoughby has contributed big time off the bench, averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while playing just 16.5 minutes in her two appearances.
This is a long trip and several Wahine players said they were glad second-semester classes haven't started yet so they can concentrate on basketball.
"We're really fortunate because our veterans will be hearing about things for the fourth time and they will tell the younger players what should be done and what should not be done," said Goo. "We give them a reminder, but only once."
This year the team will travel on a motor coach from Dallas to Ruston, La., for Saturday's game. Last year the flight to Shreveport, La., was canceled and vans were rented for the four-hour trip in a blinding rainstorm.
"It takes about the same time and this year we'll be able to get some things done on the bus ride. We'll watch game films," said Goo.
Both games can be heard live at 3 p.m. on KKEA-1420.
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