The Hawaii and San Jose State women's basketball teams will be out to reverse a losing trend tomorrow night before the negative streaks get any longer. UH, San Jose both in need
of WAC victory
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe teams played the same opponents on the road last week and came home with the same results -- two defeats.
Tomorrow's matchup at the Stan Sheriff Center is very important for the Western Athletic Conference travel partners, as neither team wants to fall below .500 in conference play. Either the Rainbow Wahine (8-5, 2-2 WAC) or the Spartans (6-7, 2-2) will have halted a two-game losing skid when the final horn sounds.
Hawaii faded in the final 10 minutes in the loss to Southern Methodist, then put together a tremendous rally in the final 10 minutes in the loss to Louisiana Tech.
When: Tomorrow, 5 p.m. Hawaii vs. San Jose State
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: KKEA (1420-AM)
Tickets: All seats general admission. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 for children (age 4-17) and UH students.
Parking: $3San Jose State suffered the same fate against SMU, but fell to Louisiana Tech by 45 points.
"Coach (Vince Goo) said he wants us to play every game from the opening tip-off like we played the last 10 minutes against Louisiana Tech," said Wahine guard April Atuaia.
The Wahine will once again rely on balanced scoring and defense. Four starters and super sub Kim Willoughby are averaging 9.8 points per game or better, led by Jade Abele at 12.3 ppg.
Hawaii is the second-best defensive team in the conference, allowing 59.3 points a game. San Jose State allows 67.7 points per game, but the Spartans are fourth in the league with an offensive output of 65.7 points a game. UH averages 61.9 points a game.
The Spartans are led by junior guard Cricket Williams, the No. 2 scorer in the WAC at 19.8 ppg. She also is second in assists (5.77) and steals (3.0) per game and manages to average four rebounds each time out.
"If she scores a lot of points, San Jose is going to be in the game. That's quite obvious," Goo said. "We need to box out their post people, because they go very hard to the boards. At times they send all five players."
The Spartans run a three-guard offense and use quickness to offset a starting lineup with no one over 6-foot-1. Jessica Kellogg and Tatiana Taylor complement Williams by scoring in double figures.
The Wahine should enjoy a height advantage, but that could shrink if senior center Christen Roper gets into early foul trouble, as happened in the two road games.
"We try to correct her on the fouls we feel are legitimate," Goo said. "That's usually when she brings her hands and arms down on an opponent. Christen can control that, but has no control over fouls that are not legitimate."
Goo felt only one of the first three fouls, two in the first five minutes, whistled against Roper in the Louisiana Tech game was legitimate.
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