Records mean nothing once two teams step on the basketball court. The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine learned that last Saturday night in a frantic comeback that produced a one-point victory over Nevada, winless in Western Athletic Conference competition. UH try to earn first win
at Rice’s Autrey CourtBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe schooling may have come just in time for UH, tied for second in the conference with Southern Methodist and Tulsa.
Hawaii's two-game road trip begins tomorrow at Rice and concludes Saturday at Tulsa.
The Owls (6-10, 3-4) were the WAC coaches' preseason pick to finish second, but have not lived up to that billing so far.
The Wahine have yet to win a game at Autrey Court in three attempts. There was a 14-point loss last year, a four-point defeat the year before and an 18-point setback in their first visit in 2000.
"Rice is a good team that plays very well at home," said UH coach Vince Goo. The Owls are 4-2 there this season.
"They are as good as Nevada is, but you just don't know when they are going to start playing some good basketball. We know when Nevada (started). It was the other night."
Rice coach Cristy McKinney has four starters, 6-foot-4 center Jonetta Hayes (14.3 points per game), 5-7 guard Kim Lawson (7.4 ppg), 5-10 guard Kara Liggett (3.7 ppg) and 5-10 guard Lindsey Maynard (7.4 ppg), back from last year. They are joined by Elisa Inman (9.4 ppg) who started 16 of 28 games a year ago.
McKinney substitutes often, using an 11-player rotation.
The biggest key for the Wahine will likely remain consistent for the rest of the season.
"We are going to have to defend their personnel," said Goo. "I don't think they have different personnel. They have a shooter, a non-shooter, a penetrator or two, a rebounder and an inside scorer."
What the UH coaches count on this time of year is telling the Wahine such and such a player from Rice is similar to a player from an opposing team played earlier in the season. Then, it becomes a matter of memory and review of specific defensive responsibilities.
Goo also wants his players to shuck the hesitancy that plagued them during the first half against Nevada.
"We had perimeter people who were not looking to score. Defensively we sat back and let them run their offense. We waited to see what Nevada was doing, then we reacted instead of taking the initiative and taking away a few of their options. That problem was definitely solved in the second half."
Hawaii's balanced offense is led by Jade Abele (11.6 ppg). Christen Roper (11.5) and Natasja Allen (10.6). April Atuaia and Kim Willoughby are just a shade below double-digit scoring.
Besides aiming for their first win at Rice, the Wahine will be trying to win four consecutive games for the first time this season.
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