The Hawaii basketball team went back to work yesterday afternoon seeking ways to end a three-game losing streak. Rainbow Wahine
look for answersBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com
Tonight, the Rainbow Wahine host Southern Methodist, a team that rode an offensive burst in the final minutes to a 66-56 victory over UH in Dallas a month ago. At the same time, Hawaii made just one of nine field goals down the stretch.
Southern Methodist at Hawaii Game Day
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, Ch. 5
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Tickets: All seats general admission. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 for children (age 4-17) and UH students.
Parking: $3
PROBABLE STARTERSHawaii (11-8, 5-5)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Michelle Gabriel (Sr.) 5-6 4.6 2.5 2.8 G April Atuaia (Jr.) 5-10 9.5 4.5 2.2 F Natasja Allen (Sr.) 6-2 10.6 5.8 1.0 F Jade Abele (So.) 6-0 10.5 3.4 4.3 C Christen Roper (Sr.) 6-5 11.0 7.9 0.7 Southern Methodist (12-8. 6-4)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Andrea Cossey (Jr.) 5-11 14.5 3.2 3.0 G Shanta Ramdhanny (Jr.) 5-8 11.3 3.5 3.3 G Kendall Shead (Fr.) 6-1 9.2 3.6 2.6 F Sarah Davis (Fr.) 6-2 3.2 6.3 1.6 C Kaci Alexander (Sr.) 6-4 8.9 4.7 0.6 Notes: The Wahine and Lady Mustangs have played 13 games, with UH holding an 11-2 edge. ... Earlier this year, SMU defeated UH 66-56 in Dallas. ... SMU, down by 16 points early in the game Thursday night, rallied to edge host San Jose State 61-58 to stop a two-game losing streak. The Lady Mustangs made just 32 percent of their field-goal attempts. ... Hawaii's three-game losing streak is its longest of the season.
The Rainbow Wahine are at the .500 mark with a 5-5 record in Western Athletic Conference play, a position no Vince Goo-coached team has seen this late in the season since UH joined the conference for the 1996-97 season.
The second half against No. 9 Louisiana Tech on Thursday night was woeful. It really wasn't for a lack of energy on the part of the Wahine, either. They played hard, but it did not produce desired results.
Practice yesterday was business as usual.
"We worked on the things we did not do well against Louisiana Tech and we worked on preparation for SMU," Goo said. "If we had won Thursday night, it would have been the same thing. That's what we do the day after a game, whether it is a win or a loss.
"I think our effort against Tech was good, but it was a very physical game and that can throw you out of synch at times, especially on offense."
Goo said having the Lady Techsters pressure the Wahine wings at the arc was nothing new, that his team had seen that defensive strategy before. He also indicated that his team is capable of self motivation.
SMU brings to tonight's game a starting five that can score, and it starts with guard Andrea Cossey, who is a threat to launch a shot anytime she has crossed the midcourt line. She is seventh in the conference in scoring and is complemented by center Kaci Alexander. Alexander is 10th in the conference in scoring, but is averaging almost four points more per game in the WAC than she did in nonconference.
Another post player for the Lady Mustangs is Sarah Davis, 16th in the conference in scoring, who also is a threat from beyond the arc. Guard Shanta Ramdhanny is quick, athletic and can score. She is 22nd in the WAC in scoring.
UH's top scorer, Christen Roper, is 21st.
Cutting down on turnovers (24 against Tech) and second-chance points (18 for Tech vs. six for UH) is a must tonight.
The Wahine also need more production from their wing players, who managed just 13 points in the last game. The offense had been producing at a balanced pace and that needs to be part of the arsenal again.
WAC women's standings
WAC games Overall W L Pct. W L Louisiana Tech 10 0 1.000 18 2 Tulsa 7 2 .636 12 8 SMU 6 4 .600 12 8 Rice 5 4 .556 8 10 Hawaii 5 5 .500 11 8 Fresno St. 5 5 .500 11 9 UTEP 4 6 .400 9 11 San Jose St. 4 6 .400 8 11 Boise St. 3 7 .300 6 14 Nevada 0 10 .000 7 13 Today
Boise State at Fresno State
Louisiana Tech at San Jose State
SMU at Hawaii
UTEP at Nevada
Tulsa at Rice
UH Athletics
