TULSA, Okla. >> Too quick, too fast, too good, too talented and able to control the game's tempo. Tech boots UH
from tourneyBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comAll of the above apply to the Louisiana Tech basketball team that extended the nation's longest women's winning streak to 28 games yesterday in the Western Athletic Conference tournament at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
Louisiana Tech also tied the WAC record for consecutive wins with the 85-58 thumping of Hawaii in the semifinal-round game and plays Fresno State for the title today.
The Rainbow Wahine (16-13) stayed within striking distance for the first 15 minutes of the game, trailing 35-27 with 4:41 left in the opening period. From that moment until 12:10 showed on the game clock in the second half, the Lady Techsters (28-2) outscored UH 31-12 for a 66-39 lead and it then became a question of what would be the final margin.
As it turned out, the 85 points were the most surrendered by the Wahine this season and the 27-point difference was the most lopsided of the season.
Hawaii coach Vince Goo knew his team was in serious trouble before the Tech spurt.
"The tempo changed during the first four and a half minutes of the second half when they got their track team going. They got into the kind of game they like to play and that told the story," said Goo. "Today is an indication of what has happened throughout the season when someone plays Louisiana Tech. They should represent the WAC well in the NCAA Tournament."
Hawaii tried to open up the Lady Techsters' defense early with shots from the perimeter, but found limited success there. This enabled Tech to control the UH inside game, holding the Wahine to eight first-half points in the paint.
At the other end, Tech's transition game was flowing smoothly and producing too many easy buckets for the Wahine to keep pace. Twenty-four of Tech's 44 first-half points were scored in the paint.
The efficiency of the Lady Techsters' game is seen in the double-doubles recorded by Cheryl Ford (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Trina Frierson (16 points and 11 rebounds) and the contributions of reserve Amisha Carter (14 points and nine rebounds).
"We thought whoever controlled the pace would win. We got the pace up where they don't like it and where we are comfortable with it," said Louisiana Tech coach Kurt Budke. "They are one of the nation's leading teams, in the top 10 I think, in not committing turnovers. They had 21 today, so our guards did a good job of making it tough for them, especially on their second pass.
"Our front line gets a lot of credit, but we are a good defensive team."
The Lady Techsters' quickness allows them to overplay on defense and, if they miss an interception, that same quickness brings help in time to keep opponents from taking advantage. This was true on several occasions against the Wahine.
April Atuaia and Kim Willoughby were high scorers for UH with 12 points each. Hawaii's starting post players, Natasja Allen and Christen Roper, combined for 15 points and 15 rebounds although Roper did block six shots.
Whether the Wahine season is finished is still in question. UH officials say the team is on the bubble for a bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament. Fresno State, if it does not upset Louisiana Tech, would finish at 18-12 and be financially more viable than UH to receive a WNIT bid.
The Wahine won't find out if their season is extended until tomorrow, either during a layover in San Francisco or perhaps while high over the Pacific Ocean.
Fresno State 81, Southern Methodist 67: The third-seeded Bulldogs (19-11) put the first 11 points on the board and turned back a second-half rally by the Lady Mustangs (16-15) to reach the championship game for the first time in school history.
FSU point guard Lindsay Logan pumped in a game-high 25 points. She was supported by Java Johnson and Omelogo Udeze, who scored 14 points apiece, and Tiffany Simon's 10. Johnson was the top rebounder with 15.
"With the ups and downs this team has had, with having a senior like Lindsay being denied All-WAC, then step up and score 25 points today, just makes me proud," said FSU coach Stacy Johnson-Klein. "We peaked in February and now it's March Madness."
RAINBOW WAHINE (14-13, 9-9 WAC) Louisiana Tech 85, Hawaii 58
FG FGA FT FTA MIN REB A TP Abele 2 7 0 0 28 3 2 6 Allen 2 11 2 2 30 8` 1 6 Roper 3 9 3 4 22 7 0 9 Gabriel 2 6 1 2 29 2 7 6 Atuaia 5 12 0 0 38 3 0 12 Willoughby 5 7 2 2 23 4 1 12 Nishimoto 2 6 1 1 13 2 0 5 Macfarlane 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 Jones 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Washington 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Sanders 0 2 2 2 10 1 0 2 Spooner 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 Aiwohi 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Team 3 Totals 21 63 11 13 200 36 11 58 LADY TECHSTERS (28-2, 18-0 WAC)
FG FGA FT FTA MIN REB A TP Ford 9 19 3 4 35 11 0 21 Frierson 8 15 0 1 25 11 0 16 Smith 4 12 2 2 25 3 4 10 Crain 0 1 2 2 31 3 5 2 Obaze 6 14 2 2 35 3 7 14 Ray 3 3 0 1 19 0 2 8 George 0 1 0 0 9 1 1 0 Moore 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Carter 4 4 6 6 19 9 2 14 Team 2 Totals 34 69 15 19 200 43 21 85 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 -- Louisiana Tech 44, Hawaii 30.
3-point goals -- Hawaii 5-21 (Abele 2-4, Atuaia 2-5, Gabriel 1-5, Roper 0-1, Nishimoto 0-4, Macfarlane 0-2, Sanders 0-1); Tech 2-9 (Ray 2-2, Smith 0-3, Obaze 0-3, George 0-1).
Personal fouls -- Hawaii 15; Tech 14.
Technical fouls -- none.
Steals -- Hawaii 10 (Abele 2, Gabriel 2, Willoughby 2, Allen, Atuaia, Sanders); Tech 15 (Ford 4, Obaze 4, Crain 2, Ray 2, Smith, Carter, George).
Blocked shots -- Hawaii 7 (Roper 6, Willoughby); Tech 2 (Crain, Ray).
Turnovers -- Hawaii 21; Tech 17.
Officials -- Scotty Hermann, Carla Fujimoto, Rick Morris.
A -- 1,164.
UH Athletics
