[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]
GEORGE LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Junior wing Jade Abele leads the Wahine in scoring (16.2 points per game), rebounds (6.7) and assists (2.6).
Hawaii home for
WAC contests
The Hawaii women's basketball team is home for two Western Athletic Conference games, and that should benefit the younger players.
The opponents, Southern Methodist tomorrow and nationally ranked Louisiana Tech on Saturday, were picked to finish third and first in the WAC coaches preseason poll, so the Wahine need every advantage they can get.
Hawaii coach Vince Goo felt some of his players were worn down at the end of the recent three-game road trip.
"The veterans can handle an extended trip, but it is tough on the younger players," Goo said. "Usually the younger players make trips but get limited playing time, but we're asking them to step in and do it right now."
The six UH freshmen are getting on-the-job training. Their struggles are reflected in several close Wahine losses, a blowout by San Jose State, and a 3-9 Wahine record. It is a start Goo has not experienced since the injury-riddled 1994-95 season.
The Wahine will be led by junior wing Jade Abele, who has scored in double digits in 10 consecutive games, and leads the team in scoring (16.2 points per game), rebounds (6.7 pg), and assists (2.6 pg). Senior wing April Atuaia also scores in double figures (11.7), but more production from the other positions would help.
Said Goo: "We have to control the tempo of the game. The Mustangs usually like to be uptempo. Their strength is running the floor well and they shoot 3s. We have to defend the 3."
The Wahine have experienced difficulties defending the 3-point shot, especially when they are using the 2-3 match-up zone. They do a better job against the 3 when they are in a man-to-man defense, but then become vulnerable inside.
Hawaii also is looking to do a better job on the boards, having been outrebounded in the last four games.
The Mustangs lost their league opener to in-state rival Rice, then reeled off consecutive victories over Tulsa on the road and Fresno State and Nevada at home. They also have a one-point road victory at Maine, a team that beat UH here by 13 points in November.
None of SMU's starters have scoring averages in double figures, but that statistic is misleading.
Sophomore forward/center Sarah Davis has the best average, 9.8 points per game, and is the top rebounder at 6.7 per game. However, SMU coach Rhonda Rompola has three veterans who come off the bench to make significant contributions. They are forward Shonte Roberts (8.8 ppg), Andrea Cossey (8.7 ppg) and Shanta Ramdhanny (7.7 ppg).
Cossey, who has burned the Wahine in the past with her 3-point shooting, again leads the Mustangs in that category, sinking 20 of 67 attempts.
Since Rompola was named coach in 1991, the Mustangs have played here five times. With one exception, an 18-point UH win in 2001, every other game has been in doubt until the final minute, with the average Hawaii margin of victory by six points.
Note: UH freshman wing Pam Tambini, who has a sprained left foot, has been cleared to start jogging but is questionable this week.
