[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]
Hawaii faces
Texas-El Paso’s
tenacious DThe Miners held the Rainbow Wahine
to 39 points earlier this season
It all starts with defense.
That's been the trademark of Hawaii women's basketball. They will be looking into a mirror tonight and see their own reflection -- albeit an older one -- when facing Texas-El Paso at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Miners (14-9, 9-5 WAC) lead the conference in defense, holding opponents to 54.6 points per game. In its last three games, UTEP has limited teams to 44 or fewer points.
WAC women's basketball
Who: UTEP (14-9, 9-5) at Hawaii (6-16, 4-9).When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center.
TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5).
Radio: None.
Tickets: Adults, $7; seniors, $6; free, UH students and children (4-18).
Series: Hawaii leads, 12-1.
Last meeting: UTEP 44, Hawaii 39.
"They're pretty good -- that's why they're in third place," said Hawaii coach Vince Goo. "They're a veteran team, the best UTEP I've seen. They play smart because of their experience."
Miner coach Keitha Green is scheduled to start two seniors and two juniors against the Wahine, who are tied for fourth for the youngest team in the country (19.0 year average). If Goo uses the same starting lineup as in Thursday's win over Boise State, there will be two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors at tip-off.
Including his three years as an assistant, Goo has been with the Wahine program longer than five of his 13 players have been alive. The coach is the first to admit that youth and inexperience have added to what appears to be only the third losing season in his 17 years as head coach.
"They're taking their lumps now, but they're building for the future," said Goo. "This is going to go a long way in the years to come."
The win over a young Bronco team snapped a five-game skid for the Wahine, who have yet to win consecutive games this year. Hawaii lost at UTEP 44-39 on Jan. 22, the lowest scoring game in WAC history, and the first time the Miners had defeated the Wahine in 13 meetings.
UTEP's height is literally a big concern for Hawaii. The starting center for the Miners is 6-foot-6 Marta Dydek, with 5-10 Angie McGee, an athletic forward averaging a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game.
The key matchup will be at guard, where UTEP has the advantage in size and experience. The Miners will start seniors Vaida Zagurskyte, a 5-9 Lithuanian who leads the team in scoring (12.2 ppg), and 5-8 New Zealander Noni Wharemate, 8.9 ppg.
The Wahine likely will counter with 5-5 freshman Janevia Taylor (9.5 ppg) and 5-5 junior Milia Macfarlane (2.8 ppg). Hawaii's pressure man defense can rotate in seven other guards, including 5-10 freshman Pam Tambini, who had a career-high 13 points Thursday, and lone senior April Atuaia, who played briefly Thursday following a three-game suspension.
Against Boise State, Hawaii had a season-high 11 steals, scoring 16 points off turnovers, eight points on fast breaks.
"When we went on the runs (of scoring), it all stemmed from the defense," said junior forward Jade Abele, who had five of the team's season-high 18 assists. "We really picked it up on defense. And I think our outside shooting improved."
The Wahine shot .433, also a season high, and tied the year's best with 26 field goals.
Hawaii's goal for its remaining five games is simple: keep winning. It would not only be the perfect sendoff for Goo, who is retiring after this season, but it would keep the Wahine out of a play-in game in next month's WAC tournament.
Hawaii is in seventh place. The top six teams receive a first-round bye.
"It would be nice not to have to play that first day," said Goo. "But I don't know if it's avoidable or not. We'll see what happens."
The Wahine finish the regular season playing two teams ahead of them on the road -- current WAC co-leader Rice and fifth-place Tulsa -- and two teams below them at home -- last-place Nevada and Fresno State, which is tied for eighth place.
Whether it's a play-in or quarterfinal game, Hawaii's opener in the tourney will be Goo's 500th career game as the Wahine's head coach. He takes a 332-162 record into tonight's game with UTEP.
Standings
Thursday
Conference All games W L Pct. W L Pct. LaTech 12 1 .923 19 2 .905 Rice 12 1 .923 15 7 .682 UTEP 9 5 .643 14 9 .609 SMU 8 5 .615 12 10 .545 Tulsa 7 6 .538 14 9 .609 San Jose St. 5 8 .385 13 9 .591 Hawaii 4 9 .308 6 16 .273 Boise St. 4 10 .286 7 16 .304 Fresno St. 4 10 .286 10 14 .417 Nevada 2 12 .143 3 21 .125
Hawaii 64, Boise St. 49
Rice 61, Nevada 54
UTEP 51, San Jose St. 44
Fresno St. 85, Tulsa 76
Today (All times Hawaii time)
Rice at Fresno State, noon
Louisiana Tech at SMU, 10 a.m.
Tulsa at Nevada, noon
Boise State at San Jose State, 5 p.m.
UTEP at Hawaii, 7:05 p.m.
