UH looks to
top .500 mark

Boise State at Hawaii When: Today, 7 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Live, KFVE, (Ch. 5) Radio: Live, KKEA, 1420-AM Tickets: All seats general admission. $7 adults, $6 seniors. UH students with valid ID, children age 4-18 free. Parking: $3

The Hawaii women's basketball team can win consecutive Western Athletic Conference games for the first time this season with a victory over Boise State tonight.

If the Rainbow Wahine (7-6, 3-3) accomplish that, they would move above the .500 mark in league action for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

However, this matchup is the kind that causes coaches to fret. Hawaii coach Jim Bolla is no different.

"Boise State has not won many games and they are due. I just hope they are due next weekend," Bolla said. "On paper we will have a little height advantage, but they shoot the 3 real well."

The Broncos (6-9, 1-5) lost to San Jose State 64-47 en route to Hawaii, their seventh defeat in eight road games. A bigger setback was the loss of 6-foot-2 sophomore center Michelle Hessing, who suffered a foot injury Jan. 1 and is out for the season. She averaged 11 points per outing in three games vs. UH last year.

Hawaii sophomore guard Janevia Taylor (sprained right ankle) is questionable for tonight's game. The team adjusted well to her loss in Thursday's win over Texas-El Paso.

Alofa Toiaivao got her first start and responded with a career-high 20 points. The 6-4 sophomore center added 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.

Amy Sanders picked up her first-ever double-double with 10 rebounds and 19 points.

Callie Spooner played a season-high 22 minutes, was 3-for-4 from the field, pulled down two rebounds and had a career-high three assists.

Jade Abele, who took just two shots during 32 minutes on the floor, had a team season-high eight assists.

"Our defense (vs. UTEP) helped our offense. We ran some plays we haven't run before. The kids are learning that if you run plays right, you get to score and score easy layups," said Bolla.

The Wahine continue to spend more time in practice refining their own game rather than concentrating too much on what their opponents do. They do get a briefing on the key opponent tendencies and Bolla says adjustments will be necessary in the second round.

"We will have to know who Boise State's 3-point shooters are and we can't lose them," said Bolla. "The Broncos run a three-man weave outside off a high post. They also flash into the post and look for the backdoor bucket."

What the Wahine have to avoid is getting caught behind the BSU screens. This happened against UTEP. When the Miners recognized this, they stepped back and launched a trey.

Hawaii handled UTEP's press well when they executed the press break properly. That means inbound the ball, make one pass to a player at midcourt or up the side to get the ball into the front court.

"We get in trouble when we pass back and end up dribbling in the backcourt," said Bolla.