Wahine take another
shot at Spartans

Hawaii starts the second round of the Western Athletic Conference women's basketball season in a tie for sixth place at 4-5.

San Jose State is the opponent tomorrow night at the Stan Sheriff center and the Spartans are riding a four-game winning streak.

Women's Hoops What: San Jose State at Hawaii When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Live, KFVE, Channel 5 Radio: Live, KKEA, 1420-AM

The first question for Hawaii coach Jim Bolla is how many of his players will be available and whether or not they'll be completely healthy.

"We won't be 100 percent Saturday," Bolla said.

This may be the game Bolla has to go deeper than usual into his 19-player roster.

At least eight Wahine players came down with influenza B, starting with Tanya Smith in Tulsa and carrying over to Milia Macfarlane, Jade Abele, Callie Spooner, Trisha Nishimoto, Amy Sanders, Bryony Crouch and Amber Lee after the team returned Sunday.

When Sanders went to the UH health center Monday and was diagnosed, the doctor on duty immediately called Bolla and recommended the whole team receive medicine that might halt the outbreak.

The team did not practice until Wednesday.

The Rainbow Wahine (8-8 overall) are home for two weeks. They play Louisiana Tech and Southern Methodist next week.

The Spartans (13-6, 6-3) defeated the Wahine 54-49 in overtime in Hawaii's first road game Jan. 8. UH rallied from nine points down for a 43-all tie on a free throw by Abele with 56 seconds left. The Wahine had the momentum, but did not sustain it in the extra period.

San Jose State was led by Amber Jackson's 23 points and Lamisha Augustine's 16.

Augustine is coming off a huge week. She averaged 23 points and 9.5 rebounds to help the Spartans claim road wins over Tulsa (61-53) and Rice (63-62). The 6-foot-1 senior forward was honored as the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

After the first round of conference play, Bolla has a better feel for the league and does not think there is any team UH can't play with.

"Fresno State (WAC opener) was the only game we were not in at the beginning. We need to start believing that we can beat these teams. We have to mentally put ourselves in the position to play and go out and execute," said Bolla.

"We know what everyone else is doing and they know what we are doing. Now is the time to make adjustments.

"With nine games to go, we have time. We're still in a position to control our own destiny as far as the WAC tournament is concerned. We don't want to depend on other teams. If we had won at Rice, we would be tied for third instead of sixth."

The Spartans have two prolific scorers in Jackson and Augustine, but the Wahine will concentrate on team defense rather than trying to stop one or two individuals. Tulsa focused on Jackson against SJSU and that opened the door for Augustine.

"San Jose got physical and got good position deep in the paint in our game at their place," Bolla said. "We have to do a better job of not letting them get the ball deep."

The Wahine also have to correct the inconsistencies that led to 26 turnovers in both road games last week.