GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Rainbow Wahine basketball coach Jim Bolla says this team belongs to senior captains Jade Abele and Milia Macfarlane, who will play their last home game tonight against Rice.

Abele and Macfarlane
expect emotional
senior night

Jade Abele and Milia Macfarlane close out their careers at the Stan Sheriff Center tonight when the Hawaii women's basketball team plays Rice.

The only seniors on the team, the co-captains will enjoy an emotional and lei-bedecked ceremony following the game, but will be focused on reversing a heart-breaking, two-point loss to the Owls on the road earlier this season.

Rice at Hawaii When: Today, 7 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Live, KFVE, Channel 5 Radio: None Tickets: All seats general admission. $8 adults, $7 seniors. UH students with valid ID and children 4-18 free. Parking: $3 Notes: The Owls lead the series 11-5 and have beaten the Wahine five straight times. ... On Jan. 27, Rice survived two UH shots in the last 8 seconds to win 70-68 in Houston. ... The Owls ruined Senior Night two years ago with a 56-47 win.

"I told Jade and Milia that this was their team. It wasn't my team," said UH coach Jim Bolla. "The team is the focus and the seniors are responsible. I'm responsible when we lose. When it comes to discipline, it is up to them to make sure everybody is on board.

"I'm happy to make decisions and can invoke executive privilege, but I like it when it comes down to them.

"Milia and Jade have done really good things with the team. It's been tough for them because they have an unbelievable class load. I wanted them to have a good senior year, to send them off with a good finish."

Macfarlane signed out of Punahou after a stellar career in basketball and volleyball. Abele brought her talents from Gold Coast, Australia.

"I've thought about senior night more than anything the last two weeks. As every game goes by I look around and see everything that has surrounded me for four years," said Macfarlane. "It is overwhelming and emotional. The saddest part is knowing that I'm not going to be with these girls anymore."

Earlier this week she was taking a break at practice and realized that is what it will be like next year when she is sitting in the stands. All Macfarlane wanted to do this week was enjoy the time with her teammates.

This is the fifth senior night for Abele, who redshirted her first season at UH.

"I've actually thought about it more in terms of finishing out and having a really good season overall," said Abele. "Last year was very emotional, so I'm pretty sure there will be some water works this year. I hope just they are happy water works after our big win."

Macfarlane is majoring in elementary education and has had the opportunity to observe and do some practice teaching in the classroom.

Last fall she was in the sixth- and eighth-grade classrooms at the Hongwanji Mission Middle School. This semester she is with a kindergarten class at Kapalama Elementary School.

"I like working with the students and I like having the experience at the different levels," said Macfarlane.

Yet, she is not sure she wants to teach forever.

"I'm looking at graduate school and obtaining a master's in party and wedding planning," Macfarlane said. "I would like to have my own empire some day like Martha Stewart."

If all goes as planned, Abele will graduate in December with a degree in education and a major in physical education.

She had a taste of practice teaching last fall at Hokulani Elementary School and Roosevelt and will be a full-time practice teacher this fall.

Abele plans to return to Australia to teach, but may postpone getting into the classroom for a couple of reasons.

"I think I will do some extra work at home and get certified in another subject so I can teach more than just physical education," Abele said.

She also would like a shot at playing in Australia's Women's National Basketball League.

"I would probably play for the same team (former Rainbow Wahine) Kylie Galloway did. There isn't much pay, just some expenses for living, but I don't want to stop playing," said Abele.

Bolla said, "They are so different in how they approach things. They have a lot of positive things about them.

"I'm sure it was a big adjustment dealing with me. Jade had to give up scoring a lot, but contributes in so many other ways. Milia grew as a player and is having fun. As long as they win, they don't care."

In reflecting on nine semesters at UH, Abele has been remembering all the faces. She saw Dainora Puida recently and the former Wahine center told Abele to just have fun tonight.

"I just want to go out with a win. We haven't had one recently and we have worked so hard this year," said Abele.

The Wahine have lost their last two senior night games.

"It's the last time to do our warmups, to start a game in the arena," said Macfarlane. "I know I'll be emotional when the lineups are announced, then I'll have about 45 seconds to wipe the tears away.

"Tonight is the culmination of all my right decisions for myself and my family. There is a lot of love in the ceremony. It's a big thank you. I've never been in this situation before."