Advertiser Staff
The road got a little rocky yesterday for the University of Hawai‘i, but the Wahine were able to ride out the rough spots for a 54-45 basketball victory over host Tulsa.
The Wahine won their third in a row to improve to 3-1 in the Western Athletic Conference and 12-3 overall. Tulsa fell to 0-3 and 3-11.
Crystal Lee scored 13 points, Kylie Galloway 12, Dainora Puida added nine points and 10 rebounds, and Christen Roper contributed 11 rebounds and three blocks. But the Wahine lacked the offensive consistency they had shown in previous games.
"We’ll take it (the victory)," said a relieved Wahine coach Vince Goo. "Tonight we learned a lot. We told the players that this is what the road is really all about. No one’s pulling for you · the ball bounces in different ways ... so you need to come out mentally tough."
Goo said he was pleased that his team "competed really hard" and "played good defense," but added, "I think in the second half we didn’t show enough composure offensively."
The Wahine led 30-19 at the half, but shot 7-for-21 in the second half when they also committed the majority of their 22 turnovers. For the game, the normally sharp-shooting Wahine shot 37.7 percent (17-for-45).
"Look at our shooting percentage, it was as cold as the weather," Goo quipped, adding that it was snowing with the temperatures in the 20s.
Goo said the Wahine will apply what they learned during practices this week as they prepare for Sunday’s game against San Jose State at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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