Patience paying off for Allen
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
Her alarm buzzes at 4:30 a.m. every morning, but she hits the snooze button until 5. After sleepily munching on Frosted Mini Wheats, she leaves her University Avenue apartment and walks to practice at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Advertiser library photo • Nov. 24, 2001
6 a.m. and Natasja Allen is ready.
Natasja Allen is a big reason why Hawai'i is off to a 4-1 start. She's averaging 15 points and 7.6 rebounds.
Ready to work on jumpers, ready to crash the boards, ready to improve her free throws.
And all this hard work, all this patient waiting on the bench for her turn to start, has paid off.
The 6-foot-2 junior forward is the University of Hawai'i's leading scorer this season, averaging 15 points per game with a .510 field goal percentage. Third on the team in rebounds with 7.6 per game, she has been one of the most consistent players this season, helping the Wahine to a 4-1 start. (Their only loss came at the hands of then-No. 7 Stanford.) Along with junior center Christen Roper, they account for 41 percent of the team's scoring and 36 percent of the rebounding.
Expect nothing less from her in tonight's matchup against No. 9 Baylor in the first round of the Tesoro Invitational.
She's ready.
"We watched the film on Baylor today and I think they look beatable," Allen said confidently. "I'm preparing to go up against an All-American (in senior forward Danielle Crockrom). Am I intimidated? A little bit. There's always that. But it can't be that bad."
Baylor (7-0) boasts two All-Americans in Crockrom and Shelia Lambert, both seniors and both offensive threats on the court. Crockrom leads the team in rebounding with 11.3 per game while contributing 16.9 points per game. In five of their seven games, Crockrom has posted double-doubles in points and rebounds. Starting point guard Lambert is the squad's leading scorer with 18 points per game. Both are on the Naismith Award watch list.
Though Allen is confident her team will step up and play hard, she has simple expectations of herself: "I just want to be a factor on the team. I don't have to be the leading scorer or rebounder. I just want to contribute to the team and help us do well."
As Hawai'i's leading scorer, Allen has become a threat to Baylor, which hasn't lost a non-conference game since December 1999.
"I'm not surprised (that she's leading the team)," said UH head coach Vince Goo. "We know what she's capable of doing. She just has to come in and play her game. And with the confidence she has, she'll do well. She can match up with anybody."
Tough competition
Having played against a Top Ten team two weeks ago has helped the Wahine, despite the loss. But this is no Stanford.
• WHO: Today, UH Wahine vs. Baylor, 7 p.m.; Tomorrow, Baylor vs. Illinois-Chicago, 7 p.m.; Sunday, UH Wahine vs. Illinois-Chicago, 5 p.m. • WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center. • TICKETS: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (65 and older) and $4 for children (4-17) and UH students. Tickets may be purchased at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office (8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, except holidays). • TV/Radio: Live on K5. Today at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 5 p.m./Live on 1420 AM • Parking: $3.
"Offensively, they're very potent," Goo said. "And they play a very up-tempo game. We're going to have to control the tempo and not let them get a lot of lay-ups off us. The key is to play smart. We just can't get up and run with them up and down the floor. You don't want to play with their strength, and their strength is quickness."
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• WHAT: Tesoro Invitational, women's college basketball.
What Allen provides, however, is endurance and patience — exactly what the Wahine need against the Lady Bears. She waits for the open shot, dishes when she needs to and isn't afraid to get physical under the basket.
Could be because of the team chemistry, which has the Wahine planning a Christmas dinner and playing "Secret Santa." Could be because of her family, which has been her safety and support despite being in Port Orchard, Wash. Or it could be her underwear.
"I wear the same pair of Nike underwear," she said with an embarrassed laugh, "and everybody makes fun of me, they bag on me. But they're so comfortable."
Even though this year's squad has just two seniors and a host of new players, they immediately clicked, which has made going to grueling 6 a.m. practices not so bad.
"We're a bunch of goofballs," Allen said. "I just love this team. I think we can do awesome this year, even better than last year."
Jump Shots: Just a reminder: Those with season tickets that list game day between UH and Baylor as Dec. 8 will need to use those tickets tonight. Admission to Saturday's game between Baylor and Illinois-Chicago will be free. ... Baylor sophomore guard Jessika Stratton's grandfather, Don, was aboard the USS Arizona the day Pearl Harbor was attacked 60 years ago. In Hawai'i to attend anniversary festivities, he will also watch his granddaughter's game against the Wahine.
