Posted on: Thursday, March 15, 2001

Wahine's Galloway quits basketball team

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kylie Galloway is the Wahine's fifth-leading career scorer and was twice a first-team all-WAC selection. Advertiser library photo

Kylie Galloway, senior captain of the University of Hawai'i Wahine basketball team, told coaches she was quitting Monday and has not practiced this week. She is not expected to play tonight in the Wahine's first-ever postseason home game.

UH plays Santa Clara in a first-round game of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center.

Galloway, reached at home yesterday afternoon, declined to talk. UH coach Vince Goo also would not comment, and closed practice yesterday, advising his players and staff not to talk about Galloway. Goo said the school will release a statement today.

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida, who traveled with the Wahine from Tulsa to Chicago on Sunday, said yesterday he could not speculate on Galloway's reasons for cutting her career short.

"I am sorry she left," Yoshida said. "To play for us for three years and to not finish the season, after having a wonderful career like that ... to quit before this game, and a season that hopefully will be extended a few more games ... It really caught me by surprise."

Friends said only that Galloway had been going through "rough times." More than one said they believed she would be playing if the Wahine had reached the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday, UH lost to Texas Christian in the WAC Tournament final. It did not receive an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, as an at-large team, on Sunday. Later that night, Hawai'i was invited to the Women's NIT.

Galloway, who refused all interview requests Sunday at the airport, has had a UH saga worthy of a screenplay.

After Hawai'i passed on recruiting her out of Australia, she was 1996 Big West Freshman of the Year for San Jose State. She transferred to UH and sat out the required year.

As a sophomore, she averaged more than 18 points and six rebounds, and set UH records for 3-pointers (48), 3-point percentage (.485) and field-goal percentage (.585). She was all-WAC first team on a squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Galloway suffered a serious ankle injury during the next preseason and, the same week, discovered she was pregnant. After giving birth to son Kyrin, and rehabilitating her ankle, she earned another first-team honor last year when she averaged 14 points and five rebounds.

She characterized it as a "terrible season" and dedicated herself to a better senior year. She is averaging 15 points and five rebounds this year, was a second-team all-WAC selection, and earned her first all-defensive team honor. She also made the all-tournament team last week.

Galloway, 25, leaves as the program's fifth-leading scorer and is second in 3-pointers. She is among the Top 10 in 11 career categories.

Galloway, who started every game but one in her UH career, will be replaced by Natasja Allen or Karena Greeny tonight. Together, they are averaging five points and 4.3 rebounds.