UH will bid for WNIT title game

By Ferd Lewis and Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writers

The University of Hawai'i will bid to host the Women's National Invitation Tournament championship game, school officials said yesterday.

"We've told the WNIT we'll have a bid on the table," Hugh Yoshida, UH athletic director, said. "We believe it would help the team and there is strong interest from our fans."

UH attracted 4,279 for its semifinal win over Oklahoma State.

The 26-7 Wahine left yesterday and will play New Mexico tomorrow in Albuquerque, N.M.

Yoshida said, provided UH wins tomorrow, the school's proposal would be for the game to be held Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center, site of the Wahine's first three WNIT victories.

Tuesday and Wednesday dates are held by a food show.

"It would take a quick turnaround by our arena staff, but Rich (Sheriff, arena manager) said they can get it done," Yoshida said.

Dave King, a spokesman for the Colorado-based WNIT, said New Mexico is the only school to so far tender a bid but that he has been told by Yoshida UH will have an offer by today.

King said Ohio State and James Madison, who meet in the other semifinal, have said they will also bid. The Buckeyes have proposed a Tuesday date and the Dukes will offer Wednesday. Bids are contingent upon the host team advancing.

The WNIT takes 85 percent of the net receipts from each game and the host school gets the remainder.

Yoshida said UH will "make a little money" off the three games it has hosted.

UH averaged 3,329 per game for its WNIT homes games, nearly triple its regular-season average.

Ohio State has averaged 1,882 for its WNIT home games and James Madison 1,227. New Mexico, which averaged 8,098 during the season, averaged 5,956 for its three WNIT games.