Hawai'i faces a mirror image in Lobos
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In tonight's Women's National Invitation Tournament basketball semifinal against New Mexico, the University of Hawai'i Wahine have an opportunity to see just what it must be like to play against themselves.
Like the Wahine, the Lobos (21-12) rely on stingy defense and strong play from its front-line players.
Both teams shoot 43 percent from the field, though Hawai'i holds a slight advantage in 3-point shooting (36 percent to 33) and free-throw shooting (76 percent to 72).
Hawai'i scores 70 points a game and gives up 59. New Mexico scores 69 and gives up 60. Both teams turn over the ball 18 times a game.
The key matchup likely will be at the center position with Hawai'i's 6-foot-4 senior Dainora Puida squaring off against the Lobos' 6-foot-3 sophomore Jordan Adams.
Adams, a second team All-Mountain West selection this season, is averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks pe game. Adams gets ample frontcourt support from 6-foot-1 senior forward Miranda Sanchez (13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds). Sanchez is the Lobos' career leader in 3-point field goals. Five-foot-10 sophomore Chelsea Grear (5.9 points, 5.2 rebounds) starts at the other forward spot.
The Lobos get solid play in the backcourt from point guard Nikki Heckroth and shooting guard Molly McKinnon.
Heckroth, a 5-foot-8 senior, led the conference with 5.7 assists per game. McKinnon is New Mexico's third double-figure scorer, contributing 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
Hawai'i and New Mexico had two common opponents this season — Texas-El Paso and Brigham Young.
New Mexico blew out UTEP, 87-37, in November. Hawai'i also easily dispatched the Miners in January (63-42) and earlier this month (77-56).
The Lobos lost to BYU, 79-72, in February but won the second meeting this month, 78-70. Hawai'i beat the Cougars, 77-73, in overtime this week to advance to the quarterfinals of the WNIT.
New Mexico holds the series advantage, 4-3. The two teams last met in 1999, the year before New Mexico left the Western Athletic Conference to join the MWC, with the Lobos sweeping the Wahine, 69-55 in Albuquerque, and 52-51 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Wahine should have their ears full as they face the Lobos in one of the most intimidating college venues in the country. New Mexico has averaged more than 7,300 fans in each of their seven WNIT games the last three years. So far this tournament, Houston (49-72), Arizona (62-75) and Alabama-Birmingham (55-77) have lost at The Pit.
