Roper's presence hard to deny

By Leila Wai
Special to The Advertiser

It is undeniable that Christen Roper stands out on the court.

At 6 feet 5, Christen Roper can be imposing on the basketball court, but her mother, Debbie, calls her a "sweetheart" off the court. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Whether she is putting back shots at one end of the court or blocking them on the other, Roper is a presence.

However, according to University of Hawai'i women's basketball coach Vince Goo, what she does on the court isn't her strongest trait.

"Her greatest characteristic is she is very coachable and willing to learn. That is the one ingredient that has helped her improve. That is her No. 1 quality," he said.

Roper and the Wahine are off to a 2-0 start and play Wyoming today in the opening round of the Panda Travel Rainbow Wahine Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Goo is not the only one to notice Roper's desire to improve.

"The thing I saw was that in her eyes you could see that she wanted to be good," said Portland State coach George Wolfe, whose team was defeated by Hawai'i, 68-55, this past weekend at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic.

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UH women's basketball • WHAT: Panda Travel Rainbow Wahine Classic. • WHEN: Today-Sunday. • SCHEDULE: Today—Game 1, Penn State vs. Florida Atlantic, 12:30 p.m.; Game 2, Oklahoma State vs. Weber State, 2:40; Game 3, Stanford vs. Minnesota, 4:50; Game 4, Hawai'i vs. Wyoming, 7. Tomorrow—Losers games 1&2, 9 a.m.; losers games 3&4, 11:10 a.m.; winners games 3&4, 1:20 p.m.; winners games 1&2, 3:30 p.m. Sunday—seventh place, 11:30 a.m.; fifth, 1:40 p.m.; third, 3:50; championship, 6. • WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center. • TICKETS: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65 and older) and $5 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). • Parking: $3.

Roper's drive to improve led her to various camps throughout the summer.

The junior center from Ojai, Calif., attended the Tall Woman's camp, run by Pete Newell, who also runs the Tall Man's camp in Hawai'i. There she played against players from schools such as North Carolina, Penn State and UCLA.

Her hard work paid off.

Against Portland State, she tied her career high of 19 points and also had a team-high 14 rebounds. She was named the tournament's most valuable player.

"I'm really proud of her and really happy for her. Unfortunately, I had to play against her," said Wolfe.

Senior captain Karena Greeny, who played with Roper since she was a freshman, has seen Roper's progression.

"A big change from her freshman year is that she's more vocal now. And more aggressive," said Greeny.

Said Goo: "Her freshman year she would go hard at times and timid at others. This being her third year, she's playing aggressive and smart."

During Roper's freshman season, she averaged nine minutes a game. Last year, it was 17.1. In Sunday's championship game she played 35, the most on the team.

"As a freshman I was here and I was scared; you know, didn't talk very much," Roper said. "My sophomore year I got to play a little bit more. I figured things out on and off the court — with basketball, school, and socially. This year, it's kind of like, been there, done that."

Said UH junior Natasja Allen: "She's gotten a lot stronger mentally. She's so laid back; she's totally relaxed and cool. In the game she's totally calm and never gets frazzled."

Her parents, Robert and Debbie, who are in Hawai'i on vacation, are enjoying Roper's increased playing time, and notice the difference in their daughter's demeanor on and off the court.

"She's a sweetheart all the time," said Debbie Roper. "You wouldn't think she would get out there with such defense and strength. She gets out there and just changes."

Note: The Junior Fan Club will be registering members one hour before all of Hawai'i's games during the tournament. Members must be eighth grade and under and will receive a free Wahine season pass.