'Bows guard Gabriel enjoys gift of giving

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i point guard Michelle Gabriel embraces the spirit of giving this holiday season.

Gabriel has emerged as Hawai'i's top playmaker and secret scoring threat this season.

She will lead Hawai'i (5-2) against Loyola Marymount (6-1) at 3 p.m. today in the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center. Tenth-ranked Texas Tech (5-1) will play Tennessee-Chattanooga (6-1) at 1 p.m.

The tournament continues tomorrow with a 1 p.m. consolation game and 3 p.m. title game.

In six starts, Gabriel has been generous with assists (22), stingy with turnovers (11) and surprising on offense (13 points against UNLV).

"We think she can get the job done," Hawai'i coach Vince Goo said. "The point guard has to be the leader. I think she has that."

Gabriel, a 1999 Maryknoll graduate, walked on as a freshman, earned a scholarship as a sophomore and blossomed as a senior through summer workouts.

"In the summer, she pushed us so hard," teammate Milia Macfarlane said. "The three point guards, we worked out together. She kept us going."

Gabriel intensified her offseason workouts the last two years and it has paid off for her.

"I figured I might as well go out with a bang in my senior year," Gabriel said.