Sharpshooting Wahine top UTEP, 89-66

Advertiser Staff

WAGNER: Freshman scores 17

Hawai'i (15-4, 8-2) has won five in a row going into Thursday's game at eighth-ranked Louisiana Tech (16-3, 11-0).

In last night's warmup, the Wahine got historically hot.

Hawai'i sank 15 of 29 from beyond the arc — program records for 3-point shots made and attempted — and hit 58 percent of its shots overall.

"It was the best shooting game we've ever had from all three positions," UH coach Vince Goo said. "And we hit 100 percent of our free throws — 4-for-4. That might be a record for the least we've ever shot. We were outside and they were in a zone and we were not going in."

The Miners (3-16, 1-10) actually kept up for the first 19 minutes, with junior college transfer Dragana Zoric hitting her first six shots.The Wahine took their first lead, at 23-22, shortly after a Zoric air ball. They scored the final eight points of the half, including their ninth and 10th 3-pointers, to take a 44-34 advantage at the break.

Texas-El Paso, which has lost its last 10, never cut its deficit to single digits in the second half. The Wahine switched to full-court pressure and continued to shoot holes in the Miners' zone.

Six Wahine scored in double digits, with freshman Chelsea Wagner — starting for the injured April Atuaia — scoring a career-high 17 points. She had five 3-pointers and six assists.

"She was wide open and not afraid," Goo said. "She had a really good game."

OVER AND BACK: Last night's game was scheduled for Dec. 30, but UH could not get to El Paso because of bad weather. ... The next two games are scheduled to be broadcast live on 1420 AM, at 1:45 p.m. HST Thursday and 9:45 a.m. HST Saturday.