Rainbow Wahine try to rebound at Fresno
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Tomorrow's basketball game at Fresno State could be a sneak peek at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals for the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine. They are trying hard not to look beyond the Bulldogs — and not look back at all.
Sunday's heartbreaking loss to Rice remains in the rear-view mirror. It dropped Hawai'i a half-game behind the second-place Owls.
That could turn around as soon as tomorrow, with sixth-ranked Louisiana Tech taking on Rice while the Rainbow Wahine play in Fresno. Improving their standing in the eyes of the NCAA Committee could take the Rainbows much longer, and the season is now very short.
Tomorrow's game, and Sunday's at Nevada, make up Hawai'i's final regular-season road trip. Its final home games are Feb. 28 and March 2 against UTEP and Boise State. Those final four opponents are all in the WAC's bottom half.
The Rainbow Wahine (17-6, 10-4 WAC) have defeated Fresno State (9-15, 4-10) the past 13 times the teams have played, and haven't lost in North Gym in 14 years. The Bulldogs have lost seven of their past eight and tried five different starting lineups the past five games.
Hawai'i has won seven of its past nine, but Sunday's 55-54 loss is all it remembers. The Rainbows overcame a 52-46 deficit in the final minute, only to lose in the last second. The Owls are the only unranked team to beat UH this season, and they have done it twice.
The first time, the Owls made it look easy (57-43) by smothering the Rainbow Wahine into 20-percent shooting. Sunday, Rice came here playing its worst basketball of the season and went home with renewed confidence.
"I hope this game will get us back on track," coach Cristy McKinney said. "I definitely think it could."
When Fresno State played here a month ago, it held Hawai'i to 26-percent shooting in the first half. The Rainbow Wahine shot 54 percent in the second half and won, 69-53. A third of the Hawai'i points came from the foul line, while the Bulldogs shot only three free throws.
Fresno State is still led by all-WAC point guard Lindsay Logan, who is among the top five in WAC scoring, assists, steals, free-throw percentage and 3-pointers. Aritta Lane, who played on 'Aiea's state championship team last year, is first on the team and fourth in conference rebounding. Lane had her sixth double-double last week.
UH sophomore April Atuaia tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee against Fresno State and hasn't played since. She did make this trip and coach Vince Goo expects to play her. He hopes it will give his team the lift it needs.
"It has got to get a little juice flowing to see a teammate come off an ACL a few weeks ago and now she's playing," Goo said. "We get that energy in practice. There's a lot of quiet cheering going on for her among the players."
OVER AND BACK: Both games this week will be broadcast live on 1420 AM, beginning at 5 p.m. tomorrow and noon Sunday. ... The loss to Rice dropped the Rainbows two spots in the CollegeRPI.com and Collegiate Basketball News power ratings, to No. 41.
