Miners could be Rainbows' 20th victim of season
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Only once in the past seven seasons have the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine failed to win 20 basketball games. It has happened only three times in Vince Goo's 15 years as head coach.
Don't look for it to happen this year. The Rainbow Wahine go into their final regular-season games 19-6, and third in the Western Athletic Conference at 12-4. They play UTEP (3-21, 1-15) tomorrow and Boise State (9-17, 5-11) Saturday at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Miners are in the midst of a 15-game losing streak. A loss tomorrow would set a WAC record for futility, with 15 consecutive conference losses. Their last victory was Jan. 3.
Keitha Green, UTEP's first-year coach, brought Kimya Murray and Dragana Zoric with her from Independence Community College, where she lost 37 games in five years. The transfers are combining for 30 points and Murray is among the top 20 nationally with nearly three 3-pointers a game. Still, UTEP is losing by an average of 20 points.
Boise State has won its last three to climb into seventh place. It is fighting to avoid a first-round game at next week's Williams WAC Tournament, where the bottom four teams play opening day.
Senior Christa Peterson has given the Broncos a lift the last two games, returning from a torn medial collateral ligament in her left knee. She is averaging 14 points and six rebounds.
Hawai'i is contemplating its postseason prospects. With its power rating hovering at 40, it holds out hope for an NCAA invitation if it doesn't earn the WAC tournament and the automatic bid next week. UH has also confirmed its interest in playing host should the Rainbow Wahine end up in their third consecutive Women's NIT.
They are a half-game out of second going into the final week. Rice (19-7, 13-4) ends the regular season Saturday with a home game against fourth-place Tulsa, which beat the Owls earlier this season.
Louisiana Tech (20-4, 15-1) clinched the WAC regular-season title Saturday with its victory over Tulsa. The Lady Techsters dropped three places, to No. 9, in this week's USA Today/ESPN Top 25, after they were upset at Rice.
Rainbow seniors Janka Gabrielova and Karena Greeny will be honored after Saturday's game. Gabrielova has started all 59 games at point guard since transferring to UH last year from Weatherford College. Greeny, a fifth-year senior, is the team captain.
Rainbow sophomore April Atuaia is doubtful this week after straining her hamstring last week in practice. Atuaia played last Thursday for the first time since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 26.
OVER AND BACK: Tomorrow's UTEP game is Food Bank Night. Fans who bring in two canned goods get in free. ... Saturday, the first 2,000 fans will receive a Rainbow Wahine team photo. ... Louisiana Tech's 77-game conference winning streak, which ended last week at Rice, ranks third all-time in the NCAA. Tech's WAC regular-season title was its 10th consecutive conference title. It won the last nine Sun Belt championships. ... Hawai'i is second in the WAC and 18th nationally in rebound margin, at plus 6.4. It is ninth nationally in shooting percentage defense (34.9) and 17th in points allowed (57.8). ... Southern Methodist has lost 12 conference games this year, the most in 11 years.
