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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 26, 2002

Fresno St. always tough on Wahine

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

How much have the University of Hawai'i Wahine pondered the impact of Coach Vince Goo's 300th basketball victory?

Not much.

How much will it mean should they beat Fresno State in tonight's Western Athletic Conference game at Stan Sheriff Center?

How much is too much?

With 300 on the horizon as early as tonight, Hawai'i — with the exception of Goo — is finally allowing itself to acknowledge the accomplishment.

"Obviously it's extra motivation," UH sophomore April Atuaia says, "but we always think about just one game at a time. It will be a good win for him, especially at home if we can get it against Fresno."

The Bulldogs (8-10, 3-5 WAC) have been inconsistent, often in the same game and sometimes in the same possession.

Last week, they let Boise State get its inaugural WAC victory — in Raisin Country. Thursday, they needed six minutes to score in San Jose, trailed 41-25 at the half and eventually lost 77-62. They have held second-half leads in six of their losses.

But they feature a trio of proven players in all-conference juniors Lindsay Logan, Tiffany Simon and Omelogo Udeze, and a pair of promising freshmen in 'Aiea's Aritta Lane and Veronica Mark. Lane is third in WAC rebounding — just ahead of Udeze — and Mark drained four 3-pointers in the final three minutes to send the St. Mary's game into overtime, where FSU lost to last year's NCAA Tournament team.

"She (Logan) can shoot very well," says UH point guard Janka Gabrielova. "They set picks for her all over the place. I have to be on her ... trail her and not let her get the ball. It will be really hard."

The Wahine (12-4, 5-2) have won the last dozen times the teams have played.

"Fresno is like Nevada, really up and down," Goo says. "They can be real tough with the rebounding, their pressure, their speed."

The Bulldogs haven't won in Hawai'i in nearly 11 years. If that continues tonight, Goo and the Wahine will have a nice round number to celebrate.