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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 3, 2002

Rainbow Wahine roll past Boise State on senior night

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Following the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine's 65-54 home-finale victory over Boise State last night, junior Michelle Gabriel had a request for seniors Janka Gabrielova and Karena Greeny.

Kim Willoughby was called for a foul after trying to block a shot by Boise State's Simone Grant.

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In a postgame poem dedicated to the senior duo, Gabriel concluded by saying "... lead us underclassmen to the NCAA Tournament."

Gabrielova, of Bratislava, Slovakia, said: "Of course we will. I will try my best."

Greeny, of Port Angeles, Wash., added: "I think so, if we play together as a team and everyone off the bench is starting to come on, yeah, I think we can do it."

Hawai'i (21-6) finished tied for second in the Western Athletic Conference with Rice at 14-4. The Owls, who beat Tulsa last night, received the No. 2 seed and Hawai'i No. 3 because Rice beat Hawai'i in both meetings this season. Louisiana Tech (17-1) is the No. 1 seed. Hawai'i's opening opponent at the WAC Tournament will be sixth-place Nevada (6-12, 9-18). The Rainbow Wahine beat the Wolf Pack in both meetings this season.

Against the Broncos, Natasja Allen scored 22 points and Chelsea Wagner added 15 as Hawai'i won before 1,757 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Allen, a junior, hit 8-of-16 field goal attempts and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. She picked up the slack inside with center Christen Roper battling foul trouble and scoring only four points in 17 minutes.

"Natasja did a real good job," Hawai'i coach Vince Goo said. "But what was real good was our guards got her the ball inside."

Allen also had a game-high 14 rebounds as Hawai'i held a 48-35 advantage on the boards.

Wagner, a freshman, was 3-of-7 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line.

"Chelsea is a good freshman," Goo said. "She's still wet behind the ears, but she's going to get better."

The Rainbow Wahine took their largest lead at 58-44 on a basket by Allen with 4:54 remaining in the game. The Broncos couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.

"I like their team," Boise State coach Trisha Stevens said. "They have a great inside game, they have a great outside game. The combination of those two things, it's hard to stop them. It'll be interesting to see if they can go to the postseason and represent the conference."

Gabrielova finished with six points and four assists. Greeny had nine points and five rebounds. They both left the game with 37 seconds remaining.

"We're going to miss a lot of energy from Janka and Karena (next season)," Goo said. "(Karena has) been here five years. She knows what it's like to have a good team and she knows the tough times. She's been on both sides of it and she's one of our big success stories."

In the first half, Hawai'i went up 17-9 after a field goal by Gabrielova with 13:38 remaining. Hawai'i switched from a man-to-man defense to a 2-3 zone after Gabrielova's basket and Boise State (9-19, 5-13) went on a 9-2 run to pull within 19-18 with nine minutes left. The Broncos hit only one field goal the rest of the way as Hawai'i went into halftime with a 34-25 lead.

Broncos reserve Jodi Nakashima, a 2001 Roosevelt High graduate, scored two points.


Correction: Karena Greeny is from Port Angeles, Wash. Another state was listed in a previous version of this story.