Rainbow Wahine basketball team holds off UCLA

By Leila Wai
Special to the Advertiser

The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team was pressed yesterday, but didn't back down and came away with a 70-66 win over UCLA in the season opener for both teams in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic.

Hawai'i's Jade Abele tries to maneuver around UCLA's Julia Pitts. Abele scored 13 points to help UH post its first-ever win over UCLA. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Rainbow Wahine used their size and strength to hold off the smaller and quicker Bruins.

"As (coach) Vince (Goo) said, we have inches, they have miles per hour," joked 6-foot-5 senior center Christen Roper, who led Hawai'i with 14 points.

Goo said that before the game he told the players that "by game time they aren't going to grow any taller and we aren't going to get any faster, so we need to go out and play smart and do the things we needed to do."

What they needed to do was keep their composure and control the ball, and they did so despite pressure in the game's frantic moments. With a little under five minutes to play, and Hawai'i leading 54-48, UCLA turned to a full-court press, trying to capitalize on its speed.

The Bruins gave Hawai'i some trouble with the press — getting three of their 10 steals in that span — but the Rainbows managed to build a 63-53 lead, their largest of the game, with 1:47 remaining.

"We were working, obviously, our up-tempo defense, but because we got into foul trouble it didn't work very well," UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. "I thought they (the Rainbows) did a good job of taking care of the ball, and doing things that they needed to do to be successful."

However, UCLA refused to quit and Lisa Willis' 3-pointer with 28 seconds left made the score 67-66. But Hawai'i forward Jade Abele sank two free throws and point guard Milia Macfarlane made 1 of 2 to rebuild the lead to 70-66.

"I guess at practice we work through it (the press) a lot," UH guard April Atuaia said. "We did a pretty good job, they pressured really hard, so it was kind of tough.

"Down the stretch Jade and Milia made crucial free throws and that helped us out."

For the game, Hawai'i made 69 percent of its free throws (25-for-36) and shot 52 percent from the field (22-for-42).

The Rainbows trailed 31-30 at the half, but outscored the Bruins 40-35 in the second half in a game that featured eight ties and 14 lead changes.

Roper added 11 rebounds and led a balanced offense that saw three teammates in double-figure scoring as Abele finished with 13, and Atuaia and Natasja Allen each added 12.

UCLA's Michelle Greco — the 2001 Pac-10 scoring champion — had 20 points, and Willis 18.

"I think Hawai'i is very well coached," Olivier said. "I think Vince does a great job. He's been here a lot of years and he has always had very successful teams. And they are smart — they don't beat themselves."

Notes: It was the first time in five tries that Hawai'i beat UCLA. ... The Rainbow Wahine won their 14th straight season opener at home, and 15th of 16 openers under Vince Goo.