Rainbow Wahine set sights on new look

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

After five months of basketball that began with optimism, ran into a period of pessimism and ultimately left a rare sense of mediocrity, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball season officially concluded last night with a banquet.

Jade Abele

Natasja Allen

Christen Roper

Michelle Gabriel

Kim Willoughby Advertiser library photos

Sophomore Jade Abele earned the team's Scholar-Athlete Award. Kim Willoughby, also a sophomore, was honored as the team's best offensive player. Willoughby led the team in scoring and shooting percentage. She will probably be training with the Olympic volleyball team next year, but would still have two years of basketball eligibility remaining because of the NCAA's Olympic waiver.

"I'm going to come back because I have to graduate," Willoughby said. "That's the whole point of going to college. I always came to graduate."

Senior Christen Roper, whom Goo calls "the best defensive player I've ever coached," earned that honor for the season last night. She also won the Ah Chew Goo Award, given by the coaches to the player who "attains basketball excellence through dedication, determination and perseverance."

Roper leaves as the career block leader in WAC and UH history, with 303. Nani Cockett is second at UH, with 141. Roper broke her own season record this year with 110 rejections. She also broke her WNIT record when she swatted seven shots in the Rainbow Wahine's first-round loss at Arizona State.

Roper, listed on the WNBA website as a draft prospect, has signed with an agent and has been invited to the Los Angeles Sparks camp. Playing overseas is also an option.

Michelle Gabriel and Natasja Allen, Hawai'i's two other seniors, shared the Most Inspirational Award, voted by the team. Gabriel, a point guard, helped the 'Bows rank 11th nationally in fewest turnovers. Allen started the final 61 games of her career and was named to six all-tournament teams.

The three seniors went 85-39 in their careers, with four WNIT appearances. This was the only season they did not win 20 games.

Hawai'i's 16-14 finish dropped Goo's winning percentage over 16 seasons just below 70 percent. His teams have 11 20-win seasons and 10 postseason appearances.

Only a late surge — the team won three road games after losing its first seven — salvaged a winning record this season.

"I don't want to put any of their players down, but in the past they've had one or two perimeter players who are hard to guard," Rice coach Cristy McKinney said after her team won in Hawai'i. "There was Raylene Howard and Nani Cockett before her. Last year, the freshman (Chelsea Wagner) did some good things. They had that one that can really hurt you every night. Now they're kind of like us and you don't know who you're going to get it from."

Too often this season, Hawai'i simply didn't get enough offense. It turned the ball over less than nearly any team Goo has coached and was rarely in foul trouble, ranking first nationally in fewest fouls. Its defense was also nationally ranked and as good as any in the past.

The offense was nowhere close. Hawai'i searched all season to find a consistent offensive weapon. Five players averaged between 9.3 and 11.5 points and only Willoughby, who played half the season, had a 20-point game. For the first time, the Rainbow Wahine were shut out when WAC honors were passed out.

"What was missing was consistency on offense, that's it," Goo said. "They played really smart. For the gap we had between the veterans and the young ones we really played smart. We ran the offense and took good shots."

The seniors' advice for making those shots next season is simple: Don't take a moment for granted and don't forget to have fun.

"They don't realize four years go by so fast," Gabriel said. "If they don't take it seriously, step it up — all of them — they won't have a good year next year. I think it's just maturity. I hope they all play like seniors next year, like it's their last game."

Allen's advice came from a different direction.

"Don't take basketball too seriously," she said. "Go out there and have a little fun once in a while. It makes it a lot more enjoyable. Don't be afraid of Vince. He's not out to get you. He really means the best. If he yells at you, it's not because he doesn't like you. It's because he sees the potential in you."

The 2003-2004 schedule includes NCAA Tournament teams Arizona, Washington, Virginia, Louisiana Tech and Texas, which reached the Final Four. WNIT teams Fresno State, Northern Iowa, Montana and Maine will also play here.

April Atuaia will be Hawai'i's only senior while four freshmen are coming in.

"They're going to have to make an impact right away," Goo says of what he calls one of his best recruiting classes. "I think they can."

Rainbow Wahine Basketball

Tentative 2003-2004 Schedule

November

22-23 — Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic (Hawai'i, Lipscomb, Maine, Washington). 28-30 — Rainbow Wahine Classic (Hawai'i, Arizona, Hartford, Montana, Navy, Syracuse, Texas, Virginia).

December

14-15 — Hawai'i Invitational (Hawai'i, Long Beach State, Memphis, St. Mary's). 22-23 — Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic (Hawai'i, Fairfield, Northern Iowa, Tennessee Tech).

January

3 — *at Fresno State. 5 — *at Nevada. 10 — *San Jose State. 15 — *SMU. 17 — *Louisiana Tech. 22 — *at UTEP. 24 — *at Boise State. 29 — *Rice. 31 — *Tulsa.

February

7 — *at San Jose State. 12 — *at Louisiana Tech. 14 — *at SMU. 19 — *Boise State. 21 — *UTEP. 26 — *at Tulsa. 28 — *at Rice.

March

4 — *Nevada. 6 — *Fresno State. 9-13 — WAC Tournament at Fresno State. 20-23 — NCAA first and second rounds. 27-30 — NCAA Regionals.

April 4 and 6 — NCAA Final Four at New Orleans.

* WAC games
All home games at Stan Sheriff Center