Rainbow Wahine fall to No. 21 Arizona, 66-57

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team played its first ranked opponent of the season, and with a "nothing to lose" attitude stayed even for a half.

Arizona's Danielle Adefeso, middle, battles for the ball with Hawai'i's Callie Spooner, left, and Amy Sanders in the second half. The Wildcats beat the Rainbows, 66-57. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We knew that we had nothing to lose," junior point guard Milia Macfarlane said. "We were the underdogs, and they had to worry about their spot in the poll."

Hawai'i (1-4) started the game with a 5-0 run, but the Wildcats got their first lead, 11-10, at 13:17. They led most of the first half, but with two minutes to go, the Rainbow Wahine took a 27-23 lead.

The teams traded baskets, and Hawai'i junior wing Jade Abele made 1 of 2 free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining to tie the game at 30. Hawai'i's defense denied Arizona (3-2) a final halftime shot.

Abele finished with 21 points, and freshman wing Pam Tambini added 11.

"I just thought I would be more aggressive," Tambini said. "It is how I normally am. The last couple of games I've been more of a playmaker for the other players. I am more comfortable now."

In the second half, there were four ties and six lead changes, with Arizona taking the lead for good at 43-41 with 13 minutes to go.

The Wildcats' largest lead of the game was 65-55 with two minutes remaining.

"They were tough; they were really big inside," said Hawai'i junior wing Jade Abele. Advertiser library photo

"If we put down some 3-point attempts in the last five minutes of the game, it might have been closer," Hawai'i coach Vince Goo said.

Hawai'i was 2 of 18 on 3-point attempts, including 0 for 11 in the second half.

The Rainbow Wahine shot 42.9 percent (21 of 49) and the Wildcats shot 43.3 percent (26 of 60).

Led by guards Dee-Dee Wheeler's 21 points and Aimee Grzyb's 11, Arizona ran a fast-paced offense balanced out by a strong inside presence.

"Arizona is very quick up and down the floor, and they have a lot of muscle on the inside," Goo said. "I'm proud of how we battled against them on the boards, and when we held our composure and ran our offense well, it didn't give them too many fast-break opportunities."

Preseason John R. Wooden Award nominee Shawntinice Polk, a 6-foot-5 center, picked up her fourth foul within the first minute of the second half and was held to four points after entering yesterday's game averaging 19.5.

Goo said that he knew Polk was susceptible to getting into foul trouble, and that they wanted to go after her. But junior center Danielle Adefeso filled in and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Arizona outrebounded Hawai'i, 37-31, including 12 offensive rebounds to Hawai'i's 6.

Arizona, using two centers in the latter half of the second half, outscored Hawai'i 41-30 in the paint.

"They were tough; they were really big inside," Abele said. "Those big girls, they are so hard to stop. When they turn, your face is in their armpit."

• No. 2 Texas 85, Montana 46: Tiffany Jackson had 18 points and 14 rebounds in Texas' victory over Montana (3-1) in the championship game.

Tournament MVP Heather Schreiber added 15 points for Texas, Jamie Carey had 12 and Coco Reed 11.

• Hartford 74, Virginia 63: Liz Stich scored 19, Ikea Witt 16, Tanika Price 11 and Bridget Murray 10 as Hartford (4-1) beat Virginia in the third-place game.

Brandi Teamer scored a game-high 21 points for the Cavaliers (2-3).

• Syracuse 60, Navy 46: Sarah Wegrzynowicz scored a game-high 16 points, Chineze Nwagbo had 13, Julie McBride 12 and Lauren Kohn added 11 as Syracuse (3-2) beat Navy (2-4) in the seventh-place game.

Ashley Pelzek had 13 and Courtney Davidson 11 for Navy.

All-Tournament Team

LaTonya Blue (Virginia), Jade Abele (Hawai'i), Dee-Dee Wheeler (Arizona), Liz Stich (Hartford), Julie Deming (Montana), Nina Norman (Texas), Jamie Carey (Texas)

Tournament MVP

Heather Schreiber (Texas)

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.

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