Rainbow Wahine face another road test
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
"Unkind" is not the word University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball players use to describe the road this year. Their descriptions go along the lines of "miserable" and "agonizing."
"It's just frustrating," says UH tri-captain Michelle Gabriel of her team's 0-for-5 road record. "The way we're losing is a matter of a couple baskets. We know each basket is critical."
Tonight in Reno, the Rainbow Wahine (12-9, 6-6 WAC) play Nevada (9-14, 2-11) at Lawlor Events Center. The Wolf Pack has won two of its last three after a nightmarish start. Hawai'i has dropped four of five, all but one loss coming on the road.
It is a common WAC complaint. Aside from seventh-ranked Louisiana Tech, which will clinch its 11th consecutive regular-season conference title with another win, every conference team has been terrible away from home.
Home teams are winning 70 percent of the time. The balance of power is so tenuous, and home-court advantage so overwhelming, that eight of the 10 teams are within three games of each other. Hawai'i, which has finished first or second in five of its six WAC seasons, is mired in fifth, but only a game out of second.
The Rainbows came into this season winning 72 percent of their WAC road games. Now it is oh-for-the-Mainland.
"People have always looked forward to coming to Hawai'i," UH coach Vince Goo says. "People in the WAC right now are looking forward to having Hawai'i come to them."
Nevada presents a unique challenge, despite its woeful record. The Pack lost in Hawai'i, 58-57, one month ago, after taking a 17-point first-half lead. The Pack has found all kinds of ways to lose, despite all-WAC seniors Kate Smith, Laura Ingham and Ashley Bastian.
All average 13 points a game. Smith adds six rebounds, Ingham eight assists and Bastian is the school's career leader in 3-pointers. The trio owned the 'Bows in the first half here. Tonight they are home at 4,200 feet up, and finally familiar with winning again.
The Rainbow Wahine appear to have cured their offensive problems — averaging 70 points their last two games — but still have not discovered how to win off The Rock. At San Jose State Sunday, the country's 21st-best defensive team gave up a season-high 71 points.
And at Tuesday's practice, Gabriel said she was ready to pass out oxygen masks — or just flat pass out — because of the altitude's effects.
"We'll be ready to play," Goo promises. "The altitude, their legs, their lungs ... there's no excuse. They know that."
Goo has been telling his players they are "peaking at the right time" and should be looking forward to the WAC Tournament next month. "We'll see these teams in Tulsa," Goo says. "Every single one."
Gabriel and her teammates are thinking only about the next possession.
"It's just a matter of putting two halves together, putting two parts of the game together — offense and defense," she says. "It's just the little things."
OVER AND BACK: Tonight's game will be broadcast live on 1420 AM, beginning at 4:45 p.m. HST. ... Hawai'i's game at Fresno Saturday begins at noon here and will also be broadcast. ... That will be the last game played at North Gym. The Bulldogs move into their on-campus arena next season and will host the 2003 WAC Tournament.
