Free-throw woes sink UH women
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Senior Night was not the ideal time for Hawai'i to learn nothing comes for free.
The Rainbow Wahine said a sad farewell to seniors Michelle Gabriel, Natasja Allen and Christen Roper by losing to Rice, 56-47, before a crowd of 1,684 at Stan Sheriff Center last night. The difference could be traced directly to the foul line, where the 'Bows missed 11 free throws (15-26).
In a game dominated by defense, as all 'Bow-Owl games are, that was simply too many to give away.
"Free throws killed us," admitted April Atuaia, who will be Hawai'i's sole senior next season.
The loss was the Rainbow Wahine's first to a non-ranked team at home this season. It dropped UH (13-12) to sixth in the WAC at 7-9 —a half-game out of seventh with two road games remaining. The last four teams (Nos. 7-10) play the WAC Tournament's first day.
The Owls (13-12, 10-6) vaulted into second place alone. They have won four WAC road games while the Rainbow Wahine are still looking for their first.
Rice did it with a pick-a-shooter offense — 10 Owls scored — and a defense that was as suffocating as Hawai'i's. Anne Peck was the only Owl in double figures and she scored 10 of her 11 points in the first half. Kate Beckler, another reserve, gave Rice a 29-26 halftime advantage with her second 3-pointer. In the second half, Kara Liggett got hot and Kim Lawson scored all six of her points in the final 4:19.
The Owls also owned the end of each half, outscoring UH 17-7 in the final eight minutes of the first and 17-3 in the last seven minutes of the game.
"The kids just made plays," Rice coach Cristy McKinney said. "We didn't change anything, didn't talk about anything. I told them it was in our hands."
These teams have not scored 60 points against each other in the last six games and both connected on just 34 percent of their shots last night. Thanks to 12 offensive rebounds — all but two in the first half — Rice took 15 more shots. That didn't matter until crunch time. The Owls made half their shots during their winning surges while Hawai'i just kept missing, from the field and the foul line.
"It was just like our first game with them when we shot 16-for-23 (free throws) and lost by four," UH coach Vince Goo said. "We said coming in it was going to be free throws tonight."
Knowing that didn't change anything. Natasja Allen got two Rice post players in foul trouble with her drives, but could only convert 4-of-12 free throws. The Rainbow Wahine opened their biggest second-half advantage (44-39) despite missing five of their first eight foul shots after halftime.
The Owls tied the game at 44 on two shots in a span of 30 seconds, then blew by UH in the last five minutes.
Atuaia led Hawai'i with 13 points. Allen added 12 and Kim Willoughby 11. Those three combined for 23 of the 'Bows' 35 rebounds.
"Overall I think we played really hard," Atuaia said. "It was a tough one because it was the seniors' last night. But we have the road trip and WAC Tournament coming up. We have a chance to play hard for our seniors again."
Last year Rice swept the series with Hawai'i, then got blown out by the 'Bows, 59-36, in the WAC Tournament. That was the only positive thought Hawai'i could take from last night's game.
"They did what they needed to do at the end of the game to pull it out," Goo said. "Nine-point ballgame, but it was a lot closer than that. They got quickness and speed and they don't shoot well against us and we don't shoot well against them. It always come down to defense and free throws. We shoot 10 more free throws because we're getting fouled going to the basket. That's exactly what we were trying to do."
OVER AND BACK: Hawai'i honored seniors Christen Roper, Michelle Gabriel and Natasja Allen last night after their last home game. The trio has helped UH to an 82-37 record in their careers and gone to a record three consecutive postseason tournaments — all WNIT. ... UH reserve Julia Washington, a fourth-year junior, was also honored. She is graduating in May in communications. ... Roper plans to graduate in December in history, with a Spanish minor. ... Gabriel, who is student teaching a second-grade class at Punahou this semester, is scheduled to graduate in May 2004. ... Allen will graduate in December 2004 in exercise science.
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