Posted on: Sunday, November 23, 2003
Lipscomb deals UH women first opening loss in 15 years
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Hawai'i's April Atuaia drives through the defense of Lipscomb's Kendra Ramsey, left, and Keirsten Head. Lipscomb won, 69-63.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The Rainbow Wahine, who played 10 underclassmen, lost to Lipscomb, 69-63, yesterday in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic at Stan Sheriff Center.
Lipscomb faces Washington, which defeated Maine, 82-70, today at 5 p.m. for the championship. Hawai'i plays Maine at 3 in the consolation game. The UH game will be televised delayed on K5 at 5 p.m.
In front of 673 spectators, Hawai'i lost its first season opener in 15 years — since 1988.
Hawai'i's youthful exuberance could not match the experience of the Lady Bisons, who started two seniors and two juniors.
"I'm sure when they get more experience they'll be much tougher," Lipscomb coach Frank Bennett said of the Wahine.
Hawai'i's lone senior, April Atuaia, had a game-high 17 points. No other Rainbow Wahine scored in double figures.
Junior wing Courtney Boynton scored 15 points and senior posts Kendra Ramsey and Andie Ester had 10 point each for Lipscomb.
The Rainbow Wahine shot a dismal 31.5 percent (23 of 73) from the field, and although the Lady Bisons did not fare much better, shooting 36.1 percent (22 of 61), they made 10 of 22 3-pointers.
Lipscomb, an Atlantic Sun Conference school from Nashville, Tenn., "got good spots on the floor and exploited our weaknesses," UH coach Vince Goo said. "On defense we weren't able to get to them in time, and they knocked them down. They knocked them down in spurts. They are a good 3-point shooting team."
| Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic
• WHO: Hawai'i, Washington, Lipscomb, and Maine • WHEN: Today: Hawai'i vs. Maine, 3 p.m.; Lipscomb vs. Washington, 5 p.m. • WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center • TICKETS: $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, free for children ages 4-18 and UH students (with valid ID). Parking is $3. • RADIO: UH-Maine live on 1420 AM • TV: UH-Maine delay on K5 (Ch. 5) at 5 p.m. |
Hawai'i went on a run of its own, outscoring Lipscomb,15-2, and closing to 58-56 with 4:54 left in the game.
"I think we wanted the ball, and we got momentum," Atuaia said. "... but it just killed us in the end with our fouls."
Lipscomb made 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute of the game to seal the win.
Both coaches utilized their benches, with Hawai'i using 13 players and Lipscomb 12.
• WASHINGTON 82, MAINE 70: Senior center Andrea Lalum scored a game-high 28 points and senior guard Giuliana Mendiola added 21 as the Huskies (1-0) outlasted the Black Bears (0-1).
Maine was led by senior forward Heather Ernest, who scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Ashley Underwood added 11 and Julie Veilleux 10.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
