Posted on: Thursday, February 17, 2005
Good things come in 3's for Boise State
| • | Second-half surge spurs 'Bows, 81-67 |
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
As the premier 3-point shooting team in the conference, Boise State likely sees today's game against visiting Hawai'i as a long-shot opportunity.
Boise State, which has made a conference-best 136 3-pointers this season, is ninth in the WAC standings at 3-10 and 8-14 overall. The Rainbow Wahine are seventh at 5-7 and 9-10 overall.
Today's game starts at 4 p.m. (Hawai'i time) and will be broadcast live on KKEA radio (1420 AM).
Earlier this season, the visiting Broncos shot 6 of 30 from 3-point range, including 6 of 15 in the second half, in a 67-55 Hawai'i victory on Jan. 22.
In today's game, the Broncos will have additional firepower with the return of sophomore center Michelle Hessing, who did not play in the Jan. 22 game because of an injured foot.
"Since we've played them, they've beaten Louisiana Tech (62-59 in Boise on Jan. 27), and one of their players is back now from a broken foot," said Bolla, who noted that Boise State and Hawai'i were the only two conference teams this season to upset conference-leading Louisiana Tech. "That gives them a little more personnel. We need to be aware of that."
The Broncos average 18.3 3-point shot attempts and 6.2 3-pointers made per game. Junior forward Cassidy Blaine leads the team in 3-pointers (46 of 110).
Freshman guard Tasha Harris leads Boise State at 11.8 points per game followed by Blaine (10.8 ppg) and Hessing (9.8 ppg).
The Rainbow Wahine will likely counter with forwards Jade Abele (11.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Amy Sanders (12.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), guards Milia Macfarlane (7.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and Janevia Taylor (11.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and center Brittany Grice (5.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg).
Sanders is the reigning WAC Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games last week against conference-leader Louisiana Tech and Southern Methodist. She scored 27 points, including the game-winning basket, and had 10 rebounds in a 79-78 overtime victory against visiting Louisiana Tech on Feb. 10.
Sanders is the first Rainbow Wahine player in nearly two years to earn the honor. Kim Willoughby won the award during the 2003 conference season.
"She deserves it," Bolla said of Sanders. "I think the kids are really proud of her. I know everyone was really happy when we announced it on Monday."
Hawai'i is also close to another individual milestone. Abele needs six points to become the 14th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Abele has become one of the WAC's most versatile players this season, ranking in the top 12 in scoring (11.8 ppg, 12th), rebounding (7.0 rpg, tie 11th) and assists (4.0 apg, 5th).
"She's doing so much more," Bolla said. "She's passing the heck out of the ball, rebounding the ball. She's got great court vision. She just wants to win."
In the last meeting, Hawai'i played nine players against Boise State. Bolla said he's planning to do much of the same today.
"This is a game where we can get more personnel into the game and it doesn't affect us offensively and defensively in any significant way," he said.
Bolla said the Rainbow Wahine want to finish the regular season in sixth place or better to earn a first-round bye in the 10-team WAC Tournament, March 8 to 12 in Reno, Nev.
"We need to make a move," Bolla said. "We need to get some wins. We don't want to be in a position where we're hoping for other people to help us out. The easiest thing for us is to just win. That's how you control your own destiny."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
"We need to be aware that they can shoot the 3," first-year Rainbow Wahine coach Jim Bolla said of the Broncos, the two-time defending Western Athletic Conference 3-point field-goal percentage champions.
