LaTech tops Hawai'i, 68-54
Advertiser Staff
Tasha Crain scored a team-high 12 points as conference-leader Louisiana Tech rallied past visiting Hawai'i, 68-54, yesterday at Ruston, La.
The Rainbow Wahine held three 10-point leads in the first half — including a 34-24 advantage with 2:36 remaining — but were outscored 8-0 to end the half. Hawai'i led 34-32 at halftime, but was stung by a 15-4 Louisiana Tech surge to start the second half.
Abele
"We were up 10 with 2:36 left in the first half and we just quit playing," Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla said. "They went on an 8-0 run and momentum really swung their way. Up until that point, (Louisiana Tech) had really no idea what we were doing. We were playing really well even though we weren't shooting the ball real well."
Hawai'i (6-6 overall, 2-3 Western Athletic Conference) returns today from an 11-day, three-game road trip that was considered one of its longest and toughest this season. Hawai'i — which went 1-2 on the trip — lost to San Jose State, 54-49, in overtime on Jan. 8, and upset second-place Southern Methodist, 70-63, on Thursday.
Yesterday, Hawai'i shot just 29 percent for the game. The Rainbow Wahine made only seven baskets in the second half when they shot 27 percent and were outscored 36-20 by three-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech (10-4, 6-0).
"We had foolish fouls, didn't run our offense and took bad shots," Bolla said. "You can't play catch-up with these kinds of teams, especially at home."
Amy Sanders led Hawai'i with 11 points, and Jade Abele and Janevia Taylor added 10 each. Abele also grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. Tamika Kursh and Shan Moore each scored 11 points for Louisiana Tech. Kursh had 12 rebounds.
The Lady Techsters played without WAC Preseason Player of the Year Erica Taylor, who has a newborn daughter. Still, they outrebounded Hawai'i 27-14 in the second half and finished the game with a 50-42 advantage.
"When you shoot 29 percent, you've got to rebound the ball," Bolla said. "In the second half, they got a lot of second shots on us."
In addition, one of Hawai'i's key players, Alofa Toiaivao, was assessed two technical fouls on a single play and was ejected with Louisiana Tech leading 57-46 with less than 6 minutes remaining. On the play, Toiaivao committed a foul and then made two unfavorable comments toward an official that prompted the technicals, Bolla said.
Bolla called Toiaivao's conduct "totally unacceptable."
"We're going to have to address that issue," Bolla said. "You just don't do that."
In the second half, Hawai'i cut the deficit to 47-40 on a basket by Abele, but that's as close as the Rainbow Wahine would get. Louisiana Tech increased its lead to 67-46, before Hawai'i closed the game with an 8-1 run.
"I'm disappointed," Bolla said. "We were up on (Louisiana Tech). We were really confusing them, playing good defense, getting some shots, and getting some rebounds. But we need to play them for 40 minutes and not 17 minutes."
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