Rainbow Wahine shoring up defense
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Rainbow Wahine basketball team worked this week on sharpening its defense after conference-leader Louisiana Tech sliced it up, 68-54, with an assortment of baseline drives and easy layups this past Saturday.
"Defensively, we're doing a better job rebounding, and we're playing reasonable defense, but we want to gear it up a little more," Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla said.
Bolla
Hawai'i's defense will get another challenge tonight against UTEP (8-7 overall, 3-2 Western Athletic Conference) at the Stan Sheriff Center. On Saturday, Hawai'i will host Boise State (6-8, 1-4). Both games start at 7 p.m.
Against the Lady Techsters, Hawai'i surrendered a season-high 27 baseline drives, about half of which led to easy baskets, or free throws, according to UH associate coach Pat Charity. Louisiana Tech also burned the 'Bows (6-6, 2-3) with several easy transition baskets.
Who: Hawai'i (6-6, 2-3) vs. UTEP (8-7, 3-2) tonight; Hawai'i vs. Boise State (6-8, 1-4) Saturday When: Both games at 7 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center Tv/Radio: Live KFVE-TV (Ch. 5)/KKEA (1420AM) Tickets: $7 (adults); $6 (senior citizens); children (ages 4-18) and UH students (with valid ID) free. Parking: $3
"We had transition defensive breakdowns and we had baseline breakdowns," Bolla said. "You're not going to win games when you have that many breakdowns."
RAINBOW WAHINE
To prevent transition layups, Bolla instructed his retreating players to initially position themselves inside the key and under the basket. Hawai'i players also practiced a rotating defensive scheme to defend opponents who drive the baseline.
"You can always play good defense," said Hawai'i swing player Amy Sanders, considered one of the team's best perimeter defenders by the coaching staff. "I think it intimidates opponents if they know you're going to be pressuring them."
In addition to defense, Hawai'i is also trying to regain its offensive touch. In its last three road games, the 'Bows are shooting 32 percent (65 of 202).
"We're not pushing the ball like we used to push it earlier in the season," Bolla said. "We need to uptempo it."
One of the bright spots recently has been Sanders, who is the team's top scorer in WAC games, averaging 11.3 points per contest.
"I think I've just been shooting better," Sanders said. "At the beginning of the season I was just really in a slump. Once you start shooting better you get more confidence."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
