Abele won't play in WAC Tournament
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
One day after losing all-conference player Jade Abele to injury, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team received some good news yesterday with Amy Sanders earning a spot on the Western Athletic Conference second team.
"I'm so excited and really happy to get the award," said Sanders, who leads the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game. "It shows my work has paid off."
Abele
The Rainbow Wahine (11-14 overall, 7-11 WAC) will play Nevada (7-21, 3-15) in the first round of the WAC Tournament tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. (Hawai'i time).
Abele, an all-WAC first-team selection last season, said she won't play in the WAC Tournament. She is scheduled to undergo magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure that uses magnetic fields to create a picture of the body's interior, on her injured left knee today.
"I'm out," said Abele, who injured her knee twice in Hawai'i's 64-48 loss to host Fresno State on Saturday, and was on crutches yesterday. "It's really just stiff and sore today. (But) I don't have the throb that it had last night."
Bolla said he may use several players such as Alofa Toiaivao, Callie Spooner, Pam Tambini, Brittney Aiwohi and Amber Lee to replace Abele's production.
"Everyone is going to have to step up, whether it's Alofa, or Callie, or Pam or Brittney or Amber, we'll probably play a couple of people in that spot," Bolla said. "If we can get two or three people to go in that position, and get 15 points and 8 to 10 rebounds, we should be fine."
"I know the talent we have on our team," said guard Janevia Taylor, who overcame an ankle injury that forced her to miss two games this season. "Her shoes will be hard to fill. We know we've got players on the bench who can come out and play."
Hawai'i will play Nevada for the third time this season, and second time in five days. Hawai'i won the previous meetings, 71-43, on New Year's Day, and 62-54, on March 3.
Nevada coach Kim Gervasoni told the Reno Gazette-Journal there may be an advantage in playing Hawai'i again so soon.
"I feel confident we can honestly beat any team in the WAC if we play good basketball," Gervasoni said. "So I don't really care who the first round match-up is, but I guess there is an advantage in that it's fresh in our minds."
Bolla yesterday said he wanted his team to respect Nevada.
"I'm really emphasizing to them we can't rely on that we've beat them twice already," Bolla said. "Both teams are 0-0 now. We need to come out playing well at the beginning, pick up the slack for Jade and go out there and have some fun."
WAC Tournament
At Reno, Nev.
Tomorrow's games, Hawai'i times
Game 1: Boise State vs. UTEP, 10 a.m.
Game 2: Nevada vs. Hawai'i, 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday's games
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Louisiana Tech, 10 a.m.
Game 4: SMU vs. Fresno State, 12:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Rice, 4 p.m.
Game 6: San Jose State vs. Tulsa, 6:30 p.m.
Friday's games
Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 10 a.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday's game
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 10 a.m.
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
