Posted on: Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Rainbows hope to fill big gap left by Abele

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

With senior forward Jade Abele nursing an injury, University of Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla wants a strength-in-numbers approach against host Nevada today in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

"We'll have to make an adjustment without Jade," Bolla said. "We're going to have a number of people fill that position."

The Rainbow Wahine will play the Wolf Pack for the third time this season and the second time in five days. Hawai'i won the previous meetings, 71-43, on New Year's Day, and 62-54, on March 3.

Tipoff for today's game is 12:30 p.m. (Hawai'i time). The game will be broadcast live on KKEA radio (1420 AM).

If Abele can't play today, it will be the first time since her freshman season she will miss a game. On Saturday, Abele injured her left knee twice in Hawai'i's 64-48 loss to host Fresno State. Abele has played in 92 consecutive games, and has made 81 consecutive starts.

"It's a chance for others to step up," said Abele, who averages 11.5 points and leads the team in 3-pointers made (37), rebounds (167) and assists (93). "It's just their time now."

Bolla said he may call upon several players — post player Alofa Toiaivao, center Callie Spooner, swing players Pam Tambini and Brittney Aiwohi, and forward Amber Lee — to help replace Abele's production.

"Jade gave us a lot of flexibility," Bolla said. "We could move Jade out to the wing and sub in a post player. We don't have the flexibility now."

Bolla said Abele's ballhanding and passing ability will be missed against Nevada's pressure defense. Hawai'i had trouble against the Wolf Pack's defense on March 3 and committed nine first-half turnovers and shot just 33 percent (18 of 54) for the game.

"We put (Abele) at the guard position sometimes, and she was able to see over the top of the press," said Bolla of the 6-foot-1 Abele. "We need to play around in practice with different people in that position to see how we can see over the press."

Abele's injury is Hawai'i's second serious one this season. Guard Janevia Taylor missed two games and played sparingly in two others after spraining her right ankle on Jan. 20. Toiaivao started in place of Taylor and averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks as Hawai'i went 2-2 during that stretch.

Bolla said he won't change his uptempo playing style despite Abele's injury.

"We're not going to go into a slow-down game," Bolla said. "We did the same thing with Nevi out. We didn't change our gameplan. We're going to push the ball. We're going to change our defenses. We're going to play uptempo. The key to playing uptempo is you've got to control the boards."

Nevada will be led by freshman forward Meghan McGuire who averages a team-best 13.4 points per game. McGuire scored a team-high 20 points against Hawai'i on Jan. 1.

WAC Tournament

At Reno, Nev.

Today's games, Hawai'i times

• Game 1: Boise State vs. UTEP, 10 a.m.
• Game 2: Nevada vs. Hawai'i, 12:30 p.m.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.