Kaua'i (8-2) struggled to bring the ball up the floor against Roosevelt's full-court, man-to-man defense, and its players were often trapped when they got near the sidelines.

"Our pressure, we were kind of gambling a lot, something we don't usually do," Keanini said. "But we had an opportunity to do that, let the girls run around and have some confidence. Let them have some fun out there and get up and down the court."

Roosevelt, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's second-place team, will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Punahou today at 4:15 p.m.

Kaua'i coach Dennis Aquino said his team averaged about 13 turnovers a game during the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation season. The Red Raiders turned the ball over 13 times in the first quarter.

"No. 22 (guard Ulu Kelekoma) back home she could break the press because no one could keep up with her," Aquino said. "We came out and they ran one, two, three people to the person with the ball and our girls were not used to that."

The Rough Riders had numerous layups off the turnovers and finished the game 24 of 55 from the field with 15 assists. Roosevelt was patient on offense against Kaua'i's 2-3 zone.

"I think we were a little too unselfish, but it's not a bad thing," Keanini said.

Beasley, a 5-foot-6 junior guard, scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the first half and played only eight minutes in the second. She also had team highs of six steals and seven rebounds.

"She gives us the rebounds, gives us the points," Keanini said. "She gives us that mental toughness and physical toughness that we need."

Senior guard Chelsie Kadota added 10 points and was one of four Rough Riders with four steals.

Kaua'i shot just 11 of 29 from the field.

"We weren't able to adapt and make adjustments to their defense, and that kind of stymied what we do offensively," Aquino said.

Roosevelt won the state Division II tournament last season and was promoted to Division I for this season. Keanini is happy to be playing against the state's best.

"The opportunity to win the Division II again would have been a great opportunity," he said. "But wanting to be in Division I, wanting to compete at the highest level, is where we want to be at. One of the things we talk about all the time is wanting to play big games, wanting to play against bigger teams, wanting to play at the Division I level."