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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 11, 2005

Rainbow Wahine sign 3 for next season

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team has landed three players, including Kamehameha-Hawai'i guard Leilani Galdones, during the early signing period.

Galdones, Dita Liepkalne and Megan Tinnin signed national letters of intent and will attend Hawai'i next fall, according to UH coach Jim Bolla.

"These are three girls we targeted early and we're glad to have signed them," Bolla said. "They give us added size and athleticism and they all fit into our up-tempo style. I'm really pleased with the start of this year's recruiting class.

Galdones, a 5-foot-6 guard, led Kamehameha-Hawai'i to the 2005 HHSAA Division II state basketball championship last season. A two-year starter for the Lady Warriors, she averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks per game for a squad that finished 22-5 overall. Galdones is a two-time all-Big Island Interscholastic Federation pick and was named honorable-mention all-state as a junior last season, while also earning a spot on the state championship all-tournament team.

Liepkalne, a 6-1 forward, is a native of Latvia who is currently attending Fort Worth Christian Academy in Texas. She came to the United States in 2004 and last season attended Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo. While at Regis Jesuit, she averaged 14 ppg and 7 rpg and led the school to the Class 4A state semifinals. Liepkalne earned all-league mention as her squad finished 20-5 overall.

Tinnin, a 5-10 wing player from Albuquerque, N.M., has been a three-year starter for St. Pius X High School. She has led her squad to three consecutive district titles and two straight appearances in the Class 4A state semifinals. Last year, she averaged 16.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 5.3 spg as St. Pius X finished 22-7 overall. She was named to the Albuquerque Tribune's All-Metro first team while finishing as the Class 4A leader in rebounds. She is a three-time all-district and two-time all-city selection.

UH has six scholarships available for next season. The 2005-06 Rainbow Wahine roster currently has 12 scholarship players, made up of three seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores.