Wahine look to buck Big West trend
There’s something to be said for getting off to good starts — in a game, in a season, in a career.
Of course, that is far from everything. The Hawaii women’s basketball team has struggled in its Big West Conference openers in its current go-around in the league, but the Rainbow Wahine (except for the last two years) were able to rally and largely succeed the rest of the way.
UH is 1-5 in Big West openers since rejoining the league in 2012. It should be noted that all but one of those games were on the road. The Wahine (4-9) open away from home again today, at Cal State Fullerton (8-5). Coming into today, they are 0-2 in openers at Titan Gym, including a 12-point loss last season. You can live stream today’s game (4 p.m. HST tipoff).
UPDATE: UH lost 72-68 in its opener, despite a career-high 25 points from Amy Atwell in 16 minutes of play.
FINAL: Amy Atwell drops a career-best 25pts (9-11 FG, 4-5 3FG) in just 16 minutes, but #HawaiiWBB edged at #CSF 72-68.
Lauren Rewers adds 10pts-3rb-3ast.
Courtney Middap 5pts-6rb-4ast-3blk.'Bows host defending #BigWestChamps 👑 #UCDavis Saturday, Jan. 12. pic.twitter.com/zrIJYkS6xu
— Big West WBB (@BigWestWBB) January 6, 2019
The Wahine are 12-6 (now 12-7) all-time in Big West/PCAA openers, going back to the days of Bill Nepfel and Vince Goo as coaches. In their first go-round, from 1984-85 to 1995-96, they were 11-1 in such games — including winning their opener in their first nine years of conference membership. But, if you notice below, they had the benefit of playing the majority of those at home.
Here’s the year-by-year of WBB Big West conference openers:
2018-19: L, at Cal State Fullerton 72, Hawaii 68
2017-18: L, at Cal State Fullerton 69, Hawaii 57
2016-17: L, at Long Beach State 68, Hawaii 57
2015-16: W, Hawaii 67, at Long Beach state 55
2014-15: L, at Cal Poly 70, Hawaii 65
2013-14: L, Cal Poly 78, at Hawaii 74, OT
2012-13: L, at Cal State Fullerton 83, Hawaii 74
— UH WAC MEMBERSHIP 1996-97 to 2011-12 —
1995-96: W, at Hawaii 60, New Mexico State 39
1994-95: W, at Hawaii 53, Pacific 51
1993-94: L, at UNLV 71, Hawaii 59
1992-93: W, Hawaii 87, at New Mexico State 79
1991-92: W, at Hawaii 59, Pacific 56
1990-91: W, at Hawaii 68, UC Irvine 37
1989-90: W, at Hawaii 86, San Jose State 50
1988-89: W, at Hawaii 88, UNLV 80
1987-88: W, at Hawaii 90, San Jose State 55
1986-87: W, at Hawaii 71, UNLV 60
1985-86: W, at Hawaii 80, Pacific 59
1984-85: W, Hawaii 77, at Pacific 72, OT
Lauren Rewers hit a jumper from the free throw line.
Big three by Amy Atwell late in the third quarter.
Only down four.
Get chance.
Hitting free throws on the road, that’s how you win.
Salanoa got fouled on a three-point attempt and hit them all.
55-50.
They’re competing.
They look good right now.
Middap hits a three to put Hawaii up 58-55.
The video is blurry. That was Atwell.
She had an open look on the next possession but she passed it up.
She should have taken it; she has the hot hand.
Never mind if it was early in the shot clock.
Awesome.
Rewers gave them the lead.
60-59.
#4 didn’t block out.
Gave CSF a second chance.
Buried the three to retake the lead .
60-62.
Missed chance at a defensive rebound and possession.
8-0 run.
One possession game.
The point guard was wasting precious seconds at the top of the key.
CSF bailed Hawaii out by fouling Middap at the three-point line.
Clutch free throws.
Too little, too late?
They missed shots near the end of the game, which is a whole lot better than turning it over.
Good effort.
Amy Atwell had the best game of her career one game after Lauren Rewers had the best game of her life.
Hawaii found one more player.
I mean, “career”.
That sounds insulting.
Only eleven turnovers.
Hawaii gave themselves a chance to steal one on the road.
The Titans hit their free throws.
Well, seeing this, I’m not sure if that would be much the last straw for Matlin. Throughout this season, Beeman’s gone through several losing streaks after the 2015-16 season. If you look at it this way, this was where it went from there:
2016-17: Nov. 25 – Dec. 4 = 4-game non-conference losing streak, followed by Feb. 2 – Feb. 18 = 6-game conference losing streak
2017-18: Jan. 4 – Jan. 11 = 3-game conference losing streak, followed by another 3-game conference losing streak on Jan. 18 – Jan. 25
2018-19: Nov. 6 – Nov. 16 = 4-game non-conference losing streak, Nov. 23 – Nov. 25 on another 3-game non-conference losing streak, and follow that with Dec. 21 – Jan. 5 = 3-game losing streak, including one conference game.
What’s worse is that the other teams in the BWC are thinking ahead and recruiting better than we are. I mean, look at it this way, we’re not like a blue-collar school like Mississippi State, Oregon, UConn and all the other big-named powerhouse schools that are ranked, but unfortunately, both the WBB and WVB programs are struggling to attract tall players to our program. That’s what hurts. Somewhere between the lines, there’s got to be something Beeman can do to let Matlin have one more chance, but Beeman’s pretty much fighting for her life at this point to keep her job. I just hope she can find a solution before it’s too late.