HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i announced its 2004-05 women's basketball schedule, which includes three preseason tournaments and an 18-game conference slate. The Rainbow Wahine can potentially face four teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Rainbow Wahine open the season with the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic, Nov. 26-28. It will be the 26th edition of the tournament, long considered the top preseason tournament in women's collegiate basketball. UH's season opener will be a first-round matchup with Santa Clara of the West Coast Conference on Friday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m.
Joining Hawai`i and Santa Clara in the field are California, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan State, TCU and Utah . Georgia, Michigan State and TCU all advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year, with Georgia falling one win short of a Final Four appearance. Utah did not make the Tournament, despite winning 25 games, while Idaho was a 22-game winner last year.
UH's second tournament is the Waikiki Beach Marriott Invitational, Dec. 9-11. The round-robin tournament includes Southeast Missouri State and Brigham Young. The Rainbow Wahine round out their non-conference schedule with the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic, Dec. 17-18. UH faces Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference on the first day of the tournament and will face either Oklahoma State or Houston, an 2004 NCAA participant, on day two.
The Rainbow Wahine open up Western Athletic Conference play at home on December 30 against Fresno State. UH has a New Year's Day affair against Nevada on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. The conference schedule also includes dates with nationally ranked Louisiana Tech (Jan. 15 & Feb. 10) and UH's final meetings with Rice, SMU, Tulsa, and UTEP as WAC opponents. The 2005 WAC Tournament will be hosted by Nevada, March 9-13.
First-year head coach Jim Bolla inherits a program that returns 12 letterwinners and four starters, including all-WAC performers Jade Abele and Janevia Taylor. Last year’s squad went 8-20 overall and 6-12 in the WAC.
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