Game Notes

SAN JOSE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team opens their 16th and final Western Athletic Conference season on the road at San Jose State this Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m. in The Event Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine finished last season in seventh place, was picked by both the coaches and the media to finish in fifth in the 2011-12 season. The Spartans, who last year finished in ninth place, were selected to finish eighth in both polls.
 
Hawai'i enters WAC action with a 5-10 non-conference record against an early tough schedule in which UH hosted four tournaments. The 'Bows are looking to change their fortunes against WAC competition. Sophomore forward Kamilah Jackson leads UH and the WAC with 10.1 rebounds a game and a team-high 14.5 points per game. Jackson is ranked No. 9 in the NCAA DI with eight double-doubles this season alone and she has scored in double-figures in 13 of UH”s 15 games thus far.
 
The mid-season additions of sophomore transfer Vicky Tagalicod and freshman center Kalei Adolpho has breathed new life into the team and have provided some much needed scoring and post play for the 'Bows. Tagalicod, a forward who transferred at the end of the fall semester in 2010, has helped boost UH's offense, as she's averaged 11.3 points in the six games she's played in. Adolpho joined the basketball team after she played her rookie season with UH's women's volleyball team. She has been strong on the glass, averaging 9.0 rebounds in her first games on the court while chipping in 7.7 points per game.
 
San Jose State has an identical 5-10 non-conference record with UH and comes into the WAC season on a two-game win streak, lead by reigning WAC Player of the Week, Sara Plavljanin, who averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 4.5 steals in the Spartans' road wins at Southern Utah and Utah Valley. Brittany Johnson leads three Spartans averaging double-digits in points. Johnson has posted a team-high 19.3 points per game and is second on the team with 8.1 rebounds an outing. Plavljanin is second on the team with 13.5 points per game and she leads SJSU with 50 assists and is second with 33 assists.
 
TIP-OFF NOTES: Hawai'i at San Jose State
Date: Jan. 14, 2012
Tip Off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: San Jose, Calif.
Venue: The Event Center (5,000)
Audio & Video Webcast: Available through SJSUSpartans.com's “Gold Zone”
Live Stats: Fans can view live stats of all San Jose State home games and most road contests by accessing the “Live Stats” feature at www.sjsuspartans.com.  Click on the link at the top of the home page to follow the action.
Coaches: Dana Takahara-Dias is in her third year at UH (26-49). San Jose State's Tim LaKose is in his first season at the helm of the Spartans' program. In his 18 year coaching career, he has posted a 352-162 record.
Series Information: UH leads, 25-12 
Series record: Hawai'i holds a 41-14 lead in the all-time series. SJSU won the first three of the 55 meetings between these two teams.  But from the 1985-86 season to the first of two matchups in 2002-03, UH won 32-of-34 games. SJSU won the second meeting of the 2002-03 season, 71-67, and since that game, the two teams have split the next 18 meetings.  San Jose State holds a 7-to-2 advantage in its nine home games since that 2002-03 win.  Last season, the two teams split the series with SJSU winning at home, 53-41 and UH winning in Honolulu, 55-53.
WAC Openers: Hawai'i is 8-7 all-time in WAC openers--4-3 in WAC road openers. UH has lost their last three-straight conference opening road games. The 'Bows last opened on the road at Fresno State in 2010 in a 83-42 loss. This is just the second time that Hawai'i has opened conference play with San Jose State. The only other year was UH's second year in the WAC(1998) when Hawai'i defeated the Spartans 86-56 in Honolulu.