Game Notes

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team (8-12, 3-2 WAC) returns home this week to host a pair of Western Athletic Conference games to close out the first round against Idaho (5-16, 0-5 WAC) and Utah State (13-6, 4-1 WAC). The 'Bows have won three of their last four games, but are looking to bounce back after falling at Fresno State.
 
Forward Kamilah Jackson continues to lead the way for UH. The sophomore from Oakland, Calif. is averaging a double-double with 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Her 10.6 boards ranks her No. 16th in the NCAA DI and No. 1 in the WAC. Jackson is also currently ranked No. 11 in the nation with 11 double-doubles. As a sophomore, Jackson has upped her game across the board—she already has posted a higher free-throw percentage (.684), over 20 more assists (42), more blocked shots (13), and is averaging just over three more points per game this season.
 
The two newest Rainbow Wahine have proved to be extremely valuable assets to UH. Sophomore forward Vicky Tagalicod and freshman center Kalei Adolpho have both brought new life into the team. Tagalicod, who transferred to Hawai'i in the middle of last season, became eligible after the end of the first semester this year. In the past 11 games since then, Tagalicod has consistently put up points and is second on the team, averaging 11.0 points per game. At Nevada, she poured in a career-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor and going 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. In addition to her role as a post player, Tagalicod has also helped relieve freshman point guard Alissa Campanero with ball handling duties on this past road trip.
 
Adolpho also joined the team in mid-season, after spending the fall of her freshman year as a middle hitter on the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team. Adolpho has provided strong play in the post and is second on the team behind Jackson with 6.9 rebounds per game. She is fourth on the team with 7.7 points per game overall and has blocked 13 shots in just 11 games. In UH's last game at Fresno State, Adolpho was one of the bright spots for the 'Bows, tying her career-high with 14 points and three rebounds.
 
Senior Breanna Arbuckle has also had a solid season overall. She is third on the team with 8.8 points and third with 6.2 rebounds per game. Arbuckle has improved her free-throw shooting by almost.200 points from last season (.637) and she has already dished out a career-high 44 assists thus far this season. She leads UH with 32 blocks and now has 133 swats in her career. Arbuckle is now just one block away from tying former UH standout Jeanne Wade's fourth place record of 134 in Hawai'i history.
 
Scouting Idaho…
The Vandals come to Honolulu with a 5-16 overall record and a 0-5 mark in conference. However, last week, Idaho fell at home in a pair of close games against Nevada and second place Utah State. Against a tough Aggies team, the Vandals saw their comeback fall just a little short as they battled from 23 points down to whittle their deficit to just eight points at the end of the game. The Vandals outrebounded the Aggies 32-to-29 but Utah State was able to force 22 turnovers while committing just 13 and USU out-scored Idaho in the paint, 42-to-30.
 
Idaho is led by sophomore Alyssa Charlton, who is averaging team-highs of 14.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. She also leads Idaho with 25 blocks, has the highest field-goal percentage (109-for-232 for .470) and has scored just over 100 points more (306-to-204) than her teammate in second place Stacey Barr, who is averaging 10.2 points per game. The Vandals love to shoot the 3-point shot, and have five players who have made 12-or-more treys this season. Barr leads Idaho with 38 3-pointers made. The Vandals are also good at finding the open man, with four Idaho players with 30-or-more assists this season. Look out for Krissy Karr who has a team-high 68 assists along with Ganeaya Rogers and Keri Arendse who have 38 and 37 assists respectively. Arendse also has a team-high 33 steals.
 
GAME 21: HAWAI'I VS. IDAHO
What: Hawai'i (8-12, 3-2 WAC) vs. Idaho (5-16, 0-5 WAC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m. HT
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Television: Live statewide on OC Sports (channel 12-standard or Ch. 1012-HD) with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Lori Santi (color). Re-telecast at 10:00 pm following the game.
Video Streaming: Live video streaming available for a fee on oceanic.streaming.com
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Dave Kawada (play-by-play) and Tiff Wells (analyst). Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Prices:  General admission-adult: $7; General Admission-Senior Citizen: $5; Students (ages 4-high school): $3; UH Manoa Students receive admission to regular season home games by presenting a valid UH I.D.
Promotions:  First Hawaiian Bank is the game sponsor  and will award $100 in cash at halftime. Fans can enter to participate at the marketing table inside gate A.
Coaches: Dana Takahara-Dias is in her third year at UH with an overall record of 29-51 and a WAC record of 12-25. Idaho head coach Jon Newlee—who was an assistant for three seasons under former UH women's basketball head coach, Vince Goo—has a 172-180 overall record in 13 years as a head coach. At Idaho, he is 44-67 overall with a 25-28 mark in the WAC.
Series History: Hawai'i holds a 10-4 lead over Idaho. Last season, UH and Idaho split their games with both home teams winning. In Moscow, the Vandals won 72-48, but at home, the 'Bows won, 72-60. Hawai'i is  7-1 at home and 3-3 away against Idaho.