Game Notes
HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team (9-9, 5-2 BWC) concludes their two-game homestand this Saturday against UC Santa Barbara (7-11, 3-3 BWC) at 7:00 p.m. Currently, at 5-2, UH is in second place in the Big West, just a half-game back of league-leader Pacific who is 5-1. UC Santa Barbara is in a three-way tie with Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton for fifth place after a 56-37 win at Cal State Northridge on Thursday night.
Junior forward Kamilah Martin continues to lead Hawai'i both overall and in conference in points and rebounds. Through 18 games, Martin is averaging a career-high 16.0 points to go with her team-high 9.2 rebounds per game. She also has a team-high 21 steals and is second on the team with 30 assists. On UH's last roadtrip, Martin eclipsed the 1,000 point mark at UC Davis becoming just the 17th Rainbow Wahine to do so, and just the sixth to accomplish the feat in three seasons. She is second in UH history with 309 offensive rebounds and she is tied with Tanya Smith for third in overall career rebounds with 816.
Even though other teams have keyed on her, Martin has managed to amp up her game in conference, averaging 17.3 points per game and has made 37-of-44 free throws for a team-best .841 free throw percentage. She also has nine assists and nine steals with 7.9 rebounds per Big West outing.
Rookie guard
Ashleigh Karaitiana has been a match-up problem for opponents, and she is now averaging 9.8 points overall and 11.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in conference with eight steals and 14 assists. Coming on strong is
Shawna-Lei Kuehu who is also averaging 10.1 points in conference. In Big West games, Kuehu has a team-high 10 steals and eight blocked shots. After playing in the season opener at San Francisco, Kuehu missed six games due to a concussion suffered at USF. Overall she is third on the team with 7.0 points with 4.0 rebounds per game with 13 steals and a team-high 12 blocks in just 12 games.
Last time out...
The Rainbow Wahine evened their record at 9-9 after defeating two-time defending Big West regular season champion Cal Poly, 61-43. The win positioned UH a half-game back of conference-leading Pacific who is at 5-1. Hawai`i's was led by
Ashleigh Karaitiana's 17 points while Kamilah Martin added 14.
Sydney Haydel corralled a career-high seven rebounds to pace the 'Bows who held the Mustangs to a season-low 43 points.
Hawai`i's defense stymied the Mustangs, holding the second-ranked scoring offense in the Big West to just 27.2% shooting from the floor. As a team, Cal Poly edged out UH on the glass, 40-to-39, but Hawai`i had the advantage in points in the paint (42-to-30); points off of turnovers (19-to-8); second chance points (16-to-12); and bench scoring (20-to-13).
The Rainbow Wahine were locked in and focussed from the get-go. After Cal Poly got a pair of free throws to start the game, UH caught fire, going on a 21-to-2 run early in the first half—including 14-straight points from the 16:25 mark until the 10:44 mark when Cal Poly's Ariana Elegado sank a trey to snap their scoring drought. Hawai`i maintained their lead going into the half, shooting 55.2% from the floor while edging out the Mustangs on the glass 18-to-16. Karaitiana led UH going into the break with nine points while Martin, Kuehu, Tagalicod and
Kalei Adolpho all had six points apiece.
In the second-half, Cal Poly came out on a 6-2 run to cut their deficit to 11 points right out of the gate. But that was as close as the Mustangs would get the rest of the game as the 'Bows started to pull away on a 6-to-0 run of their own and later a 10-to-0 run that was highlighted by three straight buckets made by Karaitiana that put the game away.
At 5-2 in the Big West, its UH's best start in conference since the 2002-03 season under Vince Goo.
Beeman Nears Career Milestone
Head coach
Laura Beeman spent 15 seasons at Mt. San Antonio College where she led the Mounties to 10 conference championships and four California Community College State Championships. There she compiled a 390-110 record. Her total career record as a head coach is 399-119 and with Hawai'i's next win, she will hit the 400-win milestone in two different collegiate divisions.
About the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (7-11, 3-3 BWC)
The Gauchos are coming off a strong win at Cal State Northridge on Thursday, 56-37. Sweets Uncerwood is their go-to player who is averaging team highs with 11.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Nicole Nesbit is second on the team averaging a shade under 10 points per game at 9.8 with a team-best 50 assists and 16 steals on the season. Melissa Zornig is scoring 8.6 points per game with a team-high 25 made 3-pointers. Kirsten Tilleman is second on the team with 6.9 boards a game.
Last season, head coach Carlene Mitchell guided the Gauchos to a Big West tourney title and NCAA berth in her first season at UCSB. Her career record with the Gauchos currently stands at 24-27.
Game 19 Information
Who: Hawai'i (9-9, 5-2 BWC) vs. UC Santa Barbara (7-11, 3-3 BWC)
When: Jan. 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Where: Stan Sheriff Center - Honolulu, O'ahu
Television: UH games against UC Santa Barbara will both be televised live statewide on OCSports. Jim Leahey and Lori Santi will be handling the game while Scott Robbs, Megan Tinnin and Nani Cockett will be covering the pre-game, halftime and post-game duties.
Streaming Video: Live video streaming will be available at https://secure.oceanic.com/Streaming/.
Live Stats: Live stats are available at hawaiiathletics.com
Promotions: Farmers Insurance Hawaii is the game sponsor and will distribute 500 sling bags at Gate A. Sign up at the sports marketing table near Gate A for a chance to participate in the “Basketball Skill Set Challenge” halftime contest for your chance to win $100 gas card and prizes courtesy of Farmers Insurance Hawaii. Also, visit the Farmers marketing table to guess the amount of key chains in a jar for your chance to win two tickets to an upcoming women's basketball game.
Coaches: Hawai'i head coach
Laura Beeman is in her first season at the helm of the Rainbow Wahine program. She has a 9-9 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference. Prior UH, Beeman made her mark at the junior college level where she enjoyed a phenomenally successful 15-year run as the head coach at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC). There she led the Mounties to 10 conference championships and four California Community College State Championships—including a string of three straight from 2006-08. Beeman posted a 390-110 (.780) record during her tenure at Mt. SAC.
UCSB Head coach Carlene Mitchell has a career record with the Gauchos of 24-27. Last season, she led the Gauchos to the Big West tourney title and an NCAA berth.
Series Record: Hawai'i holds a 19-12 record over UC Santa Barbara. The Rainbow Wahine won their last meeting against the Gauchos, 91-66 on Dec. 22, 1997 in Honolulu. UH is 13-3 vs. UCSB at home; 6-7 away; and 0-2 at a neutral site.
Honorary Captain: The Honorary Captain for UH's game against UCSB is longtime UH athletics booster extrordinaire, Bobbie Broadhead.
Autograph Session: The Rainbow Wahine will be holding an autograph session with free posters after the UCSB game. Come to the concourse level's Gate B after the game to meet and greet the players!
-UH-
