SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The University of Hawai‘i women’s basketball team has established two go-to offensive players who have contributed significant numbers in the heart of the team’s Big West Conference schedule.
Jadynn Alexander and Amy Atwell have emerged as main components in the Wahine attack.
The duo’s offensive contributions have lifted Hawai‘i (4-5, 3-4) into the middle of the BWC standings after the team won two of the last four conference games, a 57-43 victory over Cal State Fullerton and a 66-60 victory over Cal Poly Saturday.
Critical Big West showdown
Headed into the BWC twin bill against the University of Santa Barbara at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the Wahine have a golden opportunity.
The Gauchos’ (2-11, 2-7) women’s basketball team is second to last in the standings, and a clean sweep would allow the Wahine to move up in the standings.
If Hawai‘i were to win two games and UC Riverside was to drop two consecutive games to UC Irvine, the Wahine could move up one place in the BWC standings.
Shutting down the Gauchos’ offense
The Gauchos are led by junior guard/forward Taylor Mole, who is averaging 15.6 points per game and is shooting 39.6% from the perimeter.
Red-shirt senior guard Doris Jones is another impact player that the Wahine will have to stop.
Jones averages 13.2 points per contest, and senior point guard Danae Miller averages 10.8 points game.
The Gauchos currently average 62.3 points per game, and the trio of scoring leaders combine for 38 points per contest.
Looking ahead
Next week, after the critical series in Santa Barbara, Hawai‘i will travel to Long Beach State for back-to-back games as all of the BWC opponents continue to battle for a better seeding for the BWC Tournament March 13 and 14.
