LONG BEACH, Calif.— The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball (4-5, 5-6) team is hoping to progress in the top-5 in their conference before the 2021 Big West Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Hawai’i Tourism Authority will be played March 9-13 in Las Vegas.
While it is unlikely the Wahine will move beyond a fifth seed headed into the tournament, the conference doubleheader when they travel to play Long Beach State (11-5, 10-4) at 12 p.m. PCT becomes pivotal in retaining their current position in the conference battle.
The Wahine could climb as high as the fourth seed headed into the tournament, but they are going to have to win out to do so.
Hawai’i could also fall as low as an eighth-seeded team if they don’t win any of these last four Big West Conference games.
Hawai’i will have to sweep LBC State and UC Davis to have a chance to earn the No. 4 seed headed into March’s Tournament, which the winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament in March.
Building weapons
Sophmore Kasey Neubert cracked the starting lineup on Jan. 22, against Cal State Fullerton, and has now started seven consecutive games.
Currently, Neubert is averaging 8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and is currently at the top of the Big West Conference shooting percentage firing 53.2% from the field.
Court King
If the Wahine will have any chance of sweeping the Elbee, they will have to be able to contain the team’s leading scorer Justina King.
Currently, King is averaging 13.5 points per game and is leading Long Beach State in points per contest.
King will have to excel to top the Wahine.
According to statistical analysis, Long Beach State and the UH have a slight edge in the head-to-head all-time series, but the Wahine struggle in the road games.
They haven’t won playing at Long Beach State since 2016, and the Elbee, who is currently on a four-game losing streak, will look to retain their third-place position moving forward.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
