A little like last year for Wahine, but totally new, too

LONG BEACH, CALIF. » When it comes to being the third seed in the Big West Conference tournament, the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine have been there, done that. Therefore, according to coach Laura Beeman, her third-seeded team is in a totally new situation.

Wait, what?

"It’s very different because we’ve been here before. And I know that doesn’t make any sense, right?" Beeman said after Tuesday’s team practice in a practice gym at Long Beach State. "Because we’ve been here, and because we know what to expect (this time). So, I think that’s what makes it different, if you will."

UH sure hopes for a different result. It was the No. 3 last year and played a second-round game at UC Irvine, a preliminary site to the championship at the Honda Center. The Wahine were dazzled 66-51 by No. 8 Cal State Fullerton, a supreme disappointment during an otherwise much-improved season under its new coach.

"Last year was last year and this year is this year," co-captain Shawna Kuehu said. "Huge differences, as you can see. Our focus is different. We’re trying to get out of that whole, what if we lose’ (mind-set).

"We have to focus on the big picture."

Here it is: UH (16-12) needs three wins in four days to earn its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1998. Once again, it needs to win once at a preliminary site to advance to the bright lights of the Honda Center for the last two rounds.

This year, it just so happens that the off-site is Long Beach State, and the opponent is Long Beach State. Sixth-seeded LBSU edged No. 7 Fullerton 64-60 Tuesday night to advance.

So, crank up the difficulty a notch in the Walter Pyramid.

"Is what it is," Beeman said. "I guess if anybody has their preference to play the home school or someone that’s neutral, you’re going to want to play someone that’s neutral, obviously. But as far as, do I not want to play Long Beach? Not at all. We’re going to be ready for whomever it is we play."

The teams split the season series home-and-home with the 49ers narrowly prevailing 74-72 at the Pyramid on Jan. 30.

That was before All-Big West second-teamer Kamilah Jackson missed the last six games of the regular season with a right foot injury though Jackson was a nonfactor in that game with foul trouble.

Jackson is still being dubbed a "game-time decision" by UH. She did some light exercises on the side on Tuesday.

"If I get the chance, excited to get back out there and just see how it goes," Jackson said. "Just want the best possible outcome for my team, whether it’s me on the floor or off the floor."

If it must go without her again, UH will rely on its recent crisper ball movement and balanced scoring apparent over the past few weeks, except in a 61-42 blowout loss at Fullerton to end the regular season last Saturday.

"The fact that it came at the time that it did, right before the tournament, re-evaluated us," said Kuehu, another all-league second-teamer. "You can’t go in and keep winning and still have that sense of urgency. We have to keep hungry and that’s exactly what Fullerton did for us. And we’ve been in good spirits since."

Long Beach State, like Hawaii lately, has taken a balanced approach to its attack; no one player is a threat above all others. Guard Lauren Spargo was the 49ers’ top option on Tuesday. She scored 19 points and her team overcame 26 turnovers.

Beeman said she noticed some anxiety in Tuesday’s practice and reminded her team how they got there by playing sound team defense and pounding the glass, their two Big West-best attributes.

"They want to win, badly," the coach said. "This group feels the pressure of, we need to win. We want to win. We know we can win."