'M' women hula over to Honolulu for Classic

By Jeff Phillips

Daily Sports Writer

If only everyone could be there.

The Michigan women's basketball team departed yesterday for Honolulu to catch some rays and prepare for the Asahi Rainbow Classic, which is being hosted by Hawaii.

The trip won't be all fun in the sun for the Wolverines, though. They are arriving early to adjust to the time change and to try to get some of the kinks worked out on both ends of the floor.

"We need to work on defense and our medium-range jumper," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said.

After upsetting then No. 9 Louisiana Tech - a team that went on to defeat No. 4 Purdue and win the preseason WNIT title - the Wolverines fell to unranked Washington on Sunday.

"As high as the team was after beating Louisiana Tech, we were that low on Sunday," Guevara said. "Anne (Thorius) was embarrassed walking off the floor after (Sunday's) loss."

The Wolverines must regain the same competitive edge that they had against the Lady Techsters.

"They take a lot of pride as a team and I think they will be ready and focused," Guevara said. "The flame was low on Sunday, but I think the fire is back."

Michigan will have to rebound quickly - it faces fierce competition against Arkansas in its first game on Friday.

Guevara said that the Lady Razorbacks play a style of defense much like the "40 minutes of hell" employed by Arkansas' men's team.

"They are a very athletic team," Guevara said. "They pressure the basketball and cause a lot of havoc."

Arkansas has seen its share of success the past three years. The Razorbacks advanced to the Final Four in 1998, won the WNIT in 1999, and advanced to the WNIT semifinals last season. But this year's squad has had trouble early in the season, losing its first two games to Memphis and Missouri.

Senior Lonniya Bragg - who is the team leader in both scoring and rebounding - leads the Razorbacks' deep, youthful lineup. Arkansas starts freshman Shanna Harmon along with sophomores Lakisha Harper and Dana Cherry.

The Razorbacks also return senior Wendi Willits, who received second-team All-SEC honors last year.

In addition to Michigan, Arkansas and Hawaii, the tournament also features No. 22 North Carolina State, Northern Illinois, Stephen F. Austin, Arizona State and California-Irvine.

"The competition at this tournament is very good," Guevara said.

Despite being in Hawaii over Thanksgiving, many of the Wolverines will feel at home as over 30 family and friends will be traveling with the team. Hawaii offers the eight participating teams a large Thanksgiving platter.

"The dinner is very nice," Guevara said. "Everyone just hangs loose and is laid back."

The Wolverines last competed in the Rainbow Classic four years ago. They advanced to the final, where they nearly defeated then-No. 1 Stanford.