For now, Woodfolk works on new role

“Circumstance” dictated that freshman center Lauren Rewers start the past two games for the Hawaii women’s basketball team.

Now forward Kenna Woodfolk seeks a winning situation coming off the bench for UH (4-3) in tonight’s home matchup against Montana State (5-3).

Woodfolk, of Tacoma, Wash., was starting and on her way to a breakout second season going into Thanksgiving week’s four-team Rainbow Wahine Showdown tournament. The 6-1 forward (who’s officially listed as Makenna but prefers Kenna) was a backup because of “circumstance” in losses to Purdue and USC, according to coach Laura Beeman, and is still a reserve tonight.

“Only thing I’ll say is, when you lose your starting spot for whatever reason, on-court, off-court, whatever it may be, you have to work to get it back,” Beeman said. “And you can’t earn it back just by your stat line. You have to earn it back by doing all the things the way you’re supposed to do them.”

There are advantages in bringing one of your better players in with the second unit, she noted; it gives the young Rewers a chance to shake off early jitters and reduces Woodfolk’s chances of foul trouble. Beeman has liked Woodfolk’s “focus” and “punch” coming off the bench.

“I gotta know that my spot’s not permanent,” Woodfolk said. “Lauren’s a great freshman, and I think she deserves it. She’s working hard in practice. Not saying that I’m not, but I have to prove myself again.”

Woodfolk’s three double-doubles this season is tops among Big West players. She contributed seven points and six rebounds in the 11-point loss to USC, a result that gave the Rainbow Wahine confidence.

The other big change in her role this year? She’s an active 3-point shooter — her 8-for-23 (34.8 percent) shooting from deep is second only to Julissa Tago — after attempting one shot from beyond the arc as a freshman.

She had the ability to shoot in high school, but the Wahine offense required her closer to the hoop last season.

“It helps us more because it makes the opponent have to step out too,” Woodfolk said. “Working on my shot during the offseason … was really big. Now I’m confident and the coaches are confident in it when it’s the right shot and it’s the right time on the shot clock.”

Beeman would like to see the lean forward continue to evolve as an offensive player.

“She needs to now be able to take it off the dribble, which is an area she’s not doing,” she said. “And so, I think that by the time we’re done with this season, we can get her to take it off the dribble and also hit the mid-range jumper.”

Meanwhile, point guard Tia Kanoa is averaging 7.1 assists per game, tied for 11th nationally.

UH follows against Idaho State (5-3) at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday.