Seniors played big roles in Wahine’s turnaround

Laura Beeman didn’t have them for long, but it was long enough to make a difference.

Hawaii will honor four outgoing players — Monica DeAngelis, Vicky Tagalicod, Kanisha Bello and Stephanie Ricketts — following today’s 7 p.m. senior night game against Cal State Fullerton at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The surging Rainbow Wahine (16-12, 12-5 Big West) will go for their sixth win in seven games to cap off a successful regular season under their new coach, Beeman, and carry some serious momentum into next week’s Big West tournament.

Tonight’s four honorees weren’t statistical workhorses for most of the season. For the most part, they didn’t have to be.

That’s not to say they didn’t have a stake in the team’s turnaround from title dreamer to title contender.

"I think they brought a lot of selflessness," Beeman said. "I think that all of them accepted their roles, whatever they were, and did it like champions."

DeAngelis (athletic administration) and Ricketts (nursing) are graduate students who had one year of hoops eligibility when Beeman came calling. Hawaii island natives Tagalicod and Bello started their college careers on the mainland and endured another coaching change, from Dana Takahara-Dias to Beeman, a year after coming home.

Though Tagalicod and Bello are classified as juniors, they’ve spent four total years in college and are set to graduate and join the work force. Bello plans to enter Kapiolani Community College’s EMT program, while Tagalicod might become an EMT, police officer or firefighter.

"They know where they want their commitment to be, and that’s in their careers, and I’m proud of them for that," Beeman said. "I’m going to miss them. Gosh, I wish they were both coming back. I’m not in the business to change kids’ minds. I’m in the business to support kids."

DeAngelis, a 5-foot-7 guard from Santa Monica, Calif., spent the past four seasons at Loyola Marymount (including a redshirt year) before making UH her new home this summer. She provided much-needed floor leadership for a team in on- and off-court transition, starting 25 of 28 games at the point and averaging 6.5 points and 2.2 assists.

"I think (my positive feeling here) will be something that I look back on," said DeAngelis, who plans to be a head coach or athletic director someday. "But I know that the way that I felt here playing, even from the very first game that I started, that it was something new and something positive and something that I’ve always wanted, something I’d always looked forward to."

Ricketts — the former UH softball ace — brought physicality and energy to a team seeking a winning identity. The 6-foot center had her most productive all-around game of the season in starting and going 30 minutes in a 67-57 win over UC Riverside on Thursday.

"I think it’s going to be fun," the San Jose native said of her second senior ceremony at UH. "It’s weird that it’s ending, ’cause I feel like the season went by really fast."

Tagalicod, a 5-9 wing from Pahoa, went from Hilo High to USC (where Beeman was an assistant) but came home after 11⁄2 injury-plagued seasons. Tagalicod, the smoothest shooter on the team, settled into a comfortable scoring role off the UH bench this year, averaging 6.0 ppg. She is coming off a season-high 18 against Riverside.

"I’m excited to see what the next couple years will bring with Coach Beeman and her staff," Tagalicod said. "I’m excited to see what she has in store for this program."

Bello, a 5-8 shooting guard out of Waiakea High, played a season at Idaho before coming back. She was a regular rotation player under Takahara-Dias, but became primarily a scout team player this season, appearing for spot minutes in 10 games. She said she trusts in Beeman’s decision, and has continued to play hard in practices.

"I wouldn’t trade it for anything else," Bello said. "Me playing the year in Idaho and coming home, to play in front of my family and friends is probably the smartest thing I’ve done. I’m happy here and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."

A UH win tonight, coupled with a loss by Pacific at UC Davis, would give the Wahine a double-bye to the tournament semifinals at the Honda Center on Friday. If UH remains in third (the lowest it can go), it will receive a single bye to the second round played at UC Irvine on Wednesday.