Wahine’s Wimbley gets the point

The cultural diversity that is Hawaii wears No. 3 for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team. It was part of the reason that junior guard Marissa Wimbley — raised in a very culturally diverse home — chose to play in a place where she felt she’d fit in, even an ocean away.

"The diversity wasn’t foreign to me," said Wimbley as Hawaii prepared for its Women’s NIT first-round game Friday at Saint Mary’s. "It’s what I grew up with and it was one of the great things that made coming here so easy. Because I am diverse."

Her DNA spans the globe. Wimbley’s mother is Spanish and Native American — her maternal grandfather was born on the Round Valley Reservation in northern California — and her father is an England-born Jamaican.

Growing up in Elk Grove, Calif., Wimbley spent time every month with her family on the reservation, learning the dances and customs of her ancestral tribe, the Wailaki. That the tribal name sounded as if it could be a Hawaiian word just added to the comfort level.

So did Wimbley’s skill-set, particularly when forced into a starting role following senior guard Morgan Mason’s injury against UC Irvine on Feb. 19. Mason’s severely sprained ankle kept her out for most of the next six games with Wimbley stepping into the point guard duties.

"She served her time (as a reserve) and I was very comfortable with the decision when Morgan went down," Hawaii coach Laura Beeman said. "She came in as a freshman somewhat wide-eyed and not really understanding the expectations and the work it took to be a Division I athlete.

"She has improved in many areas … conditioning, skill-set .. and she’s proven she can shoot the ball, which is something we haven’t always had. She keeps getting better and we have a lot of confidence in her."

Wimbley did as well. The usual rotation had Wimbley coming in for Mason, but after her injury, "Coach called me in to tell me I’d be starting," Wimbley said. "I was happy she had that confidence in me and I felt confident in what I could do."

It was the same during the recruiting process. Somewhat undersized for D-I at 5-foot-6, the all-state guard out of Pleasant Grove High thought her next step would be at a junior college in either Washington or Oregon.

"But Coach believed in me and it was then I knew I was ready for this," she said.

Wimbley easily passed her previous career high (four points) when scoring 13 at UC Irvine on Jan. 24, including hitting three 3-pointers. She also hit three treys against Cal State Fullerton in last week’s Big West tournament semifinal en route to 12 points.

"She has established herself as a shooter and a leader," junior guard Destiny King said. "She did a great job with Morgan out.

"This will be our team next year and that has been developing because of our team this year."

"She always provides the little spark that we need," senior guard Ashleigh Karaitiana said. "I told her and Destiny that they are the next senior leaders and we need them to keep working hard, keep it going and take them to a championship."

Wimbley is finishing her degree in family resources with the goal of becoming a nurse.

(The Wailaki are known for their tradition as healers). She knows what she wants for her graduation present: a trip to England, Spain and/or Jamaica to connect with her family’s roots.

But that is a year away and the only trip she wants right now is to the WNIT championship.

Wimbley already has been asked about a possible tribal dance for her senior night celebration next March.

"Maybe," she said. "But we aren’t done with this year yet."