Wahine eager to put disappointment aside

This WNIT plane ride was a smooth one, to Laura Beeman’s relief.

The Hawaii women’s basketball team flew out from Honolulu and landed in Seattle without incident on Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s game at Washington in the first round of the 64-team postseason tournament.

For last season’s WNIT road trip, the Wahine were delayed several hours when their plane to San Diego was diverted back to the islands just a few minutes into the flight for mechanical reasons. UH wound up losing the game at USD 61-49.

"It was a great flight," Beeman said soon after the team’s landing. "There were obviously a lot of people from Hawaii and a few UH supporters on that flight. They were giving the girls well wishes and just a ton of people knew what was going on, and very, very excited for us. It was really fun."

After a season’s worth of road trips to the West Coast, a trip to the Pacific Northwest still offers something a little different. UH played three road games in Arizona, one in Oregon, and 12 in California.

"We’re going to have an earlier practice (Thursday) and then we’re going to go to Pike’s (Marketplace) and walk around down there, then head to a place we’re going to go for dinner," Beeman said. "They’ll definitely be able to see a part of the country some of these guys have never seen. Pike’s is always a really, really fun place for these girls to walk around."

UH got in enthusiastic practices at home this week before departing to play the Huskies (17-13), who finished sixth in the Pac-12.

The Wahine are gratified that their last game of the season was not the 66-52 loss to Cal Poly in the Big West semifinals last week.

"It’s a breath of fresh air to know that it didn’t end the way," co-captain Shawna Kuehu said Wednesday. "We know (that tournament) didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but you roll with the punches and the changes and try to get this WNIT tournament. The Big West is done and over with. Good teams move on, so that’s what we’re trying to do right now."

The trip offers senior forward Kamilah Jackson a chance to end her storied career on her own terms. She sat out seven straight games before playing 18 limited minutes against Cal Poly.

"I think it’s more important so she can end how she wants to," said the team’s other captain, junior point guard Morgan Mason. "She didn’t get to play as many games as she wanted to, especially her senior night. Just letting her play in this tournament is, I think, more important."