As the streak grows, the beard lingers

Fear the Beard? More like Embrace the Face.

As the basketball winning streak has grown, so has the facial hair on Rainbow Wahine basketball assistant Alex Delanian. It began with the first-year coach forgetting to shave around Jan. 24, coinciding with the road win at UC Irvine, Hawaii’s third straight.

Four weeks and seven victories later, the unofficial code word for the not-to-be-discussed streak is keeping the Rainbow Wahine motivated in a light way. Hair today, hopefully not gone after Saturday’s key game with UC Davis, second behind Hawaii in the Big West standings.

"At first it was like, ‘You need to cut this,’" senior guard Shawna-Lei Kuehu said. "He said at this point he couldn’t. Coach (Laura) Beeman tells him to keep it clean. It’s motivation for us to have him keep it."

It’s worked so far, as Hawaii is on its longest ride since the 1997-98 team won 19 in a row. It includes Thursday night’s 75-37 blowout of UC Irvine in which the Rainbow Wahine used a 33-2 run in the second half to KO the Anteaters.

UC Davis is expected to be another matter. The Aggies hit a Big West-record 17 3-pointers Thursday in rolling past visiting Long Beach State 83-66.

Five were by senior forward Sydnee Fipps, who tied the school record with her 31st career 20-point game, finishing with exactly 20. The Aggies shot 45 percent from behind the arc (17-for-38), helped by a 10-for-21 performance in the first half.

"We watched the game," Delanian said. "If they get those kinds of looks against us that they did (against the 49ers), they’re going to hit 17. But I don’t think that game translates to tomorrow’s — those aren’t the kind of looks we give up (defensively)."

The Aggies have won five straight since dropping two in a row last month, first to Hawaii 58-53, then at Cal Poly 72-64. The Rainbow Wahine held the Aggies to 3-for-9 from 3-point range.

"They’re an incredibly good 3-point-shooting team and they’re running their offense probably the best they’ve done all season," Beeman said. "They know what (Saturday) means."

And so does Hawaii, which could draw closer to clinching its first conference title since 1993-94. The Rainbow Wahine’s lead is 1 1⁄2 games over the Aggies; a win Saturday would make it 21⁄2 with three games remaining.

"I’m happy to not be shaving because of where we are," Delanian said. "I won’t mind when the season is done, but for now, it’s just there."

And it’s a visible reminder of where Hawaii is. With a limit.

"It cannot become a sweater vest, no connection down from his face," Beeman said. "It adds some fun. He won’t shave until we lose. I’m hoping it will continue to fill in."

Hawaii will be without senior guard Morgan Mason, who severely sprained her ankle in the first half Thursday against UCI. She expects to have an MRI once the swelling is gone but might not be cleared until the Big West tournament, which starts March 10.