Even with just three games left in the regular season, there’s still time for Hawaii freshman Julissa Tago to expand her role with the Rainbow Wahine basketball team.
Primarily a wing player, Tago has spent more time at point guard in recent games and figures to have more opportunities to run the offense for the remainder of the current schedule and into next season.
“I love Julissa’s composure. I love her next-play mentality,” UH coach Laura Beeman said. “She’s very good at communicating with her teammates on what we’re in. She has a high basketball IQ to understand what we’re looking for out of certain plays.
“I think it’s a good time to continue to work her at the one … and next year see her playing that position even more.”
Tago continues to develop her game at the point as UH heads into its final road trip of the regular season, looking to break out of a six-game losing streak.
The Rainbow Wahine (8-17, 4-9 Big West) enter the week in seventh place in the Big West standings and face the two teams below them in a trip to Orange County. UH takes on UC Irvine (4-22, 2-10) today at the Bren Events Center and closes the trip Saturday at Cal State Fullerton (4-21, 1-11).
UH’s current struggles are somewhat foreign for the Wahine returnees, who haven’t endured a sub-.500 season, as well as for Tago, who helped South Medford (Ore.) High School to four conference championships.
“(Beeman) tells us every day how much she believes in us and it’s up to us to believe in ourselves,” Tago said, “and I think if we can do that we can be a really good team. We’re still growing.”
Tago spent most of her first year of college at shooting guard or small forward. The UH coaches gave her a longer look at point guard during a four-game homestand. She dished out a season-high six assists against UC Davis last week while spelling sophomore starter Olivia Crawford.
“I played the one in high school so when I was getting recruited I think (the UH coaches) saw me play the one a lot,” Tago said. “So they’ve been trying that out to see some different matchups, different lineups.”
Today’s matchup with UC Irvine also will serve as a reunion for Tago and Anteaters guard Andee Ritter, former teammates at South Medford.
“I’ve known her since sixth grade, we were best friends growing up,” Tago said. “Last time she came here it was weird playing against her, but it’s always fun to see her and how much better she’s gotten since high school.”
Ritter leads the Big West with 72 made 3-pointers and hit five in UCI’s 79-62 loss to UH on Jan. 26 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Anteaters are one game ahead of Cal State Fullerton for the final spot in the Big West tournament and snapped an eight-game skid with an overtime win at Cal Poly last Saturday.
