Through grueling practices, frustrating shooting slumps and late-night study sessions, three of the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball players who had come in together came to talk of their shared goal, receiving their degrees from the University of Hawai'i together.

And when things got tough, Dalia Solia, Amber Lee and Janevia Taylor knew where to find a friendly shoulder or an encouraging word. "When one needed help, we always turned to each other," Solia said. Sometimes, they would talk of walking out of the Stan Sheriff Center on graduation day and used it as inspiration.

But when Solia and Lee finally make that walk Dec. 16, it will be without their long-time teammate, who remains in a coma in a Sylmar, Calif., convalescent facility.

"We'll be thinking about her — we're always thinking about her," Solia said.

Though it has been nearly six months since Taylor lost consciousness following a California traffic accident, she is still much in the thoughts of her alma mater. So much so that strength coach Tommy Heffernan, who is organizing tomorrow's athletic department Christmas party at 5 p.m. at Eastside Grill, said they are dedicating it to Taylor as a fundraiser to help defray medical expenses.

Taylor, who had never been on a plane until coming to UH, embraced life here. She worked to become one of the few players in school history to score more than 1,000 career points and labored harder still to stay on track to graduation for a degree in ethnic studies. "She wanted to be the first in our family (of 13) to have graduated from college," said her mother, Joy McClendon. "She really wanted that degree."

Taylor was well on track to getting it and had planned to return here after working during the summer to finish up classes. But two days before her 22nd birthday and just before her wedding, she reportedly fell asleep at the wheel of her vehicle, struck a motor home and has yet to regain consciousness.

Meanwhile, family and friends say progress has been slow while the medical bills pile up for a family without insurance. They say that her eyes track visitors and she responds to sounds but has yet to speak. "Through the grace of God she is still with us and trying," McClendon said. "And our thanks go out to all her friends, teammates, and people of Hawai'i who have her in their prayers."

It has been a ritual with Vince Goo, Da Houl and Serenda Valdez, the coaching staff that recruited the players to UH, to see them off at graduation. Even though they no longer coach at the school, they still show up to celebrate the ones who finish up, bringing lei.

"We were looking forward to this year's group, especially the way they had hung together," Valdez said. "It will be tough without 'Nevi.' "

Cost for the fundraiser is $15 and RSVPs can be made to 956-7882.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.