Nevada women's basketball preview box

HAWAII (6-8, 0-1) AT NEVADA (10-4, 1-0)

When: Today, 5 p.m.

Where: Lawlor Events Center

TV/Radio: CSTV/1450AM, pre-game at 4:45 p.m.

Coaches: Kim Gervasoni (Nevada); Jim Bolla (Hawaii)

Projected starters: HAWAII - F Tanya Smith (12.6 ppg, 11.1 rpg); C Iwona Zagrobelina (8.6, 4.4); G Amy Kotani (3.9, 2.5), Saundra Cariaga (10.1, 4.6), Keisha Kanekoa (8.4, 3.0); NEVADA - F Brandi Fitzgerald (6.8, 4.0), Cherlanda Franklin (5.1, 4.9); C Shavon Moore (8.1, 4.4); G Dellena Criner (16.2, 3.7), Mikail Price (11.3, 2.7)

About Hawaii: The Rainbow Wahine are young and rely on Smith, an all-WAC performer, heavily at both ends. Smith had 10 double-doubles in 14 games ... Hawaii needs to take better control of the ball. Utah State converted 33 turnovers into 28 points in its win over the Rainbow Wahine last weekend ... The 6-foot-4 Zagrobelina is coming off a career-best 18-point effort against Utah State. She and the 6-foot-3 Smith make a formidable 1-2 punch up front.

About Nevada: The Pack opened the conference season with an easy win over San Jose State, a game in which four players reached double figures ... When Nevada wins, it wins big. Nevada's last five victories have come by an average total of 19.5 a contest... Nevada shot 43 percent from the floor against San Jose State, putting it into cruise control after jumping out to a big first-half lead ... The key is to be able to play an up-tempo game and negate Hawaii's strength inside. Nevada needs to be able to score in transition to accomplish the up-tempo. The Pack does have a tendency to not be as fluid in its half-court sets ... Freshman Johnna Ward came off the bench against San Jose and had a nice game. No doubt coach Gervasoni would like to see her become a little more consistent shooting the ball, and be more aggressive going to the basket... Moore, another freshman, continues to give the Pack solid inside play at both ends of the floor.

Compiled by Darrell Moody