With the exception of lone senior April Atuaia, junior Jade Abele and sophomore Amy Sanders, no other returning Rainbow Wahine averaged more than nine minutes of playing time a game last season.

And with the season-opening Waikiki Beach Marriott Resorts Classic beginning tomorrow, there is little time for Rainbow Wahine fans to get acquainted.

The Rainbow Wahine roster features six freshmen and seven veterans. Of those returnees, only Atuaia (30.9 minutes), Abele (30.5) and Sanders (15.1) logged significant playing time.

"We get along very well," UH coach Vince Goo said. "The younger ones respect the returnees, but go out and compete in practice."

The Rainbow Wahine lost three starters and six letterwinners from last year, including the team's leader scorer (Kim Willoughby, 11.5 points per game), rebounder (Christen Roper, 7.9 per game) and shot blocker (Roper, 3.7 per game).

To compensate for their losses, the team's inexperience, and the fact that UH has nine guards listed on its 13-player roster, Goo will employ a faster style of play.

It requires constant running and with that, constant substitution.

So with all of the new — and some familiar — faces shuttling in and out of the games, here's a brief introduction to this season's players, using a game of word association with Goo:

• Janevia Taylor (G, 5-6, Fr.): "Gutsy."
• Jade Abele (F, 6-1, Sr.): "Savvy."
• Trisha Nishimoto (G, 5-4, So.) : "Speed."
• Amy Sanders (G, 5-11, So.): "Tenacious."
• Dalia Solia (G, 5-9, Fr.): "Smooth."
• Bryony Crouch (G, 5-8, Fr.): "Aggressive."
• Milia Macfarlane (G, 5-5, Jr.): "Leadership."
• April Atuaia (G, 5-10, Sr.): "Tough."
• Callie Spooner (C, 6-3, So.): "Bruiser."
• Pam Tambini (G, 5-10, Fr.): "Smart."
• Brittney Aiwohi (G, 5-10, So.): "Defender."
• Amber Lee (F, 6-1, Fr.): "Battler."
• Brittany Grice (C, 6-4, Fr.): "Poised."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.

2003-04 schedule

November
Tomorrow-Sunday — Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic (Tomorrow-1 p.m., Maine vs. Washington; 3, HAWAI'I vs. Lipscomb. Sundayi3 p.m. consolation; 5, championship).
28-30 — Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic (Friday-12:30 p.m., Texas vs. Navy; 2:40, Virginia vs. Arizona; 4:50, HAWAI'I vs. Hartford; 7, Montana vs. Syracuse. Saturday-Games times TBA. Sunday-11 a.m., seventh place, 1:10 p.m., fifth; 3:20, third; 5:30, championship).

December
14-16 — Hawai'i Invitational (Sunday-5 p.m., HAWAI'I vs. St. Mary's. Monday-4:30 p.m., St. Mary's vs. Texas-Arlington. Tuesday-7 p.m., HAWAI'I vs. Texas-Arlington).
22-23 — Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic (Monday-5 p.m., Northern Iowa vs. Tennessee Tech; 7, HAWAI'I vs. Fairfield. Tuesdayi3 p.m. and 5, Hawai'i plays late).

January
3 — *at Fresno State.
5 — *at Nevada.
8 — *at San Jose State.
15 — *SMU.
17 — *Louisiana Tech.
22 — *at UTEP.
24 — *at Boise State.
29 — *Rice.
31 — *Tulsa.

February
6 — *San Jose State.
12 — *at Louisiana Tech.
14 — *at SMU.
19 — *Boise State.
21 — *UTEP.
26 — *at Tulsa.
28 — *at Rice.

March

4 — *Nevada.
6 — *Fresno State.
9-13 — WAC Tournament at Fresno State.
20-23 — NCAA first and second rounds.
27-30 — NCAA Regionals.

April 4 and 6 — NCAA Final Four at New Orleans.

*—denotes WAC games