The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team welcomed a healthy Pam Tambini back to practice this week.

"It's good to be back," said Tambini, a starting junior swing player who missed four games while recovering from a kidney infection, and one game due to a suspension. "When I was sick, I still watched the games. That wasn't fun, watching from the couch when I knew I could be playing."

Fourth-place Hawai'i (13-7, 4-5) will need Tambini when it hosts Fresno State (16-5, 8-1) — the Western Athletic Conference co-leader — tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Bulldogs routed the Rainbow Wahine, 77-52, on Jan. 21 at Fresno. The 25-point margin was Hawai'i's worst loss this season.

"There's no explanation for that," Tambini said. "After the game, we were really angry with the way we played. It wasn't up to our potential."

In that game, the Bulldogs' defense caused 26 UH turnovers and they got numerous fast breaks.

Fresno State led by as many as 32 in the second half, and point guard Mirenda Swearengin nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.

"I think we've got something to prove to ourselves," Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla said. "That wasn't our team out there. We're playing a little better now."

Since that loss, the Rainbow Wahine have posted a 3-2 record, including consecutive WAC road wins at Idaho and San Jose State this past weekend — the first such feat in Bolla's two years at UH.

They also return one of the team's best all-around players in Tambini.

The native from San Jose, Calif., averages 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. In one five-game stretch this season, she averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds.

"Having her back is a plus," Hawai'i junior guard Janevia Taylor said. "Pam always produces."

Tambini was medically cleared Friday, and she has been working out by herself and with the team since.

"The big thing with her is conditioning," Bolla said. "I had her running with the first group. I don't see any problems."

Tambini said she agreed with Bolla's assessment.

"As far as my stamina, I still need to build that up," she said. "I don't think I'm that much out of shape. I think I just have a little bit more to go."

The Rainbow Wahine worked this week on handling Fresno State's man-to-man and trapping defenses.

Taylor said the key is limiting turnovers. She said earning a victory over the athletic and talented Bulldogs is "never Mission Impossible."

"We aren't going to come out here and let them run over us like they did in Fresno," Taylor said.

Taylor is the reigning Xbox Live WAC Player of the Week after averaging 20 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3 steals in road victories at Idaho, 66-60, and San Jose State, 76-61.

"I was actually surprised," Taylor said of the award. "But I'm really focused on getting wins at home, and getting ready for the WAC tournament."

Hawai'i is projected to start guards Taylor (12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game) and Amy Kotani (2.1 ppg, 1.1 apg), forwards Amy Sanders (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.9 apg) and Dalia Solia (5.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.1 apg) and center Brittany Grice (11.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.2 apg).

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.