The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team hasn't had much success in its season openers recently.

"We haven't won one in the three years I've been here," Hawai'i senior guard Janevia Taylor said.

Hawai'i hopes to change that when it faces Georgetown (0-1) in Friday's opening round of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. In the early game, No. 3 Oklahoma (1-0) faces Eastern Kentucky (1-0) at 5 p.m.

"This is the beginning of our season, and you don't want to start off on a losing point," said Taylor, one of four starters returning this season.

Hawai'i is gunning for a breakthrough campaign, having increased its win total every year since former UNLV coach Jim Bolla took over three seasons ago.

Last season, the Rainbow Wahine finished 18-10 overall and tied for third in the Western Athletic Conference at 9-7.

Hawai'i hasn't played a game since its 104-42 exhibition rout of Hawai'i Pacific on Nov. 4. It will have 13 days to prepare for the Hoyas of the Big East Conference.

"When we're well rested and hyped up, it's better for us," Taylor said. "We're just anxious to play."

Friday's winners will play in Saturday's championship at 3 p.m. The losing teams will play in the consolation game at 1 p.m.

"We want to win our own tournament," said senior forward and co-captain Pam Tambini. "As a team, we're ready. In terms of team chemistry, I think we have it. And it's our house — we don't want to lose in our house."

Senior center and co-captain Brittany Grice said the team remains focused on Georgetown, and hopes for a potential matchup with Oklahoma. The Sooners return five starters from last year's 31-5 squad, including All-America sophomore center Courtney Paris, who averaged 21.9 points and 15 rebounds per game, and had 119 blocks.

"If there's one thing I've learned in my three years here, it's not to look ahead," Grice said. "But I'm not going to lie. I've thought about it a little bit. I'm excited with our schedule, and the probability of playing ranked teams, including Oklahoma. I can't think of a better opponent to play. It will be a great test. I hope we're fortunate enough for the privilege to play them."

The Sooners went 16-0 in the Big 12 last season and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. On Sunday, they opened the season by pounding visiting No. 20 DePaul, 105-71.

This season, Hawai'i has stacked its nonconference schedule with potential matchups against No. 2 North Carolina and No. 23 UCLA in the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic on Nov. 24-26. In addition, UH travels to No. 22 Southern California on Dec. 9.

Bolla said the tough early schedule will increase his team's power ranking. Last season, the Rainbow Wahine were "under consideration" for the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

As for this season, Bolla emphasized his team will feature a blend of run-and-gun offense, pressure defense and "a really fun style of basketball for our girls."

"My goal is to have a game where we don't run a play," Bolla said. "We want our defense to create layups, short jumpers and wide-open 3-pointers."

Georgetown returns four starters from a team that went 10-17 overall and finished 13th in the Big East at 3-13.

The Hoyas opened their season with a 65-57 home loss to Towson on Saturday.

Hawai'i is projected to start guards Taylor (12.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg) and Amy Kotani (2,0 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.0 apg), forwards Tanya Smith (8.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 apg) and Pam Tambini (7.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.4 apg) and center Grice (11.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 apg).

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.