RENO, Nev. — It has been four nights the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team has been on the road. But unlike on other trips, the team has been in the same hotel each night.

The Rainbow Wahine are hoping that conformability — and some inspired play — will help get them another night here.

Hawai'i closed out the regular season with a loss to Nevada on Saturday, and stayed around for this week's Western Athletic Conference Tournament, where as the No. 8 seed it will take on No. 9 seed San Jose State at 2 p.m. (Hawai'i time) today at the Lawlor Events Center.

"We've been getting used to the altitude and the environment, and I think it will be a help for us," junior Megan Tinnin said.

Having split the regular-season series with the Spartans, and being in the play-in game to begin with, the Rainbow Wahine can use all the advantages — even of the psychological variety — they can get.

"We'll see how it helps us ... but being here has allowed us to get comfortable and I think it will work to our advantage," acting head coach Pat Charity said.

The Rainbow Wahine will again be without head coach Jim Bolla, who is serving a university-issued suspension.

Hawai'i is looking for its first win in the conference tournament since 2003, and is 8-12 all-time in the tournament.

"In the past we haven't done well here and we want to change that," Charity said.

The winner will play top-seeded Fresno State at 9:30 a.m. (Hawai'i time) tomorrow.

After losing 54-50 on Jan. 10 at San Jose, Hawai'i (7-22, 4-12) took it to the Spartans (2-27, 1-15), 64-48, at home Feb. 6.

"We're really going to look at that second game and try to do those things again," Tinnin said. "I really think we have the potential to beat anyone if we come out and play hard, like we did in the second half against Boise State (68-67 victory March 1). For us to do that we all need to come out together; we all have to be on the same page.

"I think that's where we've struggled this year, but right now we have nothing to lose."

Hawai'i could be aided by the return of Tara Hittle, who has been out with a left knee injury. She practiced Monday and Charity is just waiting for the word to let her suit up. If Hittle does play, she should provide a spark defensively and with rebounding.

"When we get our defense going we're a whole different team," Charity said.