The Sea Warriors are on the brink of a breakthrough.

Hawai'i Pacific's women's basketball program started in 2006 with just two wins. Coach Jeff Harada took over in 2007 and his Sea Warriors went 8-19. Last year, with three freshmen in the starting lineup, HPU was 14-15 and four players earned Pacific West Conference honors.

This season, the Sea Warriors return four starters, and add two key transfers.

"Every year, we're getting a lot more competitive," Harada said. "Our roster is being upgraded every year with more talent; we're building this program. I built it from the ground and I feel like in the third year, we're going to reap the benefits of what we tried to build."

The NCAA Division II Sea Warriors play Division I Hawai'i in an exhibition game today at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7 p.m. Harada is well aware of the size differential with the Sea Warriors having two players over 6 feet and the Rainbow Wahine having six.

But, he's always espoused that his team be competitive in any situation.

"I try to teach our team every time you take the floor, you compete and play competitively," Harada said. "There's no difference here. We understand it's an exhibition. Regardless of that, we're going to go out and compete.

"We know UH is Division I and a bigger team than we are. Our mindset is to be competitive and go in and win the game."

Senior Tiffany Wilson (13.7 points per game) was last year's PacWest Newcomer of the Year and Mana Hopkins-Vandenakker (14.1 ppg), a Konawaena grad, was the PacWest Freshman of the Year.

Paris Gravely (13.1 points) and Taylor Craig (4.3 assists, 2.7 turnovers) earned second team and honorable mention honors last year as freshmen.

Joining the team are juniors Jazzmin Awa-Williams, who led Konawaena to a state basketball title, and Courtney Buster, who represents the program's first true post player at 6-3.

Awa-Williams transferred from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, where she earned second- team all-conference honors. Harada tried to recruit her in high school, but she had already committed to UCCS. He wished her the best, but said if she ever missed home, his program would welcome her.

"She brings name recognition to the program," Harada said. "She brings experience, toughness and leadership to our young team, her having two years of basketball under her belt."

Buster, an all-state second-team selection at City College of San Francisco, has the size to potentially alter the game.

"We're getting better every year," Harada said. "The talent level is rising. We're hoping this is the year we break through and show what we've been doing."