There’s no shortage of incentives for Hawaii to play big in USC’s Galen Center on Saturday.

Laura Beeman takes her Rainbow Wahine to the blastoff point that allowed her to make the leap from Division I assistant to Division I head coach. Junior center Kalei Adolpho is ready to play hoops for the first time this season coming off a crushing loss to BYU in the second round of the NCAA volleyball tournament. And the Wahine have only one road win to date against Pac-12 opposition, a 91-59 blowout at Oregon State on Dec. 20, 1989.

More often than not, it’s been that lopsided — but with the teams flip-flopped — when UH visits Pac-12 teams. So far this season, UH is 0-2 in such games, losing 84-44 at Arizona State in the season opener and 76-64 at OSU last week.

One would think a win at USC, like UH’s 81-70 victory at former Big West foe Pacific (and against ex-assistant Gavin Petersen) last Sunday, would have to mean a little something more than usual, right?

Well, maybe. Beeman, the second-year coach, said it’s about doing it for the right reasons.

"As far as going back to USC to prove something, really … not," she said. "I want to win a ballgame. So that’s what we’re going to do when we step foot in the Galen Center."

UH (6-4) is shooting for at least a split on its second two-game road trip in as many weeks. USC and Grand Canyon on Monday represent the last games of the calendar year — also the Wahine’s last nonconference games before Big West play begins Jan. 8.

Beeman is familiar with roughly half the roster of the Trojans (5-4), either through coaching or recruiting them.

"It does (mean a lot) because I have so much respect for that program, I have so much respect for the young ladies that I coached that are still there," Beeman said. "Cassie (Harberts) and Kiki (Alofaituli) and Ariya (Crook) and Kate (Oliver) and some of those kids that I have the opportunity to coach. They’re fantastic players, they’re great human beings, I love their families and miss their families. In that aspect it’s special."

USC won 42 games in two seasons with Beeman as an assistant, including a WNIT appearance in 2010-11.

Women’s hoops legend Cynthia Cooper-Dyke was announced as the Trojans’ new coach in April, replacing Michael Cooper (no relation), whom Beeman coached under.

"I know Coop a little bit from my days at SC, she’s an alumna and I have a lot of respect for her," Beeman said.

UH assistant coach Mary Wooley was also an assistant at USC alongside Beeman.

Beeman expects plenty of ball pressure and for the Trojans to go inside to the 6-2 senior forward Harberts. That’s where Adolpho’s 6-2 presence could be immediately handy to complement UH’s top scorer and rebounder Kamilah Jackson (18.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg). In 43 career games, Adolpho has averaged 4.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and nearly a block per game.

Volleyball season was over before the hoops team’s last road trip, but Adolpho needed some time to recover from the lopsided home loss to the rival Cougars.

"I don’t know if I’ll ever be emotionally over that," Adolpho said. "I don’t think anybody … it will sting always, I feel. But as far as it emotionally hindering my basketball? I think I’m fine. A couple days were good, I got to do my own thing for a little bit, take a break. But now I’m good, ready to go."

It may take some time for Adolpho to be comfortable offensively, but Beeman expects she can provide valuable minutes off the bench as a rebounder and defender.

GCU (9-2), of the reformed WAC, is a new Division I team fresh up from the PacWest Conference. The Antelopes have been formidable, coming within three points of a win over UCLA. UH’s game in Phoenix will be UH’s second trip to the state of Arizona this season.