Laura Beeman considered the entirety of the nonconference schedule for her Hawaii women’s basketball team, then returned to the here and now: Friday’s season-opening contest at San Francisco.

"I think it’s a must-win, to be honest with you," the first-year Rainbow Wahine coach said.

Beeman, hired in March to replace Dana Takahara-Dias, is tasked with leading the Wahine through a gauntlet of top-tier teams as a welcome to her first Division I head coaching job. The brutal stretch — prefacing the program’s return to the Big West Conference — begins next week, when top-ranked and defending national champion Baylor and Brittney Griner come to town. That’s not to mention another 2012 final four team in Stanford.

Opening on the road for only the sixth time in program history seems worlds easier by comparison. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. Hawaii time.

"I feel this one is very winnable, and will put us on the right track going into the preseason," said Beeman, a former assistant with USC and the WNBA’s L.A. Sparks. "With our preseason schedule the way it is, we don’t have any gimmes. And I’m not saying I think San Francisco is a gimme at all, but I think it’s a game that we can win if we play hard and execute our stuff."

UH went 11-19 last season (6-8 WAC) under Takahara-Dias, who was not retained after a 32-58 record over three years. USF of the West Coast Conference went 5-25 in 2011-12.

Beeman has a retooled roster to establish her desired program overhaul. Seven UH newcomers made their exhibition debut in a 72-47 exhibition win over Hawaii-Hilo on Oct. 26. The most impressive of the lot was true freshman Destiny King, who scored 22 points on 7-for-8 shooting.

King joins returning double-double threat Kamilah (Jackson) Martin and junior wing Shawna Kuehu as some of those expected to produce on a nightly basis.

"It was loyalty and desire to win," King said of following Beeman to Hawaii. "(She) told me there would be a lot of pressure my freshman year. I have to step up as a freshman and be a senior as a freshman."

The most notable of five letterwinner losses from last season were point guard Alissa Campanero and forward Breanna Arbuckle, the only players on the roster who started all 30 games. Campanero left the program over the summer after a single season. Arbuckle departed after four years of shot-blocking service.

UH was picked in the preseason to finish sixth in the Big West. The Wahine haven’t had a winning season since 2006-07, when they went 15-14.

GUARDS

With Campanero gone, the point guard job shifts to Monica DeAngelis (5-4, Sr.), a graduate student who came in from Loyola Marymount, and the versatile King (5-10, Fr.). Marissa Wimbley (5-6, Fr.) is still learning the ropes of the position. Cal State Northridge transfer Janelle Nomura (5-4, Sr.) competed for minutes in the offseason but has since taken on a team manager’s role because one too many concussions ended her playing career.

UH has options at shooting guard in returnees Sydney Haydel (5-8, Jr.) and Kanisha Bello (5-8, Jr.). Haydel is the more defensive minded of the two, while Bello can catch fire in a hurry. DeAngelis, also an effective shooter, can slide over to the 2 when King is asked to play the point.

WINGS

Here’s where the true versatility of the team lies. Kuehu (5-10, Jr.), Ashleigh Karaitiana (6-0, RFr.), and King have the capability of playing several positions, and will likely have to early in the season; returning double-figure scorer Vicky Tagalicod (5-9, Jr.) has nagging ankle issues and won’t make this road trip. Karaitiana is one of the team’s most talented players, but is still catching up to Division I game speed after sitting out all of last year.

Kuehu is looking to return to the form of her redshirt-freshman season of 2010-11, when she averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds. She missed all but seven games last season, and is only four months removed from the birth of her daughter, Kaiona. But she’s managed to make herself ready for the season with an aggressive training regimen and effective family support.

"It’s been really hard, but not as hard as I’d pictured it in my mind," Kuehu said. "I was worried about coming back being way behind everybody else. … It’s been a struggle with myself, but I have a good team, a good coaching staff, a good support system that has allowed me to come back a lot faster than I thought possible."

BIGS

The former Kamilah Jackson — last year’s top scorer (13.2) and rebounder (10.6) — got married in the offseason, becoming Kamilah Martin (5-11, Jr.). Beeman has asked the preseason All-Big West pick to change herself into a leader, as well.

"It’s just a whole different attitude, being a leader," said Martin, who expects 40 family members at the USF game. "That presence whether I’m on the floor or off the floor. Just always talking."

Diane Moore (5-10, Jr.) can shoot from the perimeter as well as bang bodies in the post. Softball All-America Stephanie Ricketts (6-0, Sr.), a recent hoops pickup, has impressed Beeman with her work ethic and could earn significant minutes, especially while impact player Kalei Adolpho (6-1, So.) is tied up with UH volleyball. Pua Kailiawa (6-2, Jr.) is one of the best athletes on the team, while Brianna Higgins (6-1, Fr.) is young but has a soft touch inside.