Short but swift

The slogan of “Play Up” isn’t just about the last season in the Western Athletic Conference for the Hawaii women’s basketball team.

Dana Takahara-Dias’ Rainbow Wahine will have a height advantage on Friday, when they open the regular season against Division II Hawaii-Hilo at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. That might be the only time it holds true in the nonconference portion of the 2011-12 schedule.

Despite that, UH might have its best chance at Takahara-Dias’ first overall winning season in her three years, thanks to a host of talented newcomers, several solid returnees and a revamped offensive system in which UH scored in excess of 80 points in exhibition wins over Hawaii Pacific and Brigham Young-Hawaii in the past two weeks.

After an 11-19 finish in 2010-11, UH was picked to finish fifth in the WAC preseason polls.

“So far I have been very, very happy with the progress of our team,” Takahara-Dias said.

The Wahine, led by 5-foot-3 freshman point guard Alissa Campanero, can get up and down the court in a flash. If they are brought into a halfcourt game, they execute assistant coach Gavin Petersen’s motion offense. With so many bodies in constant flux, UH hopes to compensate for its lack of height.

UH’s starting post player is 5-foot-11 sophomore Kamilah Jackson, who proved as a true freshman she could outdo taller players. She is one of two UH players to receive All-WAC preseason honors, along with sophomore wing Shawna Kuehu (second team).

“We really aren’t that tall, but I guess it’s all about position, where you are and putting yourself in a good situation to either get a rebound or finish,” said Jackson, who was fourth in the country in rebounding last season at 11.9 per game. “I don’t think it’s all about height.”

Senior Breanna Arbuckle, at 6 feet, is listed as a guard now, but is still well capable of blocking shots. UH can summon 6-foot-4 center Rebecca Dew off the bench when it wishes a more conventional lineup. Until USC transfer Vicky Tagalicod is eligible on Dec. 18 and freshman Kalei Adolpho is done with the UH volleyball season, that’s the extent of the UH rotation of bigs.

Guard play figures to be key; the Wahine lost the starting backcourt of Keisha Kanekoa and Megan Tinnin. So far, newcomer guards Campanero and Kanisha Bello have filled in admirably by scoring 29 points apiece over the two exhibitions. Reserve guard Sydney Haydel has picked up where she left off as a stalwart defender.

“We’re still working out some kinks here and there, but I think we’ll be able to do pretty good,” Campanero said.

The Wahine learned they will be without the services of 6-foot freshman Ashleigh Karaitiana for the full season because of NCAA rules on international play. The native of New Zealand and Australia will be eligible next season, Takahara-Dias said.

The meeting against the Vulcans is a rare one. UH hasn’t played UHH in the regular season since two games in the inaugural women’s season of 1974-75.