Washington has been the site of sudden ends for Hawaii women’s sports teams over the past four years. Will the same happen to the 2013-14 edition of Rainbow Wahine basketball?

The 2013 UH softball team and 2010 and 2012 Wahine volleyball teams each saw their seasons conclude in a Seattle regional. But these Wahine have something else in mind — namely, apathy to recent history. They’ll look to end the recent trend in Friday’s WNIT first-round game at UW.

"You know, I think more than breaking that run of Wahine teams struggling in Washington, it’s just to get a win in the postseason," UH coach Laura Beeman said in a phone interview from Seattle after Thursday’s team practice.

Indeed, simply getting to the WNIT last season was considered a major accomplishment in Beeman’s first season. It was the program’s first postseason appearance in a decade. But another one-and-done in the 64-team field won’t satisfy these Wahine.

UH (17-13) will try to make its appearance last longer than its brief showing in 2013, a 61-49 defeat at San Diego. It is eager to go out on better terms than a 14-point loss to Cal Poly in the Big West semifinals a week ago.

"We got one (win) in the Big West tournament, that’s great," Beeman said. "But we’re in another postseason, if you will, and it would be fantastic to be able to get a win in this tournament, versus being sent home after a day. If it happens to take place in Washington, great."

The program’s last victory in a postseason tournament came in the 2001 WNIT, when Vince Goo’s 26-win squad led by Crystal Lee and Kylie Galloway rolled to the semifinals with three victories before losing to New Mexico.

If these Wahine have something going for them playing in UW’s Alaska Airlines Center, it’s that they won’t be awed by playing in a Pac-12 facility. UH’s challenging nonconference regimen included games at Arizona State, Oregon State and USC. The Wahine lost each of those, but defeated Washington State at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"You know, the Pac-12’s at a different level," co-captain Shawna Kuehu said. "And we were able to rise to that level on a couple occasions. We know how physical and what kind of play the Pac-12 brings.

"It should be a really good game. I’m looking forward to it."

The key matchup will be between UW’s explosive backcourt and UH’s effective team defense, which allows a Big West-best 62.7 points per game and just 39 percent field-goal shooting by opponents.

As good as UH has been in that respect, UW guards Kelsey Plum and Jazmine Davis might be better at the other end. They average a combined 39.9 points per game, and Plum was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

After watching the Huskies on film, Beeman agreed that Plum and Davis represent the biggest combined challenge at that position seen by UH all season.

"As far as being all-around, absolutely," Beeman said. "Ability to get to the basket, ability to hit 3s, hit free throws, facilitate, definitely probably the best backcourt we’ve seen."

Meanwhile, the Huskies’ frontcourt ranges from 6 feet to 6-2 but possesses exceptional length. It will test senior forward Kamilah Jackson, who is returning to form from a right foot sprain. UH’s double-double threat is expected to be close to full strength, but she will likely need help from 6-2 Pua Kailiawa and 6-1 Kalei Adolpho, with help in a pinch from Diane Moore, Ashleigh Karaitiana and Destiny King.

"It’s in our rotations, our team defense," Beeman. "That’s really the matchup I’m looking for. What are we going to do as a team to stop those two? Because 1-on-1 you can’t. They’re proven it time and time again."

Should UH prevail, it will face another Pac-12 foe, Oregon, almost assuredly on the Ducks’ court some time in the coming week.

Cal Poly, the only other Big West team to make the WNIT, lost 82-59 at San Diego on Thursday.