Christmas came early for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine basketball team, which wrapped up its final home practice before the holiday. The traditional end to the 120 minutes of intensity — all-out baseline-to-baseline sprints of a number to be determined by mood of the coaching staff — gave way to a gift of one half-court run and rousing ready-to-pack cheers.

“If we approach this road trip with the kind of productivity in practice and that kind of excitement at the end, we’ll do well,” Wahine coach Laura Beeman said after Thursday’s practice in Gym II. “It’s a big road trip for us with two of the three against teams in the Top 25.

“If we start to lose our minds a bit, start to think about Christmas and lose our focus, we’ll struggle.”

It might be hard not to look ahead to the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas where Hawaii (5-4) will face No. 19 Texas A&M on Wednesday and No. 9 Oregon on Friday. However, last Friday’s overtime loss at home to Idaho State — “a very winnable game,” Beeman said — has UH focused on Sunday’s game at Arizona (3-6) in Tucson. The Wildcats snapped a six-game skid on Thursday with an 83-44 romp over visiting New Mexico State.

Key in the loss to Idaho State was being out-rebounded 44-32, including 6-1 in overtime. Twice Hawaii failed to rebound on its own missed free throws and “you don’t win ballgames doing that,” Beeman said. “We’re still trying to find our way as a team.”

While UH is in search of some rhythm, the Wahine have found stability in junior point guard Tia Kanoa, a Kamehameha Schools product who sat out last year after playing two seasons at Arizona State. She is familiar with the McKale Center, site of Sunday’s game.

“We’re used to a big arena so we’ll be fine there,” Kanoa said, comparing the Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) to McKale (14,655). “We know we have to be completely focused this trip. It’s a tough schedule but it will help us prepare for conference and postseason.”

Kanoa, with 60 assists through nine game, is 14th nationally, and 15th at 6.7 apg. She is on track to shatter the single-season assist record of 161 set by Melanie Azama (1992-93).

Beeman, a record-setting point guard at Cal State San Bernardino, appreciates the mentality.

“For her to step up and say, ‘I’ll be a pass-first point guard, Coach’ tells you how much she’s sacrificed for her team” Beeman said. “It’s been really exciting to see her become that great leader and facilitator for us.”