The Hawaii women’s basketball team expects no shortage of on-court difficulties this weekend.

How the Rainbow Wahine respond to those challenges, in the moment and beyond, could define their 2019-20 season.

UH (3-2) plays three times in three days in the Heineken Rainbow Wahine Showdown, starting with North Texas (2-3) at 5 p.m. today at the Stan Sheriff Center. Power Five teams North Carolina State (2:30 Saturday) and Texas (2:30 Sunday) follow. N.C. State (5-0) is No. 12 and Texas (3-2) was ranked 22nd to begin the season.

The ACC’s Wolfpack, who feature five players averaging double-figure scoring, have not been played closer than 17 points by any team and own wins by margins of 41, 40, 36 and 28. Texas of the Big 12 has a loss to No. 24 Arizona and is coming off a 54-point win over Southern.

Hawaii coach Laura Beeman said of the tournament in a message to the Star-Advertiser: “The next 3 opponents will challenge us physically and mentally. All 3 teams are well coached, have size, are physical and play to win. These games will push us to get better and prepare us for conference play. Our goal as always is to represent the university with pride and to win every night we step on the floor.”

UH is coming off a split of its games in last week’s Bank of Hawaii Classic, including a surprising 74-57 loss to Texas Southern of the financially challenged Southwestern Athletic Conference on Sunday. In that one, a poor third quarter — the hosts were outscored 24-7 — doomed the Wahine and allowed Utah to claim the tourney title.

Outside shooting and turnovers have been two of the main issues through five games. The Wahine are converting just 20.6% of their 3s compared to 25.9% for opponents, and have turned it over 16 times per game to opponents’ 9.6.

But inside the arc, UH has outplayed its foes soundly, shooting 52.4% against 38.5%.

Frontcourt players Amy Atwell, Lauren Rewers and Myrrah Joseph have led that charge. Atwell, a fourth-year junior, leads the Wahine with 10.4 points per game, while 6-4 junior center Rewers and sophomore forward Joseph have each supplied 6.2 rebounds per game.

North Texas of Conference USA and Texas are the third and fourth teams from the Lone Star State on UH’s schedule.

The games today and Sunday precede UH men’s basketball games against San Francisco and Hawaii Pacific.

HEINEKEN RAINBOW WAHINE SHOWDOWN

at Stan Sheriff Center

Today No. 12 North Carolina State (5-0) vs. Texas (3-2), 2:30 p.m. North Texas (2-3) at Hawaii (3-2), 5 p.m.

Saturday North Texas vs. Texas, noon No. 12 North Carolina State at Hawaii, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday

North Texas vs. North Carolina State, noon Texas at Hawaii, 2:30 p.m.

>> TV: Spectrum Sports, today and Sunday

>> Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM