The Hawaii women's basketball team could face its toughest test of the Western Athletic Conference season right off the bat.

The Rainbow Wahine (3-10) play at defending league champion Fresno State (10-4) today at 5 p.m. Hawaii time to open WAC play as part of a three-game road trip that will test their depth and resolve.

Hawaii coach Jim Bolla considers the league wide open beyond the Bulldogs.

“;It's going to take us a couple weeks to see kind of what direction the conference is going in,”; Bolla said. “;In the first two weeks, it'll all shake out and we'll get a better idea where people stand.”;

Bolla isn't likely to get a warm welcome at the Save Mart Center. After last season, he tipped off the NCAA about an ineligible player, Emma Andrews, used by the Bulldogs during their banner year.

Andrews—an Australian guard who played on a limited basis (no pay) in a semi-pro league prior to coming to Fresno—has already been suspended all of this season. The WAC is debating whether to make FSU forfeit games from last year.

Hawaii is trying to mimic a feat accomplished by the 2007-08 Bulldogs. The Wahine dropped their first six games of the season, just as the defending WAC champs did last year before winning 11 of their first 12 conference games and rolling through the WAC tournament.

With a UH roster at less than full strength (11 players), it will be challenging. Point guard and leading scorer Keisha Kanekoa is questionable after missing three straight games with a sprained ankle. Starting center Sarah Ilic didn't make the trip because of an injured leg, and reserve forward Allie Patterson also didn't fly to Fresno because of a private issue.

No team besides Fresno State entered WAC play with a winning record. Boise State (8-8, 1-1 WAC) has stayed competitive despite losing top player Tasha Harris and three other projected starters to injuries. Louisiana Tech (7-7) is improved via a solid recruiting class and Utah State (6-8, 0-1) allows the fewest points in the WAC. Nevada (6-7) has relied on guard Dellena Criner with mixed results.

New Mexico State returns most of its talent but has underperformed (4-10) after last year's runner-up season to Fresno State. Idaho (4-9, 1-1) and San Jose State (1-12) round out the bottom of the conference.

Hawaii leads the conference in field-goal percentage (40.1 percent; the only team over 40) but is second to last in turnovers per game at 22.5.

The Wahine continue the three-games-in-five-days road trip at San Jose State on Saturday and Boise State on Monday.