The Hawaii women's basketball team is looking for a few good men.

First-year coach Dana Takahara-Dias is in the process of assembling a full scout team roster of male UH students to challenge the Rainbow Wahine in a 40-minute game setting next Saturday.

It'll be complete with tryouts, and the coach said the word has already been sent out.

“;We need to make sure our scout team, first and foremost, are at a caliber that we need to get better with. We need big, and we need quick, very much like another WAC team we need to emulate,”; Takahara-Dias said.

Some top women's programs, such as Pat Summitt's Tennessee Volunteers, employ the tactic.

“;It'll be a big day for us. It'll be nice to beat up on someone else instead of each other,”; the coach said.

The Wahine got their first practice in the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday, and the coach pitted the 10 available players against each other in a shorter scrimmage. There was no shot clock, but there were referees.

The white team of Keisha Kanekoa, Leilani Galdones, Julita Bungaite, Katie Wilson and Courtney Gaddis tied the green team of Jennifer Hamilton, Mai Ayabe, Breanna Arbuckle, Allie Patterson and Rebecca Dew at 10 points.

“;I'm an optimist all the time, and I'm a realist too,”; Takahara-Dias said. “;We don't look all that well every time, but I'll tell you this much: The effort is always there. And that makes me pleased.”;

Shawna Kuehu, Briauna Linton and Dita Liepkalne were out nursing injuries.

UH opens the season in an exhibition against Hawaii Pacific at the Stan Sheriff on Nov. 4.