HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team is back in action this weekend when they host the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic, Nov. 24-26. The Rainbow Wahine (1-1) faces undefeated Texas Tech (3-0)at the Stan Sheriff Center in first-round action on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Entering its 28th season, the Rainbow Wahine Classic has long been among the premier preseason tournaments in the country and boasts yet another strong field this year, headlined by No. 2 North Carolina and No. 23 UCLA. Also in the tournament are Arkansas, Denver, Gonzaga and Sacramento State. The Rainbow Wahine, who finished runner-up to No. 3 Oklahoma in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic this past week, aim for its first RWC title since 1999.

Television: None.

Radio: KKEA Radio will carry Sunday's UH game live with Kevin Hashiro on the call. UH's games on Friday and Saturday will be broadcast live, pending UH men's basketball and UH women's volleyball results.

Live Stats: Gametracker available for UH games on HawaiiAthletics.com

Schedule
Friday, Nov. 24
UNC vs. Sacramento St., 11:00 a.m.
UCLA vs. Gonzaga, 1:10 a.m.
Arkansas vs. Denver, 3:20 p.m.
TEXAS TECH, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25
Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 9:00 a.m.
Texas Tech vs. Arkansas/Denver, 11:10 a.m.
ARKANSAS/DENVER, 1:20 p.m.
Winner G3 vs. Winner G4 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 26
7th Place Game, 11:00 a.m.
5th Place Game, 1:10 p.m.
3rd Place Game, 3:20 p.m.
Championship Game, 5:30 p.m.

Promotions: The first 300 fans will receive door gifts courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines will also be giving out a free inter-island round-trip for four at halftime of each Hawai`i game.

Tickets: $8 (adults); $6 (senior citizens); children (ages 4-18) and UH students (w/ valid ID) FREE. Parking $3.

Hawai`i In The Rainbow Wahine Classic: UH is 46-35 (.568) all-time in the Rainbow Wahine Classic. Hawai`i has captured four championships (1989, '91, '93, '99) and have made 10 championship game appearances in the 27 years of the tournament. The Rainbow Wahine are 3-3 (.500) in the Rainbow Wahine Classic under current head coach Jim Bolla, including a third place finish last season.

Scouting Texas Tech: Texas Tech enters the tournament at 3-0 and are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls...the Lady Raiders have won by an average of 15.0 ppg in wins over Texas-San Antonio, Houston and Texas State...five players are averaging in double-digits through the first threee games, led by senior guard Brooke Baughman at 15.0 ppg....replacing the legendary Marsha Sharp, head coach Kristy Curry is in her first year at Texas Tech after seven successful years as head coach at Purdue....the Lady Raiders last appeared in the 1990 Rainbow Wahine Classic, finishing fifth with a 2-1 mark...Texas Tech leads, 3-0 with all three meetings in Honolulu. Texas Tech was ranked in the top ten in each of the last two meetings. The Rainbow Wahine nearly upset the No. 10 Lady Raiders, 67-63, in the 1998 Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic. The Lady Raiders returned for the same tournament in 2002 ranked No. 9 and handed the Rainbow Wahine its worst home loss in eight years.

Scouting The Rest of the Field: Arkansas enters the tournament with a perfect 5-0 mark, including three road wins... Arkansas, 13-15 last season, was picked 10th in the Southeastern Conference's preseason poll ...this is the Lady 'Backs third appearance in the Rainbow Wahine Classic (4-2) as they finished as runner-ups to UH in 1993...Denver opened the season by outscoring Lamar, 97-43, the largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent in the program history... the Pioneers are making their second appearance in the tournament (1-2) after a sixth-place showing in 2002... Gonzaga, West Coast Conference Champions the last two seasons, are 3-1 on the season and play at Portland State Tuesday before heading for the islands...the Zags finished in 8th place in the 2002 Classic...North Carolina is ranked second in the nation and is led by senior All-America guard Ivory Latta...the Tar Heels have started the season with three home wins, with a 55.3 ppg average margin of victory...UNC is 8-4 in four all-time RWC appearances and won the 1994 RWC...Sacramento State has opened with three straight road losses at Gonzaga, Washington State and Idaho...the Hornets are making their first appearance in the tournament...No. 21 UCLA is 2-1 so far and on Tuesday night face No. 3 Oklahoma, who defeated UH, 76-56 in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic... the Bruins, who advanced to the NCAA second round last year captured the 1998 RWC championship and are 5-1 in two RWC appearances.

-UH-