Road trips to Southern California, Las Vegas and La'ie comprise the upcoming Rainbow Wahine basketball schedule.

Hawai'i, under new coach Dana Takahara-Dias, opens the 2009-10 season Nov. 17 at UC Riverside. The Rainbow Wahine then visit UCLA on Nov. 19 and Cal State Bakersfield on Nov. 21.

It's the first time the Rainbow Wahine will start the season on the road since 1982.

Hawai'i then hosts the Rainbow Wahine Classic during Thanksgiving weekend with games against Arizona State and East Tennessee State in the three-team, round-robin format.

Hawai'i hosts San Francisco on Dec. 3 before traveling to La'ie for the Brigham Young-Hawai'i Tournament on the 4th and 5th against BYU-Hawai'i and BYU.

The Rainbow Wahine play at the tough Duel in the Desert from Dec. 19 to 21 where all eight teams except the 'Bows and host UNLV played in a postseason tournament last year.

Hawai'i returns 13 players from a team that went 8-23 last year.

Hawai'i wraps up the preseason against Kent State on Dec. 29 and 30 in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic.

The Western Athletic Conference season starts Jan. 6 at Fresno State. The WAC home opener is Jan. 13 against Idaho. Hawai'i was 4-12 in WAC play last year.

The WAC Tournament is scheduled for March 9 to 13 in Reno, Nev.