A little advice when watching the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team this season: Don't blink.

Hawai'i will be faster, more aggressive and attempt more 3-pointers, according to third-year coach Jim Bolla and his players.

The Rainbow Wahine host Hawai'i Pacific in an exhibition game tomorrow in the season-opener for both teams.

If all goes well, Bolla, a former UNLV head coach, will have the Runnin' Rainbows.

"We've been practicing with a 20-second shot clock," Bolla said. That is faster than the 24-second NBA shot clock, and the 30-second women's clock.

"We want to get down the floor," Bolla said. "We'll look for a layup first, a 3-pointer second, and if we don't get those two things, we're going to run our offensive sets."

The increased tempo is one of the major changes for Hawai'i (18-10 overall last season, 9-7 third in WAC).

In preseason WAC polls, Hawai'i was voted to finish third by the media, and fourth by the coaches, the highest such ranks under Bolla.

"I certainly hope it's a breakthrough year for us," senior center and co-captain Brittany Grice said. "My outlook is optimistic. I think we have what it takes to be a very memorable team, and a very successful team."

Grice said she liked Hawai'i's free-flowing offense and tough defense.

"I see us running as little set offense as possible," Grice said. "We want to be defensive-minded, and get up in opponents' faces. Get every steal, get every tip. No second-chance boards. We're going to be the aggressors."

For Hawai'i, the uptempo game starts in practice with the 20-second shot clock.

Bolla said sometimes no one is able to shoot within 20 seconds, but "80 to 90 percent" of the time, the team gets a quality shot before time expires. Bolla won't hold shooters to the time limit in games.

Grice said the 20-second shot clock pushes the team to be more efficient and focused, and will help them better utilize the 30-second clock in games.

"It helps us make better decisions with the ball ... because we don't have those extra 10 seconds to fix missed opportunities," she said. "It helps us cut the fat from our offense."

Senior guard Janevia Taylor said the 20-second shot clock helps players recognize options early, and "makes it easier to get through our plays."

In addition to the faster tempo, Hawai'i will increase its 3-point attempts with a goal of 20 attempts a game.

"We want to make 8, 9, 10 if we can," Bolla said. "If we do that, we're doing pretty well."

Taylor said the team won't shoot 3s haphazardly.

"He wants 20, but I'm sure he wants the majority of them made," Taylor said. "That goes with the tempo he wants."

Bolla said three of the team's new players — junior center Iwona Zagrobelna and freshmen swing players Dita Liepkalne and Megan Tinnin — "can all legitimately shoot the 3, and Iwona is 6 foot 4."

As for the starters, Bolla said most of the lineup, beside Grice at center and Taylor at shooting guard, remains "up for grabs."

"Starting is no big deal," Bolla said. "I can put you in at the jump ball, and take you out at the first whistle. The quality of things you do when you're in there is what counts."

One of the team's key positions — point guard — remains unsettled.

Last season, junior Amy Kotani and senior Cassidy Chretien shared duties. Two others, junior Shannon Nishi and sophomore Catherine Cho can also play the point, Bolla said.

"I'm looking for someone who can push the ball up the floor, and get the ball to the right people, and get people in the proper positions so we can execute our offense," Bolla said.

Bolla said the team may play "two or three point guards in a game" depending on the opponent and other factors, such as game tempo.

Tomorrow's exhibition game will be a reunion for Hawai'i Pacific coach Liz O'Brien, who was on Bolla's UH staff before she accepted the HPU job in April.

"I'm sure they're going to be prepared," Taylor said of Hawai'i Pacific. "Coach O'Brien knows us very well. It comes down to execution. Everybody in the WAC probably knows our plays, but if you can't stop us from doing it, it doesn't matter."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertis er.com or 535-2458.

RAINBOW WAHINE BASKETBALL 2006-07 SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER

TOMORROW—HAWAI'I PACIFIC (exhibition), 4 p.m. 17-18—WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT CLASSIC (17—Oklahoma vs. Eastern Kentucky, 5 p.m.; Georgetown vs. Hawai'i, 7 p.m. 18—Consolation, 1 p.m.; Championship, 3 p.m.) 24-26—Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic (24—Game 1: North Carolina vs. Sacramento St., 11 a.m.; Game 2: UCLA vs. Gonzaga, 1:10 p.m.; Game 3: Arkansas vs. Denver, 3:20 p.m.; Game 4: Texas Tech vs. Hawai'i, 5:30 p.m. 25—Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m.; Texas Tech vs. Arkansas/Denver, 11:10 a.m.; Arkansas/Denver vs. Hawai'i, 1:20 p.m.; Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3:30 p.m. 26—Seventh place, 11 a.m.; Fifth place, 1:10 p.m.; Third place, 3:20 p.m.; Championship, 5:30 p.m.)

DECEMBER

5—at Cal State Northridge. 7—at Loyola Marymount. 9—at USC. 15-16—Paradise Classic (15—Portland State vs. Chattanooga, 5 p.m.; Evansville vs. Hawai'i, 7 p.m. 16—Consolation, 1 p.m.; Championship, 3 p.m.) 29-30—Hawai'i Invitational (29—Columbia vs. Oklahoma State, 5 p.m.; San Francisco vs. Hawai'i, 7 p.m. 30—Consolation game, 4 p.m.; Championship, 6 p.m.)

JANUARY

4—NEW MEXICO STATE*, 7 p.m. 6—LOUISIANA TECH*, 7 p.m. 11—at Nevada*. 13—at Fresno State*. 17—IDAHO*, 7 p.m. 20—BOISE STATE*, 7 p.m. 25—at San Jose State*. 27—at Utah State*.

FEBRUARY

3—NEVADA*, 7 p.m. 8—at New Mexico State*. 10—at Louisiana Tech*. 15—FRESNO STATE*, 7 p.m. 17—UTAH STATE*, 7 p.m. 24—SAN JOSE STATE*, 7 p.m.

MARCH

1—at Idaho*. 3—at Boise State*. 6-10—Western Athletic Conference Tournament (Las Cruces, N.M.)

*—WAC games; HOME GAMES IN CAPS

JIM BOLLA AT UH

OVERALL WAC

2004-05 11-15 7-11

2005-06 18-10 9-7

Total 29-25 16-18

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.