Minutes after Nevada upset Hawai'i in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament last season, an emotional Jim Bolla told his Rainbow Wahine players "to remember this feeling" of missed opportunity.

"This isn't ever going to happen to us again," said Bolla, who wept during a press conference after host Nevada eliminated Hawai'i, 65-61, in the tournament's first round in March.

Ten months later, UH is still steaming over its loss to the last-place team in the conference. Hawai'i (9-2) and Nevada (3-8) meet again tomorrow in the WAC opener for both in Reno, Nev.

"After what happened last year, we don't want to lose again," Hawai'i sophomore forward Tanya Smith said. "We're better than that."

The red-hot Rainbow Wahine are riding a seven-game win streak, their longest since the 2001 WAC season. They also have reigning WAC Player of the Week Amy Sanders, who recently had "a little relapse" from her stomach ailment that caused her to be briefly hospitalized at The Queen's Medical Center last month, but appears to be OK, Bolla said.

Sanders won her second Player of the Week award this season after leading UH to a sweep of visiting Kent State last week.

"I think this team is really special," said Sanders, who averaged 12.5 points, 7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the Kent State victories. "Even the scout team does a great job. It's hard being on the scout team, knowing that you probably won't get minutes. But they take it seriously, and they really want to get us ready for the game. We really appreciate it."

The Rainbow Wahine have worked this week to solve Nevada's full-court press and its half-court defensive heat on the perimeter.

"We want to attack the press with the idea of scoring, not just breaking it," Bolla said.

Bolla said his team has shown a finishing touch this season, whereas last year, "we were hesitant to finish games." Hawai'i is 4-0 when trailing at halftime this season.

"Even if we're not playing well, we still find a way to finish the game," Bolla said. "It all goes back to what I've been saying all along, 'They just keep playing hard and they don't give up.' "

The Wolf Pack started the season with five straight losses, but has since stabilized, winning three of their last six. Nevada is led by freshman guard Brandi Fitzgerald, who averages 10 points per game.

Hawai'i is projected to start guards Janevia Taylor (11.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game) and Sanders (12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.7 apg), center Brittany Grice (12 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.4 apg) and forward Pam Tambini (10 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5 apg). Bolla yesterday said he had not decided on a fifth starter. Forward Dalia Solia (5.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg), center Callie Spooner (2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 apg) and center Alofa Toiaivao (5.7 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.4 apg) have all started this season.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.