Hawai'i freshman guard Megan Tinnin made the most of her first start this past weekend, scoring a career-high 17 points in a 62-57 win at Utah State.

"It felt like I was in high school again," said Tinnin, who became the first freshman to start under third-year coach Jim Bolla. "I got really comfortable right away."

Tinnin is poised to make her first home start when Hawai'i hosts Western Athletic Conference foe Nevada at the Stan Sheriff Center Saturday.

Bolla said Thursday "as of right now, probably" Tinnin, center Brittany Grice and point guard Amy Kotani would be in line for second consecutive starts alongside forwards Tanya Smith and Pam Tambini, who have started all 20 games this season.

"Whatever he decides, it's for the best of the team," said Tinnin, a 2006 graduate of St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, N.M. "If I start, I start."

The revamped lineup gives the 'Bows flexibility with guards Janevia Taylor and Saundra Cariaga contributing off the bench, Bolla said.

"We can bring 'Nevi in to be the (shooting guard) or she can go back to be the (point guard)," Bolla said. For Cariaga, "sometimes it's better to sit and watch, get a little bit of confidence, and go out and play," he said.

In its last meeting with Nevada, Hawai'i committed a season-high 33 turnovers in a 69-59 road loss Jan. 11. Hawai'i has made 20-plus turnovers in five of the last six games.

"Teams will always press us because that's our weakness," Tambini said. "We know to expect that."

Tambini said the 'Bows need to pounce on road-weary teams traveling to Hawai'i. UH is 6-7 at home this season; 19-14 the previous two seasons.

"We're expecting (Nevada) to be fatigued," Tambini said. "We want to run and get out early."

Bolla said he still feels the 'Bows can win the WAC Tournament, March 6 to 10, in Las Cruces, N.M. The winner gets the automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

"I feel this conference is wide open," Bolla said. "Whoever comes in with confidence and whoever comes in healthy has a good shot at winning it."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.