For someone who intends to spend her post-basketball career working in the tourism industry, Saundra Cariaga isn't the most accommodating host on the hardwood.

Score a few baskets and she's on you like furikake on rice.

Gang up on all-conference center Tanya Smith in the post and she'll fly in for the weakside rebound and stick-back.

Respect her personal space on the perimeter and she'll rip the nets with a 3-pointer.

And with the Rainbow Wahine looking to rebound from a brutal 11,000-mile, 0-3 road trip, the team will surely look to their versatile senior swing to continue her xenophobic ways on the court.

The 'Bows (8-13,-2-6 Western Athletic Conference) face Utah State (6-14, 2-6) tonight at 7 at Stan Sheriff Center. They play Nevada (15-6, 6-2) on Saturday.

"At least we're home," said UH head coach Jim Bolla. "We'll try to get the players back in a normal routine — going to class, sleeping in their own beds — just trying to re-establish a normal rhythm."

With a luxurious three weeks and four games to regain their footing in the conference before heading out for their final road trip, the 'Bows have been concentrating on limiting turnovers and capitalizing on free-throw opportunities.

In practice yesterday, it was Cariaga, a travel industry management major, whose encouraging voice filled the empty Stan Sheriff Center whenever teammates hung a head over a missed shot, rotated to the wrong spot on defense or failed to make the extra pass to an open shooter.

"We have to stay positive out there," Cariaga said. "I just try to encourage them and keep their confidence up. Everyone on this team can shoot. Everyone knows how to play. It's just a matter of confidence."

It's a lesson Cariaga has struggled with in her three years with the team.

Cariaga is arguably the team's best athlete, a lanky, long-armed defensive whiz who can fill the lanes on the break, hit from outside, set up teammates with right-time/right-place passes and rip rebounds from bigger opponents.

And, to be sure, her toughness has never been questioned. She grew up playing football with her older brother and cousins in Kona, and lives to mix it up with taller players in the paint.

"If I were bigger, I'd be a post player," she said.

Yet, until this season, Cariaga struggled to demonstrate the kind of consistency Bolla demands.

She showed flashes of brilliance in her first two years then earned a starting spot last season. Then, after a promising start, Cariaga faltered down the stretch and found her minutes and opportunities greatly reduced.

But that was then.

"It's my last year, so I have to go all out," Cariaga said. "As a senior, I'm trying to take more of a leadership role."

And, increasingly, Cariaga has emerged as a leader in words and example.

She's second on the team in scoring (10.7 points per game), third in field-goal percentage (.449), second in free-throw percentage (.712) and third in rebounding (4.7).

"She's playing with a lot of confidence," Bolla said. "She's taken that leadership role to keep people positive."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.