Hands that are large and soft. Physicality with grace. Speed and quickness normally reserved for a guard, not a 6-foot-4 center.

Those are the contradictions that have defined Connie Morris and her basketball game.

The impact by the junior transfer from Salt Lake Community College has been both big and immediate for Hawaii, which takes a nine-game winning streak into Thursday’s Big West Conference game against UC Irvine at the Stan Sheriff Center.

What has helped the Rainbow Wahine to be leading the guard-oriented Big West are balance and bigs, with Morris and 6-3 freshman Megan Huff providing a post presence that is a luxury for most mid-major programs.

Add that Morris has Pac-12 experience — the Las Vegas native started her college career at Utah — and there was little hesitation by the Hawaii coaching staff when Morris first contacted UH.

"Size, that was the first thing," Laura Beeman said when asked why she wanted Morris. "Obviously there was talent if she was able to get a scholarship in the Pac-12.

"She has some things a lot of bigs don’t have. Huge hands that are soft. Incredibly quick in transition and what she does for us in transition is difficult to stop. The opponents aren’t expecting her speed and, with her ability to catch and finish, makes it even harder."

And she is making the Rainbow Wahine better because of her shot-altering presence.

"It’s making me better, having someone who is able to block my shots," said Huff, who joined the team in January after playing volleyball for the Rainbow Wahine last fall. "She’s very physical and very athletic. What’s been good is that when we sub in for each other we keep that big post presence out there."

Morris has started 16 games, including all but one of the nine in conference play, and is averaging 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds. She has the ability to go on a scoring binge as shown in the season-high 21 points against hometown school UNLV in late November.

Morris, who holds the Nevada state prep record for career blocked shots (597) has 19 this season, second only to senior guard Shawna-Lei Kuehu’s 29. That she doesn’t feel the need to score 20 a night has taken pressure off Morris, who took a year off from school last season.

"It was hard at first, getting back into basketball after a year off," said Morris, who was the league MVP in both basketball and volleyball at Virgin Valley High. "No matter how much you work out on your own or how hard you train, it’s not the same when you try to come back.

"But what’s nice is our (scoring) balance. I don’t need to put up huge points for us to be successful. With Megan coming in, people say that she’s taking away my minutes. I don’t see it like that. She’s become one of my best friends and she’s helping me get better."

Her confidence has grown as well.

"I think she wondered if she still belonged at the D-I level after those years away," Hawaii associate head coach Mary Wooley said. "You saw her gain that confidence back against Cal and UNLV. Those were tests for her to see if this was the level for her.

"For us to make a run nationally in the postseason we need the kind of post presence that Connie and Megan give us."

"What I like is how she brings a lot of energy, she speeds up the game in a good way," Rainbow senior forward Shawlina Segovia said. "Other post players lose track of her, she gets down the court so quickly.

"She’s also very competitive, even when it comes to jump balls. She hates losing the jumps."

Hawaii is making a run at its first conference title since the 1997-98 Western Athletic Conference campaign. Morris said she has only one regret about this season.

"I’m really enjoying our team and it’s going so fast," she said. "Coach Wendy (assistant Anae) asked today how it was going and I told her I don’t know how I’m going to leave. I only wish that I could play here for four years."