Following a Big West tournament loss, Laura Beeman’s thoughts shifted between the lessons of the season just completed and the potential of the one to come.

A 12-18 campaign left the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team without a postseason berth for the first time in Beeman’s five-year tenure as head coach. But she hopes a late-season surge sent the Rainbow Wahine into the offseason with a sense of momentum and motivation.

“I think we were playing our best basketball (at the end of the season) and this is the team we knew we had and wanted to see,” Beeman said. “It took us little bit longer to get there than we all wanted, but I think the last three games and then going into the tournament this young group was playing pretty well.

“Hopefully it’s made them hungry and motivated to get on the court and work.”

In a streaky 7-9 Big West campaign, the ’Bows lost their first two conference games, won four of the next five, dropped six straight, then won four in a row before closing with a 71-64 loss to Cal State Northridge in the quarterfinals of the Big West tournament last Wednesday.

Since that day, UH guard Sarah Toeaina, a first-team All-Big West selection, said UH’s prospects for next season are on her mind “25 hours of my day.”

“I do think about how we’re going to look next year,” Toeaina said, “but most importantly what it’s going to take to get back (to the postseason) next year.”

Toeaina, UH’s lone junior, led the Wahine with 13.5 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and finished second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game and 62 assists.

“It’s really scary going into a season knowing it’s your last season,” Toeaina said, “and I just want make sure I do leave it all out there, not to only take advantage of this opportunity, but to give back to Hawaii one last time is something I’m looking forward to.

“I’m going to take it personal, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it and make sure my team enjoys it as well.”

Briana Harris was only Wahine senior this season and closed her career by averaging 10.1 points. She finished second on the team with 35 3-pointers and led the Wahine with 34 steals.

But in contrast to last season when UH lost nearly 70 percent of their scoring following an NCAA tournament appearance, the Wahine are slated to return 83 percent of their point production (barring transfers) while adding three redshirts and three incoming freshmen.

Transfer guards Tia Kanoa and Rachel Odumu join the active roster after serving on the scout team this season. Freshman forward Amy Atwell spent her first year in the program rehabbing a knee injury.

“They give us depth, they give us leadership, they give us inside and outside shooting, they give us ball pressure,” Beeman said of the redshirts. “They’re going to make us better because they’re going to compete in practice and push people.”

Sophomore guard Olivia Crawford led the team with 64 assists and showed off her scoring potential with a 21-point night against Cal Poly in the first round of the Big West tournament. Freshman Julissa Tago contributed at both guard spots and small forward while earning a spot on the Big West’s all-freshman team. Lahni and Leah Salanoa emerged as 3-point threats while taking on expanded roles as sophomores.

Development in the post will be an offseason focus for the Wahine, who relied on four freshmen inside.

“They definitely had a huge learning curve this year and I think they all did wonderful for what kind of cards that they were dealt,” Beeman said. ”(Now) they’re sophomores they understand the pace and physicality of the game. They understand where they have their own weaknesses and strengths and they have to take care of business in the offseason.”

UH added size and depth to the post rotation with the signing of 6-foot-4 center Lauren Rewers last fall along with 6-3 forward Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard and 5-10 guard Jadynn Alexander.

“We’re all excited about the potential of next year,” said Beeman, who reached an agreement with UH on a two-year contract extension in December. “But with that potential has to come some work.”