If a team’s character is built upon the difficulties they overcome, the Washington women’s basketball team should be seamless.

After a rough start on the road, injuries to key players and some disappointing lapses that led to their last two losses, the Huskies (3-4) have been through the ringer.

UW coach June Daugherty said although the shaky start is not exactly how she would have penned her team’s 2006 story, she feels like each of the things the Huskies have experienced could culminate in great things for them.

“Obviously you want to win every game,” she said. “But it’s exciting that we’re improving through all of this adversity we’re facing. We’ve had all the injuries and we’ve had other players step up.”

Washington started the year without the exciting play of Dominique Banks, and since then, they have seen last week’s All-Pac 10 Player of the Week, Cameo Hicks, starting center Andrea Plouffe and freshman Sami Whitcomb all succumb to various ailments.

Hicks is almost back to full strength, but the other three have punched holes in the Huskies’ game plan. Daugherty said patching the holes has been an undertaking for the entire team.

“Our front line has really started to step up,” she said. “I’m excited to see the freshmen; they’re taking a big role and they’re giving us some really big minutes.”

The patchwork continues tonight at 7 p.m. when the Huskies host No. 15 Texas A&M. The Aggies (6-1) come to Hec Edmundson Pavilion under similar conditions to those the Huskies have faced all season. A&M All-American candidate Morenike Atunrase will miss the next four to six weeks with an injury she sustained Dec. 1.

“It doesn’t change a thing,” Daugherty said of the injury. “They’re still a great team who has faced adversity like us. They’re a talented team and they’re very deep.”

Sunday’s loss to No. 6 Ohio State is one of the aforementioned difficulties the UW has had to suffer, but it also had a big upside.

“I think we definitely turned it around when we played them,” starting point guard Emily Florence said. “I think that’s the way a Husky basketball team should play.”

The Huskies led nearly the entire game before falling in the final minutes. Daugherty said the effort was not complete but was as close as her team has come all season.

“We played at the highest level we’ve played at in a long time,” she said. “We played hard, with focus and intensity.”

Today’s game provides the Huskies with the home cooking they have been itching for. Posting a 1-4 road record has got Daugherty’s players looking forward to the friendly confines of Hec Ed.

“Thank God,” Florence said of the return home. “I’m excited to get these home games. It seems like we’ve been on the road all season.”

The tough early-season schedule, which including today features four teams in The Associated Press’ top 25, is something else the Huskies are thankful for.

“The preseason is all about getting ready for the Pac-10,” Daugherty said. “We just want to keep on that improvement road and keep getting better every day.”

Reporter Sam Cameron: samcameron@thedaily.washington.edu