The women's basketball team wraps up its regular season with a two-game home stand beginning today, when the Dawgs take on Oregon State at Hec Edmondson Pavilion at 7 p.m. Despite the up-and-down ride the team has been on this year, no one is ready for the train to pull into the station.

"I think we've got a bond here because the people we play with are around each other so much," said senior Maggie O'Hara. "It's bittersweet but we have to think about playing hard to put us in position for the postseason."

Six seniors — including O'Hara — will be suiting up for their final home game Saturday when the Huskies have senior night against Oregon, but she's quick to point out there are other things they need to handle before they get sentimental.

"Right now its Oregon State," O'Hara said. "Friday we worry about Oregon. I think we are really trying to focus on one game at a time. The Pac-10 Tournament is still going to be there and the NCAA tournament is still going to be there; we've got business to take care of here before we focus on that."

The Beavers (8-17 overall, 3-13 Pac-10) took the Dawgs (16-11 overall, 9-7) to the wire at the beginning of conference play, when the UW held on for a 71-67 win.

Senior Cameo Hicks said the team that held on for that overtime win on the road in December has only gotten stronger with time.

"I think we've definitely gained some mental toughness," Hicks said. "We know what it takes to win and we know our strengths and we try to mold our game plan to those strengths."

O'Hara added that it's not just one or two Huskies that are coming into their own; it's the whole team.

"I think it's just the intensity of everyone," she said. "I mean, the bench gets told to sit down by the refs so many times in the games. We're just excited for each other."

Coming into today's game, Washington is in fifth place in the Pac-10 and a game behind Cal and USC. Oregon and UCLA are tied behind the Dawgs with identical 7-9 conference records.

"I think we're in a good spot," Hicks said. "We've got some momentum with a huge win against Cal and we're coming together toward the end. It's the most important part of the season."

The Huskies added momentum with their biggest margin of victory of the season when they beat up on the Cougars in Pullman, Wash. over the weekend.

"I think you can tell we've definitely picked up our intensity in practice the last few weeks," O'Hara said. "Not that we had really bad practices in the stretch, but we've got more of a will to win. We got back to the basics and we're doing what we do to win games."

Whether they win or lose, Hicks said her and the program have nowhere to go but up.

"It's definitely going to be a sad week," she said. "My four years meant so much to me with the fans and everything here, but I'm excited to see what's in store."

Reach reporter Sam Cameron at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.