Coming off an extremely disappointing season last year, head women’s basketball coach Tia Jackson knows her team is pumped to get the 2009-2010 season underway. When her players finally hit the hardwood tonight for their first exhibition game against Seattle Pacific University, Jackson knows that, while excitement is good, poise on the court is even more important.

“We are really, really eager to get started, which is probably one of our challenges right now,” Jackson said. “I think we’re so excited that we kind of got to pull back the reins a little and really approach every situation with a bit more poise.”

The Huskies will begin their 2009-2010 campaign tonight at 7 with an exhibition home opener against Seattle Pacific. At Monday’s media day, Jackson named four out of the five starters. Senior guards Sara Mosiman and Sami Whitcomb will be the starting guards, with junior Sarah Morton controlling the point. With sophomore Liz Lay nursing a sore left knee, the power-forward position is still up for competition. Starting at center will be UCLA-transfer Regina Rogers, a 6-foot-3 force to be reckoned with.

Sophomore Kristi Kingma, who played against Rogers in high school, knows what Rogers brings to the court.

“Playing against her was so tough,” Kingma said. “I’ve never played against a more physical player, but she also has a heart for the game. When you play against someone that has such a heart for the game and wants her team to be so successful and win, obviously those players can’t be denied. To have her on the team now is so exciting.”

A tougher, more competitive Husky squad will be on the court this season. Players and coaches feel like they’ve got a lot to prove after last year, and Jackson is sure that her team will be battling on every possession during the entire season.

“We’re just going to approach every game like it’s our last,” Jackson said. “We’re going to really benefit from having that mindset. I think right now we’ve got a lot to prove.”

The Huskies should look physically fit tonight after working extra hard this off-season. The team has hit the weight room with a new mentality, knowing hard work in the weight room equals sustained longevity throughout the season. Jackson said this squad is in the best shape out of the three teams she has coached at the UW.

“Last year, we were at about 30 percent at the beginning of the season,” she said. “Now, we’re pretty close to 80 percent, and our entire team is in good condition.”

Jackson took care of her team’s physical needs over the summer, but she also knew that mentally, the UW had taken a hit after last season’s debacle. To instill more confidence in her players, she took on a teacher role by assigning the reading of Believe to Achieve, a motivational novel by Howard White.

“That was probably the biggest thing, making sure our minds are proper and as in good condition as our bodies,” Jackson explained. “We continued to build on that, and the kids continue to adhere to the book and say certain things from the book. [The novel] continues to remind them of what their focuses are for the year that keeps us on course.”

After an unsuccessful season last year, it may seem there is added pressure on Jackson to have her team succeed.

“It’s the same pressure as always,” she said. “Making sure our team is healthy, growing, improving and continuing to stay together build toward the ultimate goal, which is really to be dominant nationally.”

Reach reporter Taylor Soper at sports@dailyuw.com.