BOISE — It isn't too often that you get a second chance to go out on top.

For Boise State women's basketball senior guards Tasha Harris and Jessica Van Hoogen, they'll have that opportunity in the 2009-10 season.

The prolific duo was supposed to end their careers together last season, but Van Hoogen (then Thompson) injured her knee in the offseason and Harris tore her Achilles tendon in the third game of last season. Both obtained redshirts and will be set to go Sunday in a home exhibition against Lewis-Clark State.

"It was difficult just having to sit on the bench, knowing you can't affect the outcome, but then to see your friend get hurt, too, that was really tough," Van Hoogen said. "Just to be able to go out there and play together again will be exciting."

Van Hoogen is seventh all-time at Boise State in scoring (1,209 points) and Harris is sixth (1,267). The talented guards have played their best basketball when paired together — the Broncos won Western Athletic Conference regular-season titles in the two seasons they've played with each other.

"Hopefully that's an indicator of a great third year," head coach Gordy Presnell said. "They've had such great careers, it certainly would be nice for them to finish on a high note."

Presnell joked that he hasn't lost much hair in a year, but that it has gotten a bit more gray after last season when he lost three players to season-ending injuries and had another transfer midseason. The Broncos finished with a 16-15 record.

With six new faces on the roster, Van Hoogen and Harris' leadership will be counted on heavily.

"We know we have to provide a good example not just in how we play, but how we lead," Harris said. "We've been around for quite a while and we've gone through a lot."

As they were rehabbing their injuries, Van Hoogen and Harris hardly discussed their predicament. Harris redshirted the 2005-06 season because of a leg injury and was confident in getting a medical redshirt for a sixth season.

Instead of dwelling on it, all they could do was look forward.

"We just kept each other positive, talking about being able to play together again, stuff like that," Harris said. "We pushed each other, but we also know each other so well, we knew when to tell the other to slow down."

Presnell said with both players coming off major injuries, he will have to "baby" them for a while, but also realizes they aren't too keen on being away from the court — they had too much of that last year.

"They're just resilient and have such a passion for the game, that they're going to give everything they can," he said. "I know they're going to give all they can. I don't think they'll look back and wonder what could've been considering their injuries."

It isn't uncommon to see Van Hoogen wrapped in ice in two or three places after each game, and Harris has sat out nearly two full seasons because of injury. Bouncing back from being hurt isn't uncommon.

"We don't know what it's like to really be healthy, you hate to say it, but we kind of are used to playing through pain," Van Hoogen said.

Both players said sitting on the bench and being spectators forced them to learn more about the game from an X's and O's standpoint, but also to notice subtle things one wouldn't see in the middle of the action.

Still, nothing compares to being on the floor together, frustrating opponents with their scoring ability and tenacity.

"When something like that happens, you have to find everything positive you possibly can," Harris said. "We play so well together. Being able to finish things with her just feels right."