Every game counts, even if it’s just the preseason.

For the first time this year, the BU women’s basketball team will take to the court at the Events Center on Monday at 7 p.m.

Binghamton, tied for fifth with Stony Brook in the preseason coaches’ poll, will square off against Le Moyne College, ranked 14th in the Northeast-10 conference poll.

“We have been playing great in practice,” said senior forward Jen Haubrich. “Really, [the game] will be about getting our first appearance jitters out of the way, more so for the freshmen.”

If there was ever a time to test what works for the team, it is during the preseason games. The Bearcats are looking to see what kind of contributions their freshmen Laura Franceski, Erin Owens and Lauren Regan will make, but will still rely on seniors Haubrich and Rachel Laws for leadership on the court. Laws was recently named to the America East All-Conference team — one of only two unanimously chosen players.

“It makes me want to work harder everyday to reach the expectations that I have for myself and that the coaches in the conference see from my game as well,” said an honored Laws, only 20 points away from 1,000 in her career. “This gives me more confidence in my abilities as a player and a team leader on the court.”

For head coach Rich Conover, his team is pretty much intact from last season, and should win its first ever conference playoff game in 2006.

“No real changes have been made from last year to improve the team,” Conover said. “This is a new season and in my mind a new team that has a chance to make its own mark this year.”