Coming off a losing season and moving to the more competitive Mountain West, the Boise State women’s basketball program was picked to finish last in its new conference.

But thanks in part to three seniors who will play their final home games this week, the Broncos won’t finish in the basement. Boise State (13-13, 4-7 MW) plays UNLV (19-8, 7-4) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Taco Bell Arena. The trio — forward Nicole Brady and guards Kati Isham and Heather Pilcher — will be honored before Saturday’s home finale against Wyoming.

“They’ve helped change the culture a bit little from last year,” coach Gordy Presnell said. “All three are really dedicated and are very fine young women that would make any dad proud. They are through and through good people, and we are very fortunate to be a part of their lives and for them to be a part of Boise State.”

Isham remembers getting the news that the Broncos were picked last.

“It was kind of a dagger to all of us,” she said. “We didn’t want to end the year like that, so it was always a No. 1 goal to get to the tournament as a higher-ranked seed.”

Boise State likely will go to next month’s MW Tournament as the No. 6 seed and could get to fifth with a strong finish and some help.

“I want to end up surprising people at the tournament,” Brady said. “People know that we’re capable of it, so I don’t think teams are going to overlook us. I believe we can surprise some people and that’s what we’re planning on doing.”

The seniors will need to be at the top of their games for that to happen.

Isham, a junior college transfer from smalltown Howe in eastern Idaho, leads the Broncos in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Brady, a Vernal, Utah, native who has been in the program for three years, is the team’s leading rebounder (6.9 per game). And Pilcher, the Lynwood, Calif., native who spent four years at Boise State, is the leader in assists (2.8) and steals (1.4).

Their statistics are only part of the puzzle. The trio have shared the same apartment for two years and are close friends, which has helped their leadership roles.

“We try to lead the team to the best of our ability,” Pilcher said. “It’s been a great experience. They’re great people. I love living with them and having them as teammates. They’re always positive and hard workers who love the game of basketball. I love to be around them.”

It hasn’t always been easy. The Broncos had a five-game losing streak that caused their record to dip below .500 earlier this season.

“Without question, they’ve been great leaders,” Presnell said. “They’ve never put up the white flag once — there’s no retreat, no surrender, and I’m really proud of every one of them and I will really miss them.”

Pilcher said the time “has flown by,” while Brady said the collection of memories is what she’ll cherish.

“We’re all so close and we like each other so much,” she said.

Isham said playing Division I basketball has been “a dream come true” and she’s hoping the seniors will leave a good legacy.

“This week has a lot to do with that,” Presnell said. “We want to get ourselves back on the right track and win games and finish .500 or above and get ourselves in position to do some damage in the tournament.”

As for the future, Isham plans on attending graduate school for physical therapy. Pilcher will join her brother and sister in Georgia and will try to find a job using her social sciences degree. Brady is getting married next year to Boise State student Greg Puccetti and is planning staying in Boise and getting a job in the healthcare industry. She’ll graduate with a health sciences degree.

It’ll be tough for the roommates and teammates to say goodbye.

“These are lasting friendships that will last for the rest of our lives,” Isham said.

Nick Jezierny: 377-6420