A'Quonesia Franklin and Morenike Atunrase.

They walked onto the college scene of Texas A&M with big hearts, great potential and lofty goals.

Four years have passed and A'Quonesia Franklin and Morenike Atunrase find themselves in the same position. This time, though, they are more than 1,700 miles apart, playing in the WNBA for the Sacramento Monarchs and San Antonio Silver Stars, respectively.

Back then, they were college freshmen who brought a litany of accolades to a program that hadn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 1996. They had both won at least one high school championship and were named to multiple all-state teams. Entering College Station, they were either too naïve or too self-assured to realize that bringing the Aggies back to prominence wouldn’t be easy.

Together, they did it.

They guided the maroon and white to the 2006 NCAA Tournament and did it again in '07 and '08. By the time their outstanding collegiate careers came to an end, they had led the Aggies to the program's first-ever NCAA Elite Eight ('08), led the team to its most productive season of all time (29-8) and helped it attain its highest national ranking (8) in school history.

"We always say, 'We made it.'" Franklin's friend, Atunrase, said before the pair tipped-off at ARCO Arena on Opening Night. "It was something that we worked hard toward for four years at A&M. It wasn’t easy at all. Our coaches weren’t pacifying us at all. They didn’t sugarcoat anything. I think that’s what we needed and it got us here."

Now for the second time in their young professional careers, the former teammates and shopping buddies face each other again, this time in Atunrase's home arena, AT&T Center. Before admitting their desire to beat one another, the former Aggies touted each others' game.

"She’s a very explosive go-to player," Franklin said smiling. "As a point guard, you’re always looking for your go-to player and she was my go-to player. It was just very exciting to play with her. She hit a lot of big shots for me."

"She’s an up-tempo player," Atunrase said of her former running mate. "She can distribute the ball well and she sees the court well. At the same time, she can score and defend. At A&M we were a defensive house and that’s what we strive for. She’s a great player to me."

Franklin has shown glimpses of her potential as the reliable back up point guard for Ticha Penicheiro by taking care of the ball and helping the Monarchs keep their offensive rhythm when their veteran needs a breather. Through 15 contests, she is averaging a respectable 1.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.2 rebounds per 11 minutes of action. Her breakout game -- five points, four assists and two steals in 15 minutes -- came against the defensive stalwart Detroit Shock.

"It’s not how big you are but how big you play," Franklin said. "Trust your ability. Do what you do. Don’t try to go out and play and do different things. Stick to what you do and do it well."

Having produced her best statistical game against Detroit is fitting. It's against bigger, faster and more physical players that "Aqua," as her friends and teammates call her, honed her game in Tyler, Texas, playing against older boys.

"It’s not how big you are but how big you play," Franklin said. "Trust your ability. Do what you do. Don’t try to go out and play and do different things. Stick to what you do and do it well."

The words ring as wisdom for youngsters looking up to her, yet it's clear that Franklin flourishes in a bigger, stronger league by keeping those words in mind.

Words of encouragement and instruction of similar ilk were instrumental in helping Franklin expand her game and leadership ability while at A&M, thanks to her coach, Gary Blair.

"Being a complete player, that’s something that (Blair and his assistants) always talked about -- filling up the left side of the stat sheet, not the right side, not the turnovers," Atunrase said.

Blair put Franklin in the starting lineup from the get-go and she never looked back, "learning to become a leader" throughout her duration. Now, like then, Franklin has had little time for training wheels. Along with rookie teammates Laura Harper, Crystal Kelly and Charel Allen, Franklin plays an important role for Sacramento.

In college, Franklin was among the country's best in assist-to-turnover ratio as she led the Big 12 in that category all four years. And it's that sure-handedness along with her relentless style that caught the eye of Sacramento's coaches and has quickly captured the hearts of Monarchs fans.

At 5-foot-4 and playing against the best in the world every night, Franklin doesn't hesitate to emphasize the importance of continual self-improvement and the contrast between college and the League.

"It’s very important to work on your game day-in and day-out," Franklin said, dressed in her Monarchs number 10 jersey. "It’s a totally different world from college."

She is now a part of that world. It's a place she and Atunrase had their sights set on as far back as their days as AAU teammates. One goal has been reached, but more are on the horizon.

As for the immediate future, the Monarchs and Silver Stars tip-off the day before the country celebrates its 232nd year of independence and both want to win.

"We’re competitive," Franklin said beginning to laugh. "She thinks she’s going to win, I think I’m going to win. But we’ll see after the game..."

So far, Franklin leads their blossoming all-time WNBA series 1-0 and for one night, again, they're together.