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-Tara Dice, who led the MCC in 3-point shooting percentage at 42 percent and averaged 8.4 points per game.

-Jessica Hathaway, who averaged 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds a game.

-Marie Kaufmann, who averaged 12.3 ppg in the MCC and NAIA Tournament.

-Toni Burney, who averaged 6.6 ppg, 4.0 rebounds a game and had 45 steals.

-Jenny Richards, who averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rebounds a game.

-Bessie Jenkins, a talented student-athlete who battled injuries last season, Kacy Blotkamp, who shot 83 percent off the bench at the free-throw line and Mary Petrie all add to a deep returnee nucleus for head coach Gary Andrews.

"We've got athleticism, depth and return a lot of experience," Andrews said.  "If we play hard, smart and play together, we have a chance to accomplish some very good things.  I am very excited about this season.  I really think we have a chance to be a great team."

Secondly, Andrews' optimism is based on not only a strong base of veterans, but a solid class of incoming players.  Julie Seiss, Jamika Banks, Vini Dawson and Stacia Shepherd. ring at least one year of experience each as transfers. 

"We are returning some very good players who have a lot of big game experience.  We also have put together a great recruiting class.  One thing I like about it is that we have brought in three players who have college experience.  They will have an immediate impact," Andrews emphasized.

"It will probably take us awhile to jell and get used to playing together as a team, but I'm confident we will continue to improve and get better as a team and contend for the National Championship.  I really feel that we have the potential to beat anybody in the country.  We have players who can score in many different ways and we've got depth at guard and in our post game."

"We also have added some needed speed to our team.  We had some quickness last year, but I really felt that we needed to add some quickness to improve our man-to-man defense.  I really thought our zone defense was very good last year, but I also thought we needed to pressure people in a man-defense.  We'll be able to do that with the players we have added this season."

"Adding quickness should also improve our fast break.  We are really going to push the ball and try and get more easy baskets before the defense can get set up.  With our depth, we feel that we can really wear down the opposition by constantly pushing the tempo."

Andrews is more confident in his backcourt than he was at the beginning of last season.  He has more experienced players with the return of Burney, Dice, Blotkamp, Jenkins, and red-shirt freshman Angie Roy.

"Having a more experienced backcourt will make a difference this season," Andrews indicated.  "Toni has really worked hard this summer, has recovered from her knee injuries and is very athletic.  She can score off the dribble and she can hit the outside shot.  Toni is one of our best passers.  She does a good job seeing the whole floor."

"Tara is one of the best long-distance shooters in not only the conference, but the country.  Her accurate 3-point shooting forces teams to spread out and will open up the inside for Marie, Jamika, and Jess."

Julie Seiss is a transfer from Butler University who is not only athletic, but versatile in the backcourt.  "Julie can play point or off-guard and is an asset on defense.  On offense, she's just as versatile, capable of scoring or passing," Andrews said.

Blotkamp adds depth, and like Seiss is capable of playing either guard position.  "Kacy is a very determined, hard-nosed player on the court.  She plays excellent defense and is fearless pushing the ball up the floor on our break.  She can hit the outside shot or she will penetrate."

Bessie Jenkins had a great summer and has regained much of her quickness after two knee surgeries last season.  "Bessie is a great athlete.  She really improved her ball-handling and shooting over the summer.  I think Bessie is going to really help us this season."

Molly Getts and Katie Jones are two true freshman.  Molly is going to red-shirt this season.  "Molly is a good shooter and a good defensive player," Andrews said.  "Katie is a tremendous shooter and will compete for playing time."

Andrews has a confident smile when he talks about his frontcourt rotations...and why not?  Marie Kaufmann has steadily improved in each of her first two seasons with the Lady Cougars.  Hathaway and Richards are dependable rebounders who can score as well, and with the addition of Banks, Andrews has good reason to smile.

"Marie really finished last season strong, stepping up to score, rebound and act as an intimidator in the lane of defense," Andrews said emphatically.  "She's hard to stop once she gets the ball in the post."

Jamika Banks, a junior who transferred from Tennessee State, is another front line player who is hard to guard.  "Jamika is very strong and she knows how to use her body inside," Andrews observed.  "She can hit the outside shot as well as drive to the basket.  She's a tremendous rebounder and will be a major force for us this year."

Hathaway and Richards, who will serve as co-captains, add versatility in many different ways.  "We know that Jess is an excellent rebounder, she can post up inside and she does a good job in our press breaker.  Jen is our best leaper with a nice jump shot.  She has moments where she can really get hot shooting.  She is also a solid rebounder."

Stacia Shepherd, a sophomore transfer from Stetson University will also red-shirt this season.  "Stacia is a very skilled and tremendous shooter.  She's also a good ball handler, passer and has great court awareness," Andrews added.

Just within the MCC, the Lady Cougars will play defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan twice, fourth-ranked Bethel, 22nd-ranked Taylor and 35th-ranked Huntington.  USF, BC and Taylor all advanced to the Elite Eight last March.

To get ready for the Mid-Central Conference gauntlet, Andrews has scheduled non-conference challenges against final NAIA Top 25 foes, such as No. 23 Aquinas, No. 27 IU-Southeast, No. 31 Cornerstone, and perennial power Shawnee State.  Davenport (MI) and Cornerstone were both NAIA Tournament qualifiers as well.

"We really feel that we can contend for our conference championship and also compete for a National Championship, but it won't be easy," Andrews analyzed.  "We are the type of team that, with our depth, could do a lot of damage in Sioux City, Iowa.  I am confident we will improve as the season progresses and I really feel that we can be a very good team this year."