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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Stylish new green road uniforms will be just one of the new looks when the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's basketball team tips off the 2003-2004 season on November 5 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Eight newcomers - all freshmen - will join six returning players as the Lady Cougars will look to improve on last year's 10-19 overall record. Head coach Steve Gregory, who is entering his sixth season, knows that there will be some challenges along the way with that many new players.

"While we had a very productive recruiting year in the off-season, the benefits from that will be realized in the long run," said Gregory, who has posted a 74-79 record at his alma mater. "Youth is an exciting thing. Certainly, there has been a tremendous amount of teaching going on that normally would not happen with a veteran group. A lot of our freshmen will be baptized into college basketball right away, so we are trying to get them ready."

Leading the way for the Lady Cougars will be senior co-captain Susan Adams (5-foot-9). Adams is slated to start at the 3-guard position, but could also play small forward. She led the team in scoring (16.5 points per game), rebounding (8.3 rebounds per game), and steals (51) last year as she was named to the American Mideast Conference South Division Second Team and the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Second Team. She also became the fifteenth player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

"Susan had a great season last year and I would expect more of the same," said Gregory. "She has truly grown as a person, player, and leader. We are going to need her scoring and rebounding, but more importantly, we will need her leadership. She has worked hard to improve her perimeter shooting as well as her post moves as an inside/outside player."

Jenny Slack (5-foot-7) returns after an ACL injury forced her to red-shirt all of last year. She will battle for the starting spot at the small forward position. As a freshman, she averaged 5.0 points per game and made 29 three-pointers. "We will need Jenny's leadership as a co-captain this season," said Gregory. "Her ability to score and rebound will also be counted on."

In addition to Slack and Adams playing at the forward position, freshmen Miranda Capuano (6-foot) and Elyse Bogusz (5-foot-10) will compete for playing time. Capuano averaged 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds as a senior at Carrollton High School, while Bogusz topped the 1,000-point mark as a two-time All-Conference First Team selection at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.

Sophomore Erin Arnett (6-foot-1) returns at the center position after averaging 8.1 points and 6.8 rebounds while starting 21 games for MVNU last year. Capuano and freshmen Amanda Rowe (6-foot) and Beth Ryder (5-foot-10) will also compete for playing time in the post. Rowe averaged 16.8 points and 13.4 rebounds as a senior at Open Door Christian School in earning All-Ohio Special Mention honors, while Ryder averaged 14.9 points and 9.4 rebounds as a senior at Dalton High School in also being named to the All-Ohio Special Mention Team.

Freshmen Katy Barry, Ashley Banas, and Katie Keller are all competing for the starting point guard spot. Barry (5-foot-5) was named to the All-Conference Second Team at Worthington Christian High School, while Banas (5-foot-6) averaged 13.3 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.3 steals as a senior at Tippecanoe High School and was named to the All-League First Team for the second straight year. Keller (5-foot-5) averaged 19.7 points as a senior and was a two-time All-Ohio Honorable Mention pick at Elgin High School. She also set the Lady Comets' all-time scoring record with 1,384 points as well as setting new records for points in a game (36) and in a season (454).

Banas, Barry, Keller, and senior Lisa Weller (5-foot-6) are all competing for time at the shooting guard spot as well. Weller averaged 5.9 points per game as a junior and was third on the Lady Cougars' squad with 38 three-pointers made. Sophomore Joni Peelman (5-foot-7) also adds depth at the guard position.

In addition, sophomore guard/forward Amanda Stevens (6-foot) and freshman guard Allison Linak (5-foot-7) will join the team once they finish their seasons with the MVNU volleyball and women's soccer teams respectively. Stevens averaged 7.1 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Lady Cougars last year, while Linak finished fourth in Ohio high school history with 242 career three-pointers at Worthington Christian High School. Both Stevens and Linak are expected to contribute and challenge for a starting role.

"Right now, it is comforting to know that our roster consists of two seniors, four sophomores, and eight freshmen," said Gregory. "Our freshmen will have an impact for us this season and are the building blocks for the future. We will be very young this year, but hopefully this recruiting class will help us get to where we need to be."

After opening the season at Michigan-Dearborn on November 5, MVNU will return home for a non-conference game with Concordia (Mich.) University on November 11 before hosting Grace (Ind.) College on November 14 as part of this year's Homecoming activities. The Lady Cougars will also host Geneva (Pa.) College, Michigan-Dearborn, Notre Dame College, Kenyon College, and Denison University in non-conference action.

MVNU will travel to the Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University Tournament on November 21-22. In addition, the Lady Cougars will play a non-conference road game at Concordia.

MVNU will be challenged every time out in the American Mideast Conference South Division as the Lady Cougars will play home and away against Shawnee State University, Cedarville University, University of Rio Grande, Malone College, Ohio Dominican University, Walsh University, Wilberforce University, Urbana University, and Tiffin University.