Spring Hill College (SHC)  women's basketball head coach Karen McConico welcomes back her most experienced team of her six-year career with the Badgers for the 2016-17 season. "Our four seniors have a new mindset and they have a mature attitude about the upcoming season," she says. "They really want to go out with a bang and they see that the talent of our newcomers can help them do it."
 
McConico brought in eight new faces during the offseason and she is confident that at least five of them can make an immediate impact on the program. "They all have the right attitude,' she says. "They work really hard and have raised us to a new level of competitiveness. Coming from winning teams and bringing winning attitude, they all know what winning is and what it means. That attitude is contagious."
 
The Badgers will have five starters back for the new season, but McConico warns them all that nobody is assured a starting spot this year. "No job is safe this year," she says. "That's great as a coach because it promotes competitiveness as well as team comradery. Our new faces will push the returners and that's the way it's supposed to be."
 
Spring Hill's strength this year lies in the post and under the basket where senior center and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Pre-Season All-Conference selection Leah Washington of Houma, La., teams with fellow senior forwards Camry Johnson from Mobile's Faith Academy and Alishia DraytonLewis of Jacksonville, Fla., to put a combined nine years  of experience on the floor. "Our interior could be excellent this year," says McConico. "We have three tough seniors leading the charge followed by some very talented younger players who have the size to control the inside in a physical conference."
 
Sophomore 6-foot, 1-inch forward Tiffany Valentine from Houston, Texas, has gotten stronger over the summer while junior college transfer forward Angel Carthen of Wilmer, Ala., brings starting experience and success. "Frankly, Tiffany was disappointed in her freshman year," McConico admits. "But she has realized she needs to focus more and what it takes to be successful at this level." McConico also likes what she has seen from Carthen. "Angel is a workhorse on the inside," she says. "She goes after every rebound and fights for the ball."
 
 Freshmen forwards Windee Johnson from Greenbriar, Tenn., and Katie Krout of Tuscaloosa, Ala., have impressed the Badger coaches with their commitment and abilities during early workouts and will make their presence felt early.
 
As for the outside, McConico brought in junior point guard Johnta Hughes from Hattiesburg, Miss., after a successful junior college career. "Hughes is a natural point guard," McConico says. "She comes from a winning tradition and is a true floor general who controls the action while looking to get the ball where it needs to be." With Hughes taking over at point guard, McConico will shift junior Jennifer Clark of Kenner, La., to a guard position along with freshman Elise Reilly from Covington, La. "Having Hughes frees us to put Jen where she feels comfortable and Reilly was the Number 1 scorer in Louisiana last year, so not only will we cut down on turnovers, but we put scorers in position to either score or force defenses to free up the inside for Leah. We can also let Leah get down the floor on offense sooner and not worry about her bringing up the ball like she had to do last year."
 
With the pieces falling into place, McConico begins sizing up her options. "Alishia has been working on finishing on the inside and begun to find the square for easy buckets while (senior guard) Brittney Davis (Foley, Ala.) has three years of experience and that's invaluable," she says. "We also have (junior guard) Jewel Hill who started 21 games last year, so we are deep in experience this year." Freshmen guards Nora Brooks of St. Louis, Mo., Daja Walker of Tuskegee, Ala., and Hannah Fillmore of Brewton, Ala., are more weapons that McConico has at her disposal who will see action throughout the year.
 
McConico is always excited to get the new season started, but it is obvious that this season has her especially ready to roll the ball out on the court. "We really have shifted our entire culture," she says. "We have the pieces in place and the younger players have not only gained the respect of the veterans, but they are pushing and inspiring them. Our belief in each other is better than ever and we really are focused on team and not self. These ladies want SHC to be a top team."

The Badgers will open the 2016-17 season on Friday night at 6 p.m. versus the University of West Alabama Tigers at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.