Gary Andrews isn't used to losing records, and doesn't want to start. If the Saint Francis women's basketball coach is right, last year's 15-16 record was an injury-caused aberration, and nothing more.

If he's really right, the Cougars could be in for a huge turnaround.

“We have a lot of new kids,” Andrews said, “but by the time we get them together, we could be as good as we've ever been. We're really talented.”

Togetherness might not peak in Friday night's season opener against Roberts Wesleyan, but that's not the point. Being ready for conference play and, perhaps, a NAIA postseason run is.

“We don't have many easy games,” Andrews said. “Our record might not be real great at first, but our schedule gets us ready for conference and the conference tournament and, hopefully, nationals.”

Injuries sidelined most of Saint Francis' top players last year. The returning player with the best statistics is 6-1 forward Chelsea Joseph, who averaged 7.0 points.

“Most of our best players will be transfers or girls who were hurt last year,” Andrews said.

The Cougars are counting on local players to help lead the way. Five players are from Fort Wayne (North Side's Bianca Woods, Bishop Luers' Markee Martin and Vini Dawson, Concordia's Chanell Ridley, and Wayne's Bessie Jenkins) and four more from northeast Indiana (Warsaw's Julie Seiss, Southern Wells' Meghan Prible, Garrett's Molly Getts and Columbia City's Angie Roy).

All these players have the attributes that have helped Andrews win 153 games in eight seasons.

“We're looking for athletes and players who understand the game,” he said. “Every now and then we might get a kid who hasn't been taught the game real well, but who is very athletic. Once they get it, they should be really good.”

Tough-minded players also are high on Andrews' wish list.

“If you have somebody who isn't very tough, it's hard to make them tough,” he said. “It's better to get hard-nosed kids. If somebody is soft and not real tough, it's hard to make them a demon on the inside, a banger, a real tough kid.”