Ides has three-point range on her shot, runs the floor well and has staggering strength.

"She can bench and lift more weight than any incoming freshman I have ever had, and most outgoing seniors," Delaney-Smith said. "When she sent us her summer program, we just thought she was lying and then she came here. This woman is the Charles Barkley of the country."

Another freshman, 6' guard Bree Kelley, could see some time at the point guard position this year.

"With our height, we could probably put five players above 6' on the floor, from the point guard to the center," Delaney-Smith said.

Add this to two seniors with something to prove and a strong sophomore class with significant game experience.

Captain Laela Sturdy (12.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game last year) and senior classmate Courtney Egelhoff (8.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg) have both been derailed in the past by injuries. Sturdy's sophomore and junior seasons were cut short by injuries, stopping short two stellar offensive campaigns. Egelhoff, the team's top returning defensive player, has been battling a virus recently.

The sophomore class of forwards Katie Gates (6.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Lindsay Ryba (7.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Sharon Nunamaker (2.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg), and guards Jen Monti (5.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Laura Barnard (1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg) were pressed into action last season when much of the team came down with whooping cough and other injuries. Delaney-Smith said they are no longer playing like freshman.