Coach Cathy Houtman's Corsairs were injury riddled last season, yet still came close to some major upsets late in the season. One year later, UMass Dartmouth must replace a couple of key players from last year's starting lineup, but at least they team is healthy and ready to start a new season.

"Our big priority is to condition ourselves to remain healthy," said Houtman, who is entering her fourth season at UMass Dartmouth. "But even with all of our injuries last year, we had some great games against some nationally ranked teams. This year, what we want to do is to win some of those games."

Coming off a 5-20 season, the Corsairs have a core group of young players who saw considerable amounts of playing time. These players will be joined by a pair of first-year players, creating what Houtman hopes will be a good mix of players with different skills in the starting lineup and coming off the bench.

Sophomore Kelly Berger (Buzzard's Bay, MA) will take over the point guard duties from Maria Day, who did not return to the team this season. Berger saw some action at the point as a freshman last year and will be asked to combine her shooting and ball handling skills. One of only three players who appeared in all 25 games last season, Berger averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds per game, with a team-leading 68 assists. Berger shot 33.6% from the floor and a team-leading 29-85 (34%) from three-point range.

Joining Berger in the Corsairs' backcourt will be first-year player Natarsha Silva (Brockton,MA). Known for her quickness and aggressiveness on both offense and defense, Silva, a standout at Cardinal Spellman High in Brockton last season, is one of the new players Houtman has high hopes for this season.

Returning sophomore Jennifer Pitner (Millis, MA) saw lots of action last season and will come off the bench to provide an offensive spark for UMass Dartmouth. Pitner, who also played in all 25 games, averaged 4.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a guard.

The loss of forwards Christine Lentini and Jennifer Connery to graduation last year will be one of Houtman's biggest challenges heading into the 1996-97 season. A pair of returning veterans, junior captain Cathy Danner (Mansfield, MA) and sophomore Shannon Martin (Scituate, MA), will be the players Houtman will move into starting positions up front for the Corsairs.

Danner was a starter last year at small forward before she was injured 10 games into the season. According to Houtman, Danner has recovered from surgery last February and has been very strong in pre-season practice. When Danner went down with her injury, Martin was the player Houtman moved into the lineup. In 25 games last season, Martin averaged 5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game with 41 steals, second on the team last season.

Having played the last few seasons without a true center, Houtman is looking forward to the arrival of freshman Darilyn St. Germaine (Wareham, MA). A starting center in high school, St. Germain has adjusted well into the Corsairs' system already and will bring strong offensive and rebounding skills into the pivot.

With some of the new players moving into the starting lineup, Houtman will have the luxury of some experienced players coming off the bench. Senior captain Patty Tomkiewicz (Dartmouth, MA) was sidelined last year with a knee injury but is expected to return to action this season. She will be one of the first players off the bench for Martin and St. Germaine up front.

"We played a lot of freshman last season and we'll be a young team again this season," said Houtman, who will be joined by assistant coach Kenny and Carla Johnson again this season. "But I have confidence in a lot of the people who played last year. They are a good group of players who are getting better. We need to develop some consistency and play at a high level game in and game out."

The Corsairs open the 1996-97 season with a non-conference game at home against Worcester State on November 26. UMass Dartmouth's Little East Conference opener will be Saturday, December 14 at Western Connecticut State University.