The Wilmington College women's basketball program returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago, and will be looking to challenge the upper echelon of the Ohio Athletic Conference. 

"We graduated three solid starters from last year's team, and they will be difficult to replace, especially on the defensive end," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "We have twelve returning players, nine of whom have had extensive playing time, with the other three knocking on the door. While we don't have any gaping holes where we need freshmen to step in, I think we have some that have the ability to do just that. Defense is going to be our real question mark, and we are going to have work very hard to get where we need to be on that end of the floor."

Junior Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) is the team's top returning scorer despite coming off the bench in all 27 games. The guard averaged more than 20 minutes per game, while scoring 9.5 points per game. Not only will be counted on to score, she will be asked to continue her defensive presence. She finished ninth in the league with 1.8 steals per game. 

"Brittaney has turned herself into an all-league performer," said Scheve. "One on one, she is as good as any player in the league. She can really score; she can shoot the three, she can get to the basket. She is just a hard player to guard."

Joining Jefferson in the backcourt will be running mate Ellie Kivell (West Chester, OH/Lakota West), who Scheve says "bring an explosiveness to the point guard position." Kivell played in 20 games, coming off the bench in all of them, and was fourth on the team in scoring with 6.7 points per game. She was second on the team with 2.0 assists per game.  

Junior Ja'Cole Tabor (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) will move to the point guard position as senior Ashley Andracki (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) will miss the season with an injury. Tabor has dealt with her share of injuries over the last two seasons, and played in 19 games a season ago. 

"Ja'Cole is a very versatile player who can play any position on the court," said Scheve. "We can put her wherever we need to, and right now, because of injuries, we need her at the point guard position. She has stepped in there and done a great job. Her leadership on the court has been outstanding."

Sophomores Savannah Hooper (Leesburg, OH/Wilmington) and Meranda Wilson (Marysville, OH/Marysville) bring different aspects to  the Wilmington backcourt. 

"Savannah is our best shooter, and I think she is much more comfortable this year," said Scheve. "I look for her to step us this year, and Meranda has really improved."

As good and versatile as the Wilmington backcourt will be, Wilmington's front court will be the key to the Fightin' Quakers' success.

"Number one; there is a lot of competition there," said Scheve. "We have three players coming back that have played a lot and a fourth returner that is solid player slowed by injuries and we have some freshmen as well."

Juniors Mary Moyer (Martinsville, OH/Clinton Massie) and Hannah Haeseker (Germantown, OH/Valley View), along with sophomore Emily Smith (Bellbrook, OH/Bellbrook), senior      

Alexandria Kingsbery (Lima, OH/Central Catholic) and sophomore Emily Harman (Versailles, OH/Versailles) return in the post.

"Obviously you start with Mary Moyer," said Scheve. "She had a good season for us last year. She is as hard of worker as we have on the team, and she will lead by example."

Moyer finished last season averaged 9.1 points per game and is the top returning rebounder with 5.2 boards per contest. 

Haeseker, after a solid freshman season, struggled early last season with injuries. She played in 26 of 27 games, averaging 3.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Smith added 3.5 points and 2.3 boards, while Kingsbery tallied 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds. 

"She has some injuries last year, and definitely didn't start the way she played her freshman year," Scheve said of Haeseker. "But at the end of the year, she was playing better that she ever has, and I think that will continue."

Wilmington starts its season 6 p.m. Saturday at Denison.