The challenge facing Whitworth’s head women’s basketball coach Helen Higgs may be beyond normal terms. Some teams reload, some rebuild. What Higgs is facing may best be termed as re-creation.

After all, the Pirates not only must replace all five starters from last season, the team must quickly get used to the fact that it no longer has two of the best individual players in school history. Tiffany Speer and Sarah Shogren both graduated as NCAA Division III All-Americans from last season’s team that finished 22-3.

The Pirates will be young. Eleven of the 15 players on the roster are either freshmen, sophomores or redshirt sophomores. Higgs knows that she is going to have to take things more slowly this season.

"First, I remind myself that I’m going to have to teach more and be patient with their learning curve," she said. "Then we look at our personnel’s strengths and make adjustments in our offensive and defensive strategies to take advantage of those strengths."

The new look Pirates will have a couple of familiar faces to Pirate fans. Holly Ridings (So., G, Spokane, Wash. - Shadle Park) and Emily Hendrickson (So., G/F, Valleyford, Wash. - Freeman) were the first players off of the bench for the Bucs last year. Ridings averaged 4.5 points and was second on the team in three pointers made (26). Hendrickson added 3.3 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. Both figure to start this season, Ridings at shooting guard and Hendrickson at power forward.

The point guard position looks like a three-way battle between veteran Becca Karste (Sr., Antioch, Calif. - Deer Valley), newcomer Amy Ridings (Jr., Spokane, Wash. - CC of Spokane) and Teresa Zeitler (RS So., Medical Lake, Wash. - Medical Lake), who has patiently worked behind graduated All-NWC point Dani Bielec.

Amy Ridings could also move over to give her sister Holly a breather at shooting guard. Alissa Lanker (Fr., Spokane, Wash. - University) figures to provide solid backup at shooting guard as well.

Alida Bower (So., Onalaska, Wash. - St. Martin’s Univ.) played in 23 games for St. Martin’s last season and figures to make an immediate impact at small forward. Meghan Beauchamp (RS So., Stanwood, Wash. - Stanwood), coming off of a medical redshirt season, will also challenge for significant playing time, both at small forward and shooting guard. A pair of freshmen, Stacie Scott (Portland, Ore. - Glencoe) and Jamie Scott (Tacoma, Wash. - Life Christian), will provide solid depth.

Chelsea Combs (Sr., Kettle Falls, Wash. - Big Bend CC) will back up Hendrickson at power forward. She appeared in four games for the Bucs last season.

Filling the post comes down to a battle between Kelli Highland (RS So., Tigard, Ore. - Tualatin) and Danielle Wegman (RS Jr., Seattle, Wash. - Blanchet). Highland worked back into basketball shape last season after not playing during her freshman year at Oregon State. Wegman contributed significant minutes as a freshman, but did not play the last two seasons for various reasons, including study abroad.

The team is fully aware of the challenges ahead. Not only do the Pirates have to move into the positions filled so well for so long by last season’s starters, they have to face a challenging schedule that includes the always tough Northwest Conference.

"I believe the women are excited to face the challenges of our season, and are working hard together to reach our fullest potential," said Higgs.

Whitworth opens the season November 19th and 20th against NAIA opponents Northwest University and Montana Tech. A flight to California will include games against Chapman and Whittier. A road trip to Montana to take on MSU-Northern and Great Falls comes in the middle of December. The Pirates conclude the calendar year by hosting UC Santa Cruz and Cal State East Bay in the Whit Holiday Classic.

The Northwest Conference figures to be as strong as ever. George Fox is favored to repeat as NWC champions, according to a preseason coaches poll. PLU and Whitman are considered strong contenders. UPS, Linfield and Pacific could also break through. The NWC tournament will take place February 23 and 26.