STEPHENVILLE - In the first year without divisions in the Lone Star Conference, the Tarleton TexAnns dominated the league from the outset and eventually went on to win their first LSC Championship and Tournament Championship in school history last year.

Despite the loss of several key players, Tarleton has no desire to let loose its stronghold on the conference in 2012-13 as the TexAnns have retooled the lineup with a strong mix of battled-tested veterans and high-potential newcomers.

“There are several things we've been emphasizing to this team,” said Tarleton head coach Ronnie Hearne. “We ask the team, 'What do we want other teams to see when they play us?'

“We want them to see a team that plays extremely hard, first of all,” he continued. “We want them to see a team with a great attitude, a team that plays well together and finally a team that strives to get better everyday.”

For the second straight season, the TexAnns have been selected as the Preseason No. 1 in the LSC, and as the reigning champions, come into the season as the team to beat in the league.

“They always say it's easier to get to the top than it is to stay there,” said Hearne. “We have great leaders on this team, but we've been trying to put pressure on them in practice so they'll be better suited for it in a game. It's about the process.”

They are also among the top vote-getters outside of the first ESPN Division II coaches poll top 25 to begin the season.

Tarleton returns six letterwinners from last year's championship team, including last year's Co-Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-LSC selection Peyton Adamson and Kiara Wright, who was also all-conference second team. Adamson, Wright and Shanae Lowrance were also named to the all-tournament team at the LSC Championship Tournament.

Also returning for the TexAnns are Brianna Bledsoe, Cheyenne Berry, Kimber Koonsman, Lindsey Mann, Karli Moore and Alexis Brown, who redshirted as a true freshman last season.

“We have a strong group of ladies coming back,” said Hearne. “Whenever you bring back three members of the all-tournament team, you feel like you're in a pretty good situation. All of our returners are working extremely hard and I'm excited to see that hard work pay off this season.”

Joining the LSC Champion TexAnns in the offseason are five freshmen who dominated the high school ranks and look to contribute right away at the next level.

“We have a talented group of newcomers,” said Hearne. “They are all good shooters with good size. They are also coming from very successful high school programs, which allows them to come into our program with confidence and a desire to win.”

The freshman class includes Morgan Ashmore (Spearman HS), Keyra Johnson (Mansfield HS), Meagan O'Dell (Jim Ned HS), Erin Sims (Lorena HS) and Raven McGrath (Grandview HS).

Players: Post

The post position is without a doubt the deepest position for the TexAnns, returning three letterwinners from a year ago including LSC all-tournament members Wright and Lowrance.

“That position is definitely our No. 1 strength,” said Hearne. “We have depth there, but more importantly, we have quality depth. I would say it's the best post depth we've had since I've been here.”

Wright was named second-team all-conference a year ago while averaging nearly a double-double on the season with 12.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She also led the team and the LSC in field goal percentage at .597.

Lowrance also found a rhythm over the final weeks of the season, including scoring a season-high 22 points against Angelo State in the LSC Championship semifinal game against Angelo.

Rounding out the post position for the TexAnns are Moore and Sims. Moore is a versatile sophomore who is expected to be the first player off the bench at both positions, while Sims is a good outside shooter in addition to a strong presence inside.

Players: Wing

At the wing positions, Tarleton has a strong mix of experience and newcomers.

Leading the position is the reigning LSC all-tournament MVP and TexAnn leading scorer, Peyton Adamson, who returns to Tarleton for her junior season after averaging 13.5 points per game as a sophomore.

Also returning are key reserves looking to expand their roles - Brianna Bledsoe, Cheyenne Berry and Kimber Koonsman.

Bledsoe is in her third season with the TexAnns and has seen action in 59 games over her first two years. The Stephenville native has averaged 3.9 points and 1.6 rebounds off the bench for the TexAnns in her young career.

Berry is in her second season with Tarleton after transferring from Stephen F. Austin last year. As a sophomore for the TexAnns, she played in 31 games and started three averaging 5.1 points per game.

Koonsman has seen limited action in her first two seasons with Tarleton, but is expected to see increased action as a junior, especially as a defensive specialist.

Joining this experienced group are redshirt freshman Brown and true freshmen O'Dell and McGrath.

Brown spent last season as a redshirt after a stellar career at Wichita Falls High School, while O'Dell and McGrath are fresh off strong careers at Jim Ned High School and Grandview High School, respectively.

“I'm excited about this group,” said Hearne. “We have experience there and a lot of good shooters. The ball handling has improved with those players, but there is still a lot of work in that area.”

Players: Guard

The point guard position is the biggest question mark for the TexAnns after losing a pair of senior stars.

“It's a different feeling because ever since I've been here, our point guard position has been a strength,” said Hearne. “From Katie Crawford, to Sonya Sundberg to Shelby Adamson and Lisa Parker, we've been consistent at that spot.

“This year, we have a lot of potential but we're waiting to find that consistency,” he added.

The point guard position is dominated by underclassmen with Johnson as the leader to obtain the starting position when the TexAnns open the season Nov. 12 with Mann and Ashmore competing for time as the floor general.

Schedule

Tarleton will compete through a 26-game regular-season schedule, with 20 games slated as LSC contests.

“I know every coach in the country says this, but I believe we have a very tough non-conference schedule,” said Hearne. “Texas Wesleyan is a very good NAIA team and St. Mary's and Texas-Permian Basin is usually very strong in Division II. Northeastern State was the No. 3 team in the region last season so they will without a doubt be the toughest.”

The TexAnns open the season Nov. 12 against perennial NAIA power Texas Wesleyan in the first of 14 games in the friendly confines of Wisdom Gym.

Following a trip to Odessa just before Thanksgiving, the TexAnns will turnaround and host former regional foe and currrent MIAA member Northeastern State for a post-Thanksgiving battle at Wisdom.

After the holiday break, Tarleton will hit the road for its longest road stretch of the season - three straight away games at St. Mary's, Texas Woman's and Angelo State.

“Those first semester conference games are already lingering in the back of my mind,” said Hearne. “We'll visit Texas Woman's and Angelo State - both places where we lost on the road last season - then we turn around and host Abilene Christian, who has the returning player of the year, most of their team back and a new coach.”

They will then return home for their longest home stand of the season, which surrounds the Christmas holidays, with four games against Abilene Christian, Texas Permian-Basin, Wayland Baptist and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

After the new year, the TexAnns will be completely engulfed in Lone Star Conference affairs, with crucial games against West Texas A&M, Midwestern State, and last year's LSC Championship runner-up Incarnate Word.

The season is here and the TexAnns are ready to defend their championship title, beginning with Texas Wesleyan tonight at 6 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.