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NORTON - The Wheaton College women's basketball team returns six players from a team that won 16 games last season, but coach Melissa Hodgdon will have to find a way to work 10 newcomers into the program.

"I feel like I'm at a construction site," said Hodgdon, in her eighth season. "Like the science center (being built across from the Haas Athletic Center), we're a work in progress."

Wheaton finished at 16-11 overall, including a 12-6 NEWMAC record and fourth place finish. "We have short-term goals in order to achieve a long-term goal," added Hodgdon. "Each day we have practice goals in hopes of taking that next step to get better and develop more toward the final product."

Sophomore Jeana Trimboli of Norwalk, Conn. (10.8 ppg) broke the Wheaton three-point rookie record with 61 made, while also ranking second on the team in assists (80) and steals (32). At the point guard slot, Keene State College junior transfer Nicole Cullinane of Rindge, N.H. and Laura Pierce of Hampstead, N.H. are both vying for time.

Junior forward and captain Gabbie DePalo of Rumson, N.J. (4.8 ppg, 3.7 rebounds), 6-foot-2 sophomore Natasha Colon Ortiz of Holyoke (4.6 ppg, 4.4. rebounds) are the Lyons' top two returning players. But expected to make an immediate impact are Drew University sophomore transfer Jana Jagodzinski of Old Greenwich, Conn., freshmen Vanessa Campbell of Manchester, N.H., Sarah Fitzgerald of Bath, Maine, Lauren McClelland of Scituate and Dana Zahoruiko of Amesbury. "We've had to teach more this year than the last three," stated Hodgdon. "We're breaking things down more, sometimes several times. It doesn't all happen at once."

Three 2010 NCAA Tournament teams dot Wheaton's schedule, the Lyons opening their season tonight at Roger Williams University. Wheaton returns home to host its annual Tip-Off Tournament on Friday.

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