SLIPPERY ROCK — The list of Julie Molloy's body parts that she injured last season reads like an anatomy textbook: shoulder, wrist, quadriceps, shins and ankle.

But this year, Molloy, a junior guard on the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team, is feeling good — and it shows.

"I feel a lot better this year," Molloy said. "I'm very upbeat about this season and ready to go."

Molloy, a Grove City High graduate, has shown how ready she is in the first three games this season.

She is averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game, is tied for the lead in assists with 12 and is second in rebounds with 19.

Her start is in stark contrast to her sophomore season, when it was a struggle just to stay on the court and in the starting lineup.

Because of injuries and inconsistency, Molloy averaged just 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. She missed three games and started 21.

"She's an all-conference type player," said SRU coach Laurel Heilman. "She was just in and out so much last year, she never developed any consistency."

But it's a new season and Molloy, who transferred to The Rock from Division I St. Bonaventure after her freshman year, is determined to establish herself as an all-around player, not just a dangerous scorer.

She has shown that in the first three games.

Molloy had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 76-57 win over Tiffin (Ohio) Thursday night that ended a 12-game losing streak dating back to last season.

"I'm trying to be smarter with the decisions that I make, both shooting and passing," Molloy said. "I'm trying to rebound more this year. It's a goal of mine because I never really rebounded before, but I know I can do it. It's attitude. It's all about whether you want the ball or not.

"I'm looking for different things this year," Molloy added. "I'm looking for balance across the board instead of zeros in columns where I should have other numbers."

Molloy is a key figure in an evolving offense.

Heilman scrapped her motion scheme for a more read-and-react style that allows her players to freelance more.

Perhaps no one on the floor for The Rock is better at improv than Molloy, who did it so well at Grove City High.

"She's our best attacker off the dribble," Heilman said. "She looks good this season. She's fit."

Molloy has to be. The Rock also will take up-tempo to a new level. If SRU runs no halfcourt offense, everyone still will be happy.

More than anything else, though, Molloy just wants to win.

Winning was hard to come by for The Rock last season. SRU lost its final 10 games to finish 7-20.

It wasn't want Molloy had in mind when she left eastern New York to play eight miles from her hometown.

"I'm more about wins because we haven't won a lot," Molloy said. "I don't really care about the stats or anything."

Molloy and her teammates are a bit fired up because they feel disrespected by the rest of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

The Rock was picked to finish last in the PSAC and were widely dismissed before the opening tip of the season.

"Any time someone thinks your team is bad, or at the bottom of the pack, you want to prove something," Molloy said.

If she and the rest of the roster is healthy, perhaps Molloy's postgame demeanor will be as cheerful as it was Thursday night.

"I don't handle losing well," she said, smiling.+