BUTLER TWP — After three years of taking baby steps, the Butler County Community College women's basketball program took a giant step last season.

Now it's looking to take a leap.

"This has the potential to be our best team yet," said fifth-year coach Sean Carroll.

Carroll has been the program's only coach. His teams won only 11 total games in his first three years before improving to 12-8 last season.

Four sophomores return from that squad: forward Brittany Beatty from Saegertown, guards Liz Burgard from Knoch, Shannon Onderko from Franklin and Bethany Rodgers from Elderton.

Gone from last year's Pioneers are Julie Wills (Seneca Valley), Stephanie Devore (Karns City) and Heather Spangler (Butler).

Onderko averaged eight points and five assists a year ago and will play point guard.

"We won't play a team with a better point guard,"Carroll said. "Shannon penetrates well with the ball, and, while Liz is a little better shooter from outside, it's like having two point guards on the court at the same time.

"Teams won't be able to press us, I know that."

Beatty averaged nine points per game last year, but played hurt early in the season. She was netting 15 to 20 points per game by season's end.

"Now she's 100 percent, and I'm expecting big things from her,"Carroll said.

The four freshmen on the team are all Butler County products:Samantha Karns, Ashley Nocera and Michelle Ritchey from Butler and Jessica Fry from Slippery Rock.

Karns and Fry stand 5-feet-11 and were strong rebounders in high school.

"They'll give us a big lift in that regard,"Carroll said. "I like the way this roster works out. Everybody has something to offer and everybody will play.

"Shannon and Liz can handle the ball. Sam and Jessica can rebound. Brittany and Bethany will give us offense. And Michelle Ritchey really gets after it defensively."

Nocera will see ample action at guard as well.

"College is a different game,"Carroll emphasized. "It's 40 minutes with a shot clock. You can't dribble the ball around for a minute and a half, looking to get the ball down low.

"It's a faster-paced game and you need a lot of players. We've got some good girls from some successful high school programs."

The Pioneers open the season Nov. 11 at Lehigh-Carbon. Their first home game is at noon Nov. 18 against Rockville at the BC3 Field House.