BUTLER TWP — It's time to join the trophy case.

Perhaps that should be the rally cry of the 2005-06 Butler County Community College women's basketball team.

Those who enter the BC3 Field House will see trophy cases on either side of the lobby, housing plaques, trophies and other awards garnered through the years by the school's men's basketball, baseball, golf and women's volleyball squads.

The Pioneers' fourth-year women's basketball program is not represented. It has lost 37 of 48 games over the past three years, including a 6-12 mark last season.

"This is the team that's turning the corner," said Seneca Valley graduate and BC3 sophomore Julie Wills. "There's no doubt in my mind about that."

The Pioneers begin the season with a 7 p.m. home tip-off Tuesday against Penn State-New Kensington.

And they begin it with more players than in the past, and their quality has increased as well.

The team will dress 10 players for the first time in its brief history. All 10 of started for their respective high school programs.

"We began last year with nine players and wound up with six healthy ones," coach Sean Carroll said. "Two years ago, we only had six players total.

"I have no set starting lineup because all of these girls are going to play."

Sophomore Stephanie Devore of Karns City, a team co-captain with Wills, agreed.

"It's not going to matter who we sub in and out at what time," she said. "We're still going to have a quality team on the floor."

What the Pioneers won't have on the floor is size. Saegertown graduate Brittany Beatty and Karns City graduate Laura Seyler are the squad's tallest players at 5-foot-8 — and Seyler is only playing during the first semester.

Torrie Comunale, a 2004 Knoch graduate in her first year at BC3, will play for the Pioneers during the second semester.

"We're going to run a motion offense and defend with our speed and quickness," Carroll said. "This will be an in-your-face type of team.

"We've been working on full-court pressure, our zone press, our man-to-man defense. I prefer playing man to man, and this is the first time we've had the numbers to do it.

"The last thing I'm going to want to do is slow it down," Carroll added.

Wills led the Pioneers with 12 points per game last year. Devore contributed 11 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.

In effect, BC3 will have five guards on the floor at once.

"We're looking for turnovers, points off transition, getting the ball and going with it," Carroll said. "The teams we play aren't going to have the depth we have and we want to wear them down."

Last year, the Pioneers were the team that wore down.

"We lost our legs a lot during the second half of games," Wills admitted. "There just weren't enough of us."

The Pioneers averaged between 45 and 50 points per game last season. Carroll anticipates this team averaging between 65 and 70 per game.

Beatty left Saegertown as the school's No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 1,300 points. Knoch graduate Liz Burgard provides a 3-point shooting threat and joins Butler graduate Heather Spangler as an aggressive defender.

Spangler didn't play last season because of a knee injury.

"We can score both ways: by setting up a shot or off transition," Devore said. "This team is playing well together."

Carroll makes no secret as to how he wants his team to play.

"We're making too many passes at times," he said. "I'd rather see us take a bad shot than make one too many passes.

"The 30-second clock is something different for most of these players. They're only used to playing with a shot clock four times a game: at the end of each quarter. Now they have to play with it all the time."

Carroll described freshman guard Shannon Onderko of Franklin as his quickest player and his best ball-handler.

"In the past, we had some bad fortune with injuries and girls not wanting to play for us," Carroll said. "We're finally starting to get some breaks.

"All 10 of our girls are going to play. All 10 will contribute. I'll be very disappointed if we don't have a winning season and these players will be, too.

"We're shooting for the conference title. We may not win every game, but we'll be competitive in every game, I know that much," Carroll added.

Here is the roster for the 2005-06 Butler County Community College women's basketball team:Player Ht. Yr. SchoolBrittany Beatty 5-8 Fr. SaegertownJenna Beatty 5-5 Fr. MoniteauLiz Burgard 5-3 Fr. KnochTorrie Comunale 5-2 Fr. KnochStephanie Devore 5-7 So. Karns CityShannon Onderko 5-4 Fr. FranklinBrianna Reebel 5-6 Fr. MohawkBethany Rodgers 5-6 Fr. EldertonLaura Seyler 5-8 So. Karns CityHeather Spangler 5-6 Fr. ButlerJulie Wills 5-5 So. Seneca Valley