SLIPPERY ROCK— The names are the same. Laurel Heilman only hopes the bodies are healthier.

Slippery Rock University's women's basketball team is coming off a 7-20 season — 1-11 in PSAC West play — the worst in Heilman's eight years as head coach.

"We dealt with so many injuries,"Heilman recalled. "We just couldn't get going."

One of numerous point guards pressed into duty last year, junior Sandra Busser, had a pacemaker put in during the summer and might not be available this season.

Hailey Gaidosh, a 6-foot-0 junior post player, injured her foot during the first preseason practice and only recently returned to practice.

Grove City High product Julie Molloy, a transfer from St. Bonaventure, was plagued by a bad shin last year and still managed to average 10.4 points per game.

"Julie is developing a midrange jump shot and she's expanding her game,"Heilman said. "She has a chance to be a standout player for us and in this league if she can stay healthy."

Molloy, one of five Division I transfers on the Rock roster, nailed 43 3-pointers a year ago.

Amanda Nero, a 5-8 junior guard, returns as SRU's top scorer from last season after averaging 10.7 points per game.

Jess Schake, a 5-11 junior post player, is back after missing all of last season with an injury, She figures to help SRUinside, where the team was lacking.

Kendra Kutz, a 5-10 junior post player and transfer from Kalamazoo (Mich) Community College, will help improve the team's play near the basket as well.

"We still don't have a lot of size, and you can't teach kids to grow,"Heilman said. "Teams in our league have 6-4 or 6-5 post players. As key for us defensively will be stopping dribble penetration and trying to keep everybody out of the paint.

"We'll have five guards on the floor at times. We do have numbers this year and all 10 players in our rotation are going to play."

The point guard will be 5-6 senior Chere' Marshall, another transfer from St. Bonaventure and another player lost to injury last year. She played in only four games.

"Chere' is the coach on the floor that we need,"Heilman said. "Nikki Presto is capable of bringing the ball up the floor as well.

"We have a number of girls who can do that. It doesn't matter to me who it is and it's good to have depth in that area."

Presto, a 5-5 sophomore, is yet another player who missed time due to injury in 2007-08. Alissa Schake is the other player returning from last year's roster.

Newcomers are Kutz, sophomore guard Grace Palucis, a transfer from Delaware, freshman guard Robin Vlah and 5-9 senior guard Sasha Sales, a transfer from South Carolina State.

"She's from Cleveland and wanted to get closer to home,"Heilman said. "She'll be one of our best rebounders."

SRUhas not made the PSACplayoffs in the past three seasons. The Rock is picked dead last in the coaches preseason poll.

"No coach wants to be picked last,"Heilman said. "We're playing a tough schedule, but that's OK, because we're going to be tested."

ScheduleNov. 8-at Akron, 3 p.m.;

Nov. 15-vs. Kutztown at Kutztown Tournament, 3 p.m.;

Nov. 16-vs. LeMoyne at Kutztown Tournament, 1 p.m.;

Nov. 20-TIFFIN, 7 p.m.;

Nov. 25-at Fairmont State, 7 p.m.;

Nov. 29-vs. Lake Erie at Ashland (Ohio)Tournament, 1 p.m.;

Nov. 30-vs. Ashland or Urbana at Ashland (Ohio)Tournament, 1 or 3 p.m.

Dec. 4-SALEMINTERNATIONAL, 7 p.m.;

Dec. 17-at Pitt-Johnstown, 7 p.m.;

Dec. 31-at Seton Hill, 2 p.m.

Jan. 3-at Cheyney, 1 p.m.;

Jan. 4-at Shippensburg, 1 p.m.;

Jan. 10-MILLERSVILLE, 1 p.m.;

Jan. 11-WESTCHESTER, 1 p.m.;

Jan. 14-at Mercyhurst, 5:30 p.m.;

Jan. 17-EDINBORO, 1 p.m.;

Jan. 21-at Gannon, 5:30 p.m.;

Jan. 24-CLARION, 1 p.m.;

Jan. 28-at Lock Haven, 6 p.m.;

Jan. 31-at Indiana (Pa.), 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 4-CALIFORNIA(Pa.), 6 p.m.;

Feb. 7-MERCYHURST, 1 p.m.;

Feb. 11-GANNON, 6 p.m.;

Feb. 14-at Edinboro, 1 p.m.;

Feb. 18-LOCKHAVEN, 6 p.m.;

Feb. 22-at Clarion, 1 p.m.;

Feb. 25-at California (Pa.), 6 op.m.;

Feb. 28-INDIANA(Pa.), 1 p.m.

<B>PSAC East(starters returning)1. Shippensburg (4), 2. Millersville (3), 3. West Chester (3), 4. Kutztown (4), 5. East Stroudsburg (4), 6. Bloomsburg (5), 7. Cheyney (2), 8. Mansfield (3)</B>Preseason All-PSAC EastLauren Beckley (Shippensburg), Colleen Kegerreis (Bloomsburg), Stephanie Orji (Cheyney), Gladine St. Julien (Millersville), Dana Weems (West Chester), Jackie Yandrisevits (East Stroudsburg)<B>PSAC West1. Indiana (Pa.) (5), 2. California (Pa.) (5), 3. Gannon (4), 4. Edinboro (2), 5. Mercyhurst (5), 6. Clarion (2), 7. Lock Haven (4), 8. Slippery Rock (4)</B>Preseason All-PSAC WestKatrina Greer (Clarion), Staci Heberling (Indiana), Samantha Reimer (Edinboro), Kayla Smith (California), Jahzinga Tracey (Indiana), Brooque Williams (California)