SLIPPERY ROCK - Laurel Heilman has the best of both worlds these days.

The fifth-year Slippery Rock University women's basketball coach is the only PSAC coach with all five starters returning.

Only two of those starters - junior point guard and Grove City High School graduate Amber McFeely and senior forward Stacy Green - are guaranteed starting positions this season.

"We have experience and we have players being challenged for their positions," Heilman said. "That's not a bad situation to be in."

The Rock finished 13-14 a year ago, one game out of a PSAC West playoff spot, and hopes to return to postseason play for the first time in three years.

SRU was picked fifth in the conference's preseason coaches poll.

Junior Jess Caso returns at the 2-guard spot, but freshman Angela Greaser could take over that position.

Kristin Bonner, a junior who averaged 11.9 points per game and sank 62 3-pointers, is back at the 3-spot, but so is junior Shawnette Patterson, who started the first five games a year ago before a stress fracture ended her season.

Erin Frankovich, a 6-foot-2 senior center who averaged 11 points and seven rebounds per game, appears solid, but Heilman wouldn't guarantee it.

"For us to be successful, Erin's numbers have to go up to 15 (points) and 10 (rebounds) per game, and she knows that," the coach said.

"We have some numbers and depth in some places, but we're weak in depth inside. We're still working on that through recruiting," she added.

Green and McFeely will be the heart of the team.

Green averaged 15.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and is an All-PSAC West preseason selection.

"Stacy has picked up her intensity inside," Heilman said. "She's playing much more aggressively, taking the ball to the basket.

"There's a sense of urgency with our seniors. They know this is their last shot. They've already talked about this being their last preseason camp, so they're well aware," she added.

McFeely broke The Rock's 22-year-old single season assist record by collecting 180 of them last year.

"Nobody is going to take away Amber's spot. She sees the floor so well, knows when to push or slow it down. She sees the game like a coach does," Heilman said.

Greaser, who was a scoring point guard in high school, was recruited to back up McFeely while being groomed as her eventual successor.

But Greaser has started alongside McFeely in SRU's last two scrimmages.

"Angela can shoot and I like having the two of them on the floor at the same time," Heilman said. "But Amber won't have to handle the whole load at point. We have other players who can help out."

Other guards include senior Sarah Cybulski, junior Cathy Lee Peffer, redshirt freshman Dana Stewart and freshmen Jess DiSante, Anett Fekete and Kara Spagnola.

Fekete is from Hungary and will return home after the first semester.

"Our solution was to just cut her, knowing we'd only have her for nine games," Heilman said. "But once we saw her play, we just couldn't. She can help us."

Spagnola is a Seneca Valley graduate who made the team as a walk-on.

"She's very athletic and she's very fit," Heilman said of Spagnola. "She's locked in at third or fourth on the depth chart at point guard, but I never rule anybody out."

Sophomore Amanda Chojnacki and senior Megann Powell provide depth at forward and center, respectively.

Freshman forwards are KellyAnn Staudinger and Amanda Kaufman.

"If everybody from last year got a little bit better and scores a couple of more points and grabs a couple of more rebounds each game … it can put us over the top," Heilman said.

"This team is well-driven and very capable. We need to play with more consistency than last year. We're looking forward to getting started."

The Rock opens the season Tuesday with a 7 p.m. game against Gannon University at Morrow Field House.

SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

2004-05 Women's Basketball Schedule

Nov. 16-GANNON, 7 p.m.; Nov. 19-20-at Findlay (Ohio Tournament; Nov. 23-FAIRMONT STATE, 6 p.m.; Nov. 29-WAYNE STATE, 7 p.m.

Dec. 4-at East Stroudsburg, 1 p.m.; Dec. 5-at Mansfield, 1 p.m.; Dec. 9-at Pitt-Johnstown, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19-20-at Disney World Classic (Fla.)

Jan. 4-at Bloomsburg, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 8-CHEYNEY, 1 p.m.; Jan. 9-MILLERSVILLE, 1 p.m.; Jan. 12-at California, 6 p.m.; Jan. 15-WEST CHESTER, 1 p.m.; Jan. 16-KUTZTOWN. 1 p.m.; Jan. 19-at Edinboro, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 22-LOCK HAVEN, 1 p.m.; Jan. 26-CLARION, 6 p.m.; Jan. 29-at Shippensburg, 1 p.m.

Feb. 2-INDIANA, 6 p.m.; Feb. 7-CALIFORNIA, 6 p.m.; Feb. 9-EDINBORO, 6 p.m.; Feb. 12-at Lock Haven, 1 p.m.; Feb. 16-at Clarion, 6 p.m.; Feb. 19-SHIPPENSBURG, 1 p.m.; Feb. 23-at Indiana, 5:30 p.m.