Growing pains endured, the Appalachian State women could improve with age this season. Four starters return from an 11-17 team that topped victory totals of the previous four seasons but extended a string of losing seasons to eight. "I like this year's team," said Adrienne Shuler, who will begin her fourth season as the coach of the Mountaineers. "We have experience, a lot of kids that played as freshmen and sophomores." Kiki Conyers, the Southern Conference's freshman of the year in 2002-03, is back for her senior season. A 5-4 point guard, she led the Mountaineers in scoring last season with 12.5 points, and her quickness is as disruptive defensive asset. Shuler said that Conyers could see time at shooting guard to better exploit her skills on offense. "She can do it," Shuler said. "She's a scorer. She's really had her hands tied a bit with us playing her at point guard." Danielle Edwards, a 6-0 junior who averaged 9 points, will be a key inside. She is the second leading returning rebounder in the SoCon, after averaging 7.1 a game last season. "Danielle is like a guard in a post player's body," Shuler said. "She's such a presence inside for us, and she can score a variety of ways. She finishes well and rebounds well." Whitney Tossie, a 5-9 sophomore guard, had a productive freshman season - averaging 6.3 points and leading the team in steals with 2.3 a game - and Shuler expects more. "She showed flashes last season of what she's capable of doing," Shuler said. "This year we're looking for consistency, and I think she'll be more of a threat on the offensive end." Eboni Kirby, a 6-0 senior, came off the bench last season and averaged 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds. Shuler said that she'll be counted on for strong interior play and leadership, as will Jaime Bennett, a 5-11 junior who averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. Jocelyn Wyatt, a 5-9 guard who averaged 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds, also returns for her senior season, and Greteya Kelley, a 5-8 guard, could be an impact player as a freshman. Shuler said that Kelley will add offensive punch. "She's a heady basketball player," Shuler said. "She can score off dribble penetration, has a very consistent mid-range jumper and makes her presence felt on the defensive end with a lot of speed and quickness." Western Carolina won the Southern Conference title in Kellie Harper's first season as coach but lost all five starters from an 18-14 team. The Catamounts will bank on guard Chevon Keith, who came off the bench as a freshman and averaged 5.4 points and 5.1 rebounds and hit 41 percent of her 3-point attempts. Chattanooga's run of four straight SoCon titles ended last season, despite a 25-5 record. The Mocs will be smaller, but they have eight players back, including Katasha Brown, a 5-11 senior who was the SoCon player of the year in 2003-04. Georgia Southern (16-14) has nine players returning, including senior guard Nicole Newton. Guard Katie Hamilton, the SoCon's top returning scorer (15.8 ppg), is one of four starters back at Davidson (18-11). UNC Greensboro (14-14) could make some noise with the return of guard Kristen Boone, last season's SoCon freshman of the year. Boone averaged 10.6 points and a league-leading 4.3 steals. Guard Jasmine Byrd is back after averaging 10.3 points as a freshman. At Furman, senior guard Tommi Paris returns after averaging 13.1 points and leading a team that finished 18-10 in steals and assists. Marketta Talley, a senior guard who led the SoCon in assists with 4.9 a game, is back for College of Charleston (15-14). Guard Tierra Bumbrey returns after leading Elon (4-24) in scoring, assists and steals as a freshman. Wofford (4-24) lost its top two scorers.