Injury has been no stranger to the Averett University women's basketball team over the last three seasons for some of its key players. Samm Chandler, Ariana Covington, and Jonna Koski each suffered season-ending injuries in 2013, 2014 and 2015. This season, the team finally has all of its essential pieces together with a host of returners under the leadership of sixth-year head coach Liz Hickey.
 
The Cougars return 10 players this season and welcome seven newcomers. With a deep roster and the most players that Hickey has had on her team since she took over Averett's program, the Cougars will look to use that depth to their advantage.
 
After transitioning from playing halves to quarters last season, Averett will undergo another change this season, switching to divisional play within the conference. The USA South added three teams — Agnes Scott College, Wesleyan College and Salem College — to the conference to total 16 teams and split the conference into East and West divisions. Averett was voted fourth in the East Division preseason poll after producing one of the best seasons in program history a year ago.  
 
With three starters making their way back to the court for the Cougars and 78 percent of its scoring returning, the squad is fairly solid on the offensive side of the ball. Averett averaged 71.3 points last season to rank second in the USA South with junior shooting guard Samm Chandler guiding the way. Chandler led the conference in scoring last season with 17.8 points per game while also averaging 7.7 rebounds per game to pace the Cougars and earn a spot on the USA South All-Conference First Team and D3Hoops All-Region Third Team.
 
"We're really excited to have some core veterans come back, particularly in the guard position," Hickey said. "Between Samm Chandler, Joelle Deese, and Frida Lundquist, I think we have some quick guards who are also very versatile players who can potentially play the post position. Having that offensive fire power come back is really going to be something we can lean on early."
 
While the Cougars are set offensively, Hickey and her squad have been working on defensive fundamentals and different schemes to create a balance on both sides of the ball.
 
"We looked as a coaching staff and as a team [to see where we were], and we felt like last year we scored really well in most games, so we decided if we wanted to get more wins, then we really needed to focus on our defense," Hickey said.   
 
Averett opens its season on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The Cougars will hit the road for a non-conference matchup with Emory & Henry College for an 8 p.m. tip-off.
 
Below is a breakdown of the team by position:
 
BACK COURT
Junior guards Joelle Deese and Frida Lundquist will play significant roles on the perimeter alongside Chandler, as Ariana Covington and DaQuila Washington will provide senior leadership.
 
Both Deese and Covington were consistent starters for the squad last season while Lundquist added a spark off the bench. The three combined for 22.9 points per game last season. Washington saw action in all 26 games last season, and as a four-year member of the team, Hickey is counting on her to take on more leadership during her senior season.
 
"I know what's expected from Coach Hickey so I want to make sure to execute what she says and to show the younger players what to do and how to do it. For myself, I just expect to be consistent, and I'm looking to help the team get wins," Washington said.
 
Junior Hailey Chandler and sophomores Alixis Roccia and Shannon Longworth also return for Averett. Freshmen Brooke Carthon, Zenise Chambers, Stacey Marriott, Kiara Smith and Samantha Tecson will give the Cougars some cushion in the backcourt this season.
 
FRONT COURT
Senior center Jonna Koski takes her spot back in the post after sitting out the 2015-2016 season due to an injury just two days before the Cougars' season opener. The six-foot Finland native will likely be Averett's driving force down low.
 
"Having that size inside is something that we definitely lacked last year. Having her come back and also having some freshmen with a little more size on the inside will definitely help us be able to compete with some of those bigger bodies."
 
During her 2014-15 campaign, Koski averaged 8.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, providing an offensive and defensive threat for Averett. She finished the same season with four double-doubles.
   
Sophomore Amani Ajayi will help the Cougars out on the block and from mid-range and freshmen Ravyn Johnson and Kayla Ragsdale will join both Ajayi and Koski in the frontcourt.