ONEONTA, NY – Fearless. It's a word you might want to get used to if you follow the Hartwick College women's basketball team this season. It's also one that the Hawks hope will be a constant reminder and driving force as they traverse through their season, which begins Saturday at Eastern Connecticut State University.

"We need to attack every practice and every game with a fearless mindset, said head coach Missy West, who is in her sixth season at the helm. "We must approach every game as if it's the championship game and that no team is neither better nor worse than us. Every game is crucial so we must look no further than one game at a time."

West returns 10 players to the lineup, including four starters from a team which won 22 games for the second straight season, advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game for the second consecutive year, and won the ECAC Division III Metro Championship. But despite the accolades of the past, the Hawks are hungry for more, especially the five fourth-year seniors – Kate Purcell (Buffalo, NY/Mt. Mercy Academy), Maria Foglia (Rensselaer, NY/Catholic Central), Kait Veit (Easthampton, MA/Holyoke Catholic), Lee Arduini (Albany, NY/Academy of the Holy Names), and Tracey Koch (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem).

"The seniors are well aware that this is it for them, it's now or never," added West. "They've worked extremely hard to change the culture of this program and now there is no next season. The underclassmen have made it clear that they are just as hungry as the seniors to have a great year. Everyone wants to see our seniors go out with our program's best year yet and every player is working hard with this in mind."

West believes other keys to the Hawks accomplishing their goals on the court are preparation and enthusiasm. "I've talked more about preparing more than ever this year," she said. "Our players need to put in the extra time before the game and not expect or wait for something to happen and then react after the fact. This year like every year, that is too late. We must prepare now. We need to enjoy the game and get excited when we do something well and pick each other up if we make a mistake. Championship teams know their roles and get fired up for each other."

The Hawks have depth at the guard position, just within the senior class, with Purcell, Foglia, Veit, and Arduini each returning for their fourth and final season.

Purcell is a three-time Empire 8 Conference honoree and a two-time Capital One Academic All-District pick. She became the fourteenth player to break 1,000 points at Hartwick and is the career three-point leader with 141 in her three seasons.

"KP has been our starting point guard and we rely heavily on her leadership on the floor," said West. "She really drives the bus offensively for us."

Foglia was recently tabbed a preseason All-American by D3Hoops.com. She was the league's Player of the Year and was selected to the All-East Region and Empire 8 Conference First Team last season. She also broke the 1,000 point mark last season and ranks 3^rd in career three-pointers.

"Maria is a complete player. She is our go-to offensive player," stated West. "We want her with the ball because she can shut everything else out around her and make things happen."

Veit is another threat from the outside for the Hawks. She ranks seventh in the Hartwick record books in three-pointers with 77.

"Obviously Kait is one of our top shooters," West said. "We're hoping this year she can stay healthy and have her best season yet. We need her to eat up zones and make teams pay."

Arduini is arguably 'Wick's most aggressive defender. She finished third on the team in steals with 43 last season, but also dished out 57 assists, which was third-best within the squad.

"Lee is a defensive specialist and constantly fighting for loose balls," stated West. "We're hoping she also can step up and hit big shots and add to the offense this season more than ever."

Veteran forward/center Koch is returning for her fourth year in the post position. "We're looking for Tracey to have a consistent year both on the defensive and offensive ends. She needs to be solid at all the little tangibles and be able to hit open shots."

Rachel Hunt (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder), a third-year, 5-9 forward, is the team's only junior. "Rachel needs to keep us steady when she gets in the game and do the little things well," said West.

The four sophomores in the lineup - Brittney Dumas (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow HS), Alicia Razanousky (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane HS), Taylor Vonasek (Willington, CT/E.O. Smith HS), and Jessica Bellai (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont HS) each return with even bigger roles after strong freshman seasons.

Dumas is the most decorated of the quartet as she was named both the ECAC Upstate and Empire 8 Rookie of the Year after leading the Hawks in scoring with an average of 14.5 points per game. Her .526 season field-goal percentage ranked twenty-fourth nationally and her season point total of 434 was the 10^th-highest total in Hartwick history.

"Brittney worked very hard on her physical strength in the off season," stated West. "We will rely on her for points but also to step up on defense to get the job done on both ends."

Razanousky, who is recovering from an injury, came alive at the end of last season and was an integral part of the Hawks' three ECAC Tournament wins with solid minutes and points.

"We expect big things out of Alicia when she gets healthy," added West. "She's tough, can hit shots, and defend both on the perimeter and down in the post."

Vonasek will bolster to the Hawks' inside presence and could be a key factor for the team. "Taylor can consistently get points with her back to the basket while also stepping out and hitting big shots behind the perimeter," said West. "She changes the dynamic of our team because she is versatile."

Bellai, according to West, is one of the Hawks' hardest workers. She is constantly giving her best and provides a huge spark off the bench defensively for the team.

Six Hawk newcomers join the 10 returners for their inaugural season with the program. Two of the freshmen corps, includes guard Emily Stone (Granby, CT/Granby HS) and six-foot forward Christina Graziadei (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany HS).

"Emily is an athletic point guard who wants to get better every day," detailed West. "She is constantly learning and gaining confidence in herself. I look forward to her stepping up and leading this squad at times at the point position. Christina came into our program surpassing my expectations. She got a lot stronger over the summer. She's very versatile with the capability to hit the three-pointer, the short jumper, and she's good with her back to the basket. She will help us inside."

Jacqui Foreman (Tolland, CT/Tolland HS) is the remaining freshman forward with Courtney Cirillo (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown HS), Sarah Shaw (Franklin, MA/Franklin), and Anna Hickey (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth) all vying for minutes at guard.

"Jacqui plays at the four position," said West. "She's is relentless on the glass and by far the best rebounder on the team. Courtney can play the two or the three position. She is strong and solid at attacking the basket and will help us on the wing. Sarah and Anna are both three-point specialists and they'll need to knock down their shots when given the opportunity."

Hartwick will once again challenge itself in its non-conference schedule in the early going of the season. They travel to Willimantic, CT for the 34^th Annual Eastern Connecticut State Tip-Off Tournament where they open with Mount Saint Mary on Saturday at 7:30. They face the host Warriors or Johnson & Wales on day two of the tourney.

The following weekend, the Hawks head south to Raleigh, NC for the Peace University Jackie Ammons Memorial Tournament.

After a November 26 clash at Union, 'Wick hosts local rival Oneonta State in its home opener at Lambros Arena on Dec. 3. The Hawks wrap up the semester two days later at home against Sage before hosting Tufts University on December 30. The Jumbos went to the NCAA Third Round last season. The Empire 8 slate begins on Friday, January 3 at Lambros against Ithaca.

"We can't take a single moment for granted this season," stated West. "We need to play hungry and have a do or die mentality every night. For our five seniors, this is it. We want them to go out with a bang."