FAIRFAX, Va. - When the 2007-08 women's basketball senior class first arrived at Mason, the Patriots were fresh off a trip to the CAA Championship Game and a postseason berth in the Women's NIT. Now, with three decidedly less successful seasons in the books, the Patriots are ready to turn back the clock, and in doing so, the objective for the upcoming season is clear.

"Our main goal is to get back on the winning track," said head coach Debbie Taneyhill. "Last year was a big disappointment and we have several new players and several new coaches. We want to change the mentality of these kids and get back on the winning track."

One of the major off-season changes that Taneyhill hopes will provide a spark was the complete overhaul of her coaching staff. Three new assistant coaches join Taneyhill on the bench this season, and each one brings their own dynamic which can help the Patriots right away.

"Mike Iuzzolino is bringing tons of knowledge as a player and familiarity with the college game," said Taneyhill of the former NBA guard. "He has played for some of the best coaches, had a great work ethic as a player and has translated that to his professional career."

"Coach Chrissy Kelly is an excellent motivator and really loves defense," Taneyhill explained. "I really like offense, so she's bringing a good balance. Additionally, Coach Kia Cole is a local product, played two years in the conference at James Madison and has some great recruiting ties in this area. All three bring new energy, and they have rejuvenated me with their enthusiasm. I think it's really going to help us as a program."

Leading the way on the court for the Patriots are four seniors whose veteran leadership and unique skill sets will be counted upon throughout the year.

Guard Lateisha Wade was the top Mason scorer a year ago, averaging 13.1 points per game while also leading the team in assists and steals. The Patriots will count on Wade to continue her outstanding production in her final season.

"We expect big things from Lateisha," said Taneyhill. "She has a lot of potential. Last year she started out the year on fire and put up some big numbers through the first two months of the season. We'd like her to be a little more consistent. Not only can she be a great offensive threat, but she can be a great defender at the other end of the court and can bring some of that experience and senior leadership to our team."

Joining her in the backcourt are seniors Casey Quigley and C'Vette Henson. Quigley has cemented her starting spot as the point guard, while Henson, who transferred from Maryland two seasons ago, provides valuable depth.

"Casey came back in phenomenal shape, and her conditioning is outstanding," Taneyhill explained. "She gives us a big guard to run our offense, and she shoots the ball very well. We need both offense and defense from her, along with composure and poise and leadership. We think C'Vette can certainly help us defensively. She played sporadically for us last year, and we'll look for more production from her this year."

The final senior on the roster is forward Moni Akintunde. Despite an ongoing bout with lupus, a disease which attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage, Akintunde has proven herself an elite athlete and one of the team's true leaders, as she has recorded the Patriots' highest rebound total two years running.

"Moni is certainly an inspiration for me and for all of us," Taneyhill said. "On a daily basis, she struggles with managing that disease and is still able to come in here, work hard, and give us everything she can, when she can. She's obviously a great athlete and a great rebounder. She brings a lot to our team because we all know what she's going through, off the court on a daily basis, and she still manages to be a great contributor, a great leader, and a great student. She is somebody I am really proud of, and I think she will do really good things for us as a person and as a player."

All four seniors will be presented with a challenging task in guiding the relatively young Patriots team, while at the same time, focusing on maximizing their production in their final season in green and gold.

"I think we tried to impress on them that they have a chance to lead the program and put a positive stamp on it on their way out the door," Taneyhill elaborated. "They have struggled through three difficult seasons and I think they want to go out knowing that they started the ball rolling in the other direction. We've asked them to embrace the freshmen and the new coaches, and step up to the challenge for these last few months of their careers at Mason."

Four juniors will contribute to the Patriots' veteran corps, each bringing their own skills and abilities to the team.

Forward Chynelle Rogers is in her third season at Mason and will look to continue to improve her game throughout the season.

"Chynelle has had a very good preseason," Taneyhill said. "We are not deep in the post, so we're going to need her to be a big contributor for us. She has some very good skills that we need her to use in actual game situations."

Another forward, Jessica Smith, has emerged as a solid everyday player who will be counted upon for production.

"Jessica started just about every game for us last year, and brings some experience," said Taneyhill. "She is somebody that came back in great shape, and just needs to continue to build on the things she did last year."

Whitney Ward can play at the forward or guard position, and that versatility makes her especially valuable to Coach Taneyhill off the bench.

"Whitney is one of those utility players," she said. "She had some good games for us last year, and she is one of our team leaders. She plays with great enthusiasm and passion for the game, and is somebody we'll look to increase her production."

Although holding just two years of eligibility remaining, junior Brittney Wilkins is new to Mason, as the NJCAA Second Team All-American transferred from Louisburg College following last season. She is coming off an injury, but as her condition progresses, she will be asked to play a role in the Patriots' game plan.

"Any time you come from a junior college, we expect you to be a contributor because you only have two years to be here," said Taneyhill. "I think Brittney is going to be a very good player in the conference and should be a major player for us."

Two sophomores round out the Patriots' returning player group, while center Becky Rautzhan's impact on the team will be limited to the sidelines due to a knee injury.

"Becky will probably not play this year. We look for her to provide us with some emotional support and leadership from the sidelines," explained Taneyhill. "Obviously when you go through that many injuries, it's a challenge to stay focused mentally, but Becky has done a really good job of that. Our goal for her right now is just to get her healthy."

Guard Rashauna Hobbs is in her second year with the program, and that experience will benefit her immensely as she continues to improve her performance on the court.

"She had a good summer in the league she played in, and she is playing with a lot more confidence now that she is a sophomore," Taneyhill said. "Last year, she was the only freshman on the team and that can be a challenge. I think she has adjusted to the college game and certainly will be on the floor for us."

Four first-year players join Wilkins among the crop of newcomers for the Patriots in the 2007-08 campaign. Forward Eugenia Broadus, a first team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference player a year ago, is one of the players who can bring immediate results when they step on the court.

"All of our freshmen are coming in with the mentality that we weren't very good last year, and they can help us get better," explained Taneyhill. "That's how we recruited them - that they need to come in and have an impact for us. They won't necessarily score 20 points a game, but they need to be a contributor right away. I think they all can do that. Eugenia is a super athlete, and I think that when people see her play, she'll remind them of Vernessa Neamo. She's an excellent rebounder and is learning quickly."

Guard Brittany Eley will look to translate her excellent physical skills to the Division I level.

"Brittany is a long, rangy guard with an excellent pull-up jumper," said Taneyhill. "She can score for us. She has to make the transition to the college game, and we'd like her to play with the intensity of the college game. She has great talent and lots of ability."

Another guard, Brittany Poindexter, brings similar credentials as Broadus in their success at the high school level.

"Brittany is a great defender. She can defend you from 90 feet away," Taneyhill explained. "She won the WCAC and city championship in high school, so she has that winning attitude. She brings a whole extra level of intensity to the floor, on the defensive end especially."

Guard Tayler Wejnert, the 2007 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, brings an impressive resume to Fairfax and the ability to be a game-changer for the Patriots.

"Tayler comes from a great high school program," Taneyhill said of the Academy of Holy Angels product. "She's a scorer, and she'll have to make the adjustment to the speed and physicality of the college game, but she'll be able to do some things for us."

Overall, each player brings dynamic and unique abilities to the court, but as a whole, there is one skill that will garner much of the Patriots' focus.

"As a team, there will be an increased defensive awareness that may not have been there before," Taneyhill said. "Regardless of what they can do on the offensive end, our players will have to play defense, and we have to make a commitment as a team to do that."

The Patriots will be confronted immediately with a monumental test, as they open the 2007-08 regular season with a trip to SEC foe Georgia on November 11.

"That's a consistent, national-level team to open with," Taneyhill said of the Bulldogs. "We'll get a quick gauge of where we are and where we need to be. I think with the level that our conference is at, you have to play a team like Georgia to get you ready for the top teams in the CAA. "

A week later, Mason will travel to New Jersey to participate in the Seton Hall Tournament along with Toledo and San Diego. The Patriots will open their home slate on November 21 against America East champion UMBC, followed two days later by a tilt against Longwood at the Patriot Center.

Five non-conference games in December will prepare the Patriots for the grueling conference slate. Mason will travel to Richmond and Bucknell, then following a two-week break for exams, host American, Fordham and Winthrop to close out 2007.

"We've scheduled a lot of teams we think we can compete with," Taneyhill said of the non-conference schedule. "I think there is a balance between gaining experience against tougher teams and gaining confidence against others."

The new year will open with the Patriots' CAA opener at home against Delaware on January 6. With the exception of a road game at Liberty on January 15, the remainder of the regular season will feature conference matchups, as the Patriots prepare for the CAA Championship, held from March 13-16 in Newark, Del.

"The CAA could be very different this year," said Taneyhill. "It is so competitive from top to bottom -- last year we lost four games at the buzzer -- that you never really know what is going to happen on a nightly basis. Where we are in January can be very different than February or March. A number of the good teams lost players, while the lesser teams gained new players. With all the personnel changes, I don't believe there is a status quo in the conference."

In order for the Patriots to make a return to the top of the Colonial Athletic Association, Taneyhill believes that her team must play hard every game, while remaining focused on the ultimate goal.

"I think our kids really have to buy into the new things we are stressing," she said. "We'd love to win every game, but obviously that's not going to happen. The challenge is to respond to adversity through the season with the understanding that we're ultimately shooting for March and the CAA Tournament."