Nate Oakland found some nice presents waiting for him at Eby Fieldhouse when he became the women's basketball coach at Coe College this season.

Two of the brightest packages were Aleena Hobbs and Mickey Hansche, a pair of big scorers from last year's team, and they came along with Allie Wirth, Courteney McCrary, Jenna Lehman, Ashley Stulken, Jordan Holmes and others.

Former coach Randi Henderson left Oakland a nice array of talent when she left to become an assistant coach at North Carolina-Charlotte following an 18-9 campaign last year. Hobbs averaged 13.6 points and Hansche, one of the top 3-point shooters in the Iowa Conference, averaged 13.1 points while hitting an amazing 45.2 percent of her triples.

Wirth, an all-purpose point guard and the "glue" on the ballclub, led the club in rebounds and assists. Lehman averaged 6.0 points last year but could be in store for much more this year.

Hobbs, Hansche, Wirth and Lehman formed 80 percent of the normal starting lineup last season and give their new head coach a strong nucleus for his first team.

"We've got a couple that can really play, which is good," said Oakland, a former Coe assistant who was working at Wartburg when the call came. "Their experience has really shown early on in practice.

"Whether it's offense, whether it's defense, they have a pretty good understanding about what it takes to prepare to compete at a high level, so that helps a ton. To have leaders built in and to have experience built in, it's definitely been a big positive as we got started."

The Coe women open the season Tuesday night with a home game against Cornell at 5:30. The Coe and Cornell men play the second game of the doubleheader at Eby Fieldhouse at 7:30.

The Kohawks have 10 returning players all told, along with three freshmen. Maddie Koolbeck and Logan Lynch, who contributed to last year's success, have left the program to focus on their academic pursuits, according to Oakland.

Oakland likes almost all of the numbers from last year's club in terms of shooting percentage, 3-point accuracy, rebounding, assists and point differential, but there was one number that grabbed him by the throat and would not let go.

The Kohawks committed 477 turnovers in 27 games last season, compared to only 306 turnovers by the opposition.

Oakland is confident his team can score, but it has not been his sole priority in practice. Scoring isn't everything.

"That's not how our league is won, that's not how you compete at the national level," he said. "You still have to defend, you still have to rebound, you still have to take care of the ball."

Oakland has given his players some simple advice.

"Get a great shot before you turn it over," he said. "I think that will be one of the biggest differences people will notice when they see us play.

"It's going to be an exciting brand. We've told them, 'If you're open and you're hitting, let if fly.'"

Hansche did exactly that last season, nailing 80 of her 177 3-point shots.

"Mickey can obviously shoot it, and shoot it with some range," said Oakland. "She's really expanded her game with the ability to put it on the floor, ability to get to the rim and her ability to get fouled has been a huge addition to her game."

Hobbs, a Washington graduate, has the ability to score inside and outside. Oakland thinks the H & H ladies - Hansche and Hobbs - could be even more productive this season than last year.

"Those two could be a deadly combo," he said. "We just have to keep them healthy and keep them sharp. It makes everybody else's job a lot better, because they can really carry some of that offensive load."

Wirth did a lot of different things for the Kohawks last season as a rebounder, playmaker, defender, scorer and leader.

"She's definitely a 'glue' kid," said Oakland. "She's our toughness, she's going to hold people accountable, she wants to guard the best player on the floor. She's a really, really competitive player."

Oakland also likes what he's seen from Lehman, who did not receive a lot of headlines last season.

"She's one of our best players," he said. "I told her a couple of weeks ago, I knew she was really talented, I didn't know she was this talented.

"She can shoot it, she can drive it, she's always in the right spot defensively, she's long, she can rebound. She does everything, and she goes about it in a very blue-collar, workmanlike approach."

Megan Hayes, Coe's starting center last season, graduated after scoring 11.8 points and is now one of Coe's assistant coaches. Stulken, a Xavier graduate, has been competing for the starting assignment at center, and Oakland said Shelby Lehmann (not to be confused with Jenna Lehman) also could be a factor in the frontcourt.

McCrary, a Prairie grad, gives Coe additional firepower. Holmes, a Kennedy grad, re-joined the squad last week after enjoying a successful season with the Coe soccer team. And Lakyn Boltz, a freshman from Keokuk and a member of the Coe tennis team, gives the club more depth at point guard.

Oakland likes his club and anticipates a successful season.

"Their goals and aspirations are to win our league and get to the NCAA tournament and eventually compete for a national title," he declared.

ROSTER

Seniors

Allie Wirth, 5-10, Cedar Falls
Jenna Power, 5-5, Ames

Juniors

Mickey Hansche, 5-6, Iowa City High
Courteney McCrary, 5-9, Prairie
Ashley Stulken, 6-1, Xavier

Sophomores

Jordan Holmes, 5-4, Kennedy
Aleena Hobbs, 5-10, Washington
Jenna Lehman, 5-9, Iowa City Regina
Shelby Lehmann, 6-0, North Fayette
Leah Schellinger, 5-9, Avon, Minn.

Freshmen

Taylor Anderson, 5-7, Taylor Ridge, Ill.
Lakyn Boltz, 5-5, Keokuk
Janai Robinson, 5-6, Maplewood, Mo.