Leadership. Commitment. Unity.

Abstract qualities important to the success of any team, but difficult to quantify. Coaches work to bring these qualities out of their student-athletes and fifth-year William Smith Head Coach Lindsay Drury (77-33, .700) is confident that her squad has those essential qualities.

If Drury is the architect of the Herons' dedication and chemistry, captain Julie Hooper is the forewoman. The lone senior on 2009-10 squad, she returned to campus in the best shape of her career and has developed a unity and commitment level among her teammates that is reminiscent of William Smith's recent NCAA Tournament teams.

“I can't say enough about Julie's leadership,” says Drury. “She has embraced the responsibilities that go with being a team captain and her teammates have responded. I'm very excited about working with this team.”

To build on last year's 13-12 record, the Herons will need to maintain their scoring offense that ranked third in the Liberty League (66.7 ppg), while shoring up their defense, which ranked seventh in the League (65.6 papg). William Smith also will have to replace three starters, including D3hoops.com All-Region pick Latasha Coney '09 (14.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.7 spg), but return four players that started nine or more games last season.

Ashlinn Barber and Kristen Kush will lead the Herons in the frontcourt. Barber, an honorable mention All-Liberty League pick, is the Herons' top returning scorer (12.0 ppg) and rebounder (5.8 rpg). She was twice named the conference's Forward of the Week last season and scored a career-high 29 points in a 76-73 home win over the League's regular season champion, Union. William Smith's top rookie last season, Kush (8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg) was the team's hottest player down the stretch. Over the final six games, she averaged a team-high 14.2 ppg and added 5.3 rpg, including a season-high 20 points against St. Lawrence and an 18-point performance the following afternoon against Clarkson.

Scrappy rebounders and staunch defenders, Carrie Stevens and Ali Napier will rotate in to spell Barber and Kush.

In the backcourt, Mollie Danahy and Colleen Lukas started 18 and 12 games, respectively, last season. The 2007-08 Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year, Danahy produced 10.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 spg last season and will run the point. Lukas is a selfless player that does the little, unheralded things (boxing out, defending, hustling after loose balls) well. She enjoyed a career-day in the season opener at Keuka last year, producing 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five points.

Hooper brings adds depth and leadership to the backcourt, while newcomers Sarah O'Brien, Jaimie Rubin, Sydni Salvatore, and Chelsea Tracy are all expected to contribute on the floor this season.

William Smith will open the season at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15, when the Herons host Keuka. The Storm is the first of five teams that made the 2009 NCAA Tournament on William Smith's slate. The Herons will also square off with Rochester (Dec. 9), Cortland (Dec. 19), Bowdoin (Jan. 11), and Liberty League champion St. Lawrence (Jan. 29 & Feb. 13).

After a one year absence, William Smith is focused on returning to the Liberty League Tournament where one good weekend can launch a team into the madness of March.