BANGOR – The Husson College women’s basketball has been blessed in the last several years with tall, talented players who presented tough matchups for the Braves’ Maine Athletic Conference opponents.

This season, 12th-year coach Kissy Walker knows her team lacks such a presence. As a result, the Braves will try a different approach during the 2000-01 season.

Husson looks to run often, shoot plenty of 3-pointers and apply some defensive pressure in an effort to maximize its smallish lineup.

“We’re having to do an awful lot of teaching,” said Walker, who knows the Braves must make up for whatever they lack in height by forcing the tempo and taking advantage of their veteran corps of guards.

“It’s a different game for all of us, [one] which I think we’ve all played at some time or another,” said senior point guard Liza Doughty of Hermon, a second-team All-MAC pick last season. “I’m really excited, because I love to run and gun, push the ball.”

The Braves went 16-9 last season, losing to St. Joseph’s College of Standish in the MAC title game. Husson is 1-1 so far this season.

Husson is sparked by 2000 MAC Player of the Year Katie Nye of Corinna, a 3-point sniper who averaged 16 points per game last winter. She is joined in the three-guard alignment by speedy senior defensive stopper Leslie Weed of Freedom.

Tenacious junior guard/forward Kelly Dow of Sebec Village can play inside or on the perimeter. Nobody mentioned above stands taller than 5-foot-8, although 5-10 junior forward Leslie Trott of Brewer also is a key returnee.

Nye believes the Braves’ potent guards can open up some room inside for the frontcourt players, including 5-10 center Meghan Hughes of Dexter, 5-10 forward Liz Boone of Brewer and 5-10 forward Brooke Turner of Lincoln.

“Most of us can shoot the 3-[pointer] and that’s actually good because people are going to be concentrating more on the outside shooters and we do have the inside players who can post up and make the moves, so I think that also is going to help our inside game out a little bit,” Nye said.

Swanville sophomore Sarah Cole returns, while the other newcomers are guards Mandi Allen of Blue Hill, Jen Comeau of Lincoln and Jen Betit of Whitingham, Vt.

Walker believes Husson will have to pay attention to numerous small details in order to remain competitive in the MAC and in their challenging non-conference schedule, which includes three NAIA Division I schools.

“I think we’re going to have to work a little bit harder than we have in the past to get those wins,” Walker said. “It’s going to come down to the little fundamentals of defensively helping and rotating, blocking out, not being lazy, diving on the floor after the loose balls and making things look ugly sometimes.”

The big challenges for Husson are likely to be defending in the post and rebounding effectively against taller, polished opposing forwards and centers.

“Rebounding will be key for us, especially where we’re so short,” Doughty said. “We’re going to have to get a body on every time and push back as hard as we can.”