In less than a year, Husson College co-captains Leslie Trott and Kelly Dow have gone from younger players on a veteran, playoff squad to senior leaders on a very young team trying to find its identity and notch the first win of the season.

This weekend’s Paul Bunyan Women’s Basketball Tournament could go a long way toward helping the young Husson Braves, who are hosting the tourney at Newman Gymnasium Friday and Saturday, come of age.

“Hopefully we can get that first win and whether we play Bates or Machias on Saturday, either one will be a challenge,” said Harold Williams, who is in his first season as Husson’s head coach. “They’re starting to get used to each other and getting used to the combinations out on the floor and everything and we’re settling into an eight-player rotation.”

The University of Maine-Machias and Bates College of Lewiston start things off Friday at 5:30 p.m., then Husson takes on Five Towns College of Dix Hills, N.Y., at 7:30 p.m.

Trott, a 5-foot-10 shooting guard from Brewer, and Dow, a 5-7 small forward-guard from Sebec Village are the lone returning starters from last season, but Dow was the team’s leading scorer so the 0-2 Braves aren’t totally without veteran scoring punch.

Other Braves starters are 5-10 forward Liz Boone of Brewer, 5-3 point guard Rebekah Sexton, and 5-10 power forward Stephanie Fry – all sophomores.

Starting guard Jen Comeau, a 5-5 sophomore point guard from Lincoln, is out with an injury, but Sexton has filled in quite nicely and 5-7 freshman guard Lindsay Duplisea of Hermon has come off the bench to add speed to the lineup.

Megan Hughes, a 5-9 sophomore forward from Dexter, is the first frontcourt player off the bench.

The Braves will have their work cut out for them as their first-round opponent, Ron Moore’s Five Towns squad, features good size in the frontcourt with 6-2 freshman Tonya Phinney and 6-1 freshman Kelly Ann Henry.

“And if they’re gonna drive about 10 hours or so to come to Bangor, Maine, to play ball after playing another game Wednesday night, I’m sure they’re going to come to play,” Williams said.

The team to watch may be 3-1 Bates, which is coming off a 21-point dismantling of the University of New England. The Bobcats have plenty of depth and great offensive balance as six players (Gorham’s Carla Flaherty, Turner’s Katie King, Kate Dockery, Lisa Golobski, Olivia Zurek, and Laura Nate) scored in double digits their last game out.

“I think Bates is the team to beat right now,” Williams said.

The 1-1 UMM Clippers feature Woodland native Angela Robb, a go-to shooting guard who will demand constant matchup assignments to hold in check.

Saturday’s schedule will match Friday’s first-round losers at 1 p.m., while the championship game is scheduled for 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.