Maine Maritime Academy posted an impressive 23-6 record last season on its way to a runner-up finish in the North Atlantic Conference and an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Coach Craig Dagan boasted three All-NAC first-team selections in juniors Alyssa Burns of Dixfield, the conference player of the year, along with Shelly Gott-Stilwell of Tremont and Julia Knights of Brookton.

With that trio again forming the nucleus of this season’s ballclub, Dagan could have been content to chase a third straight NCAA tourney spot by keeping the status quo.

Instead, he has changed his approach.

The sixth-year coach will let the Mariners play in a more free-flowing system this season to better take advantage of the team’s considerable talent in the hope of extending their season even further.

“I bogged our kids down in the past with so many plays, put so much stress on our kids to win,” Dagan admitted. “We really took a step back this year and simplified things. We’re just letting our athletes go out and play. I think we were overcomplicating things.”

The Mariners were 2-0 going into Wednesday night’s home game against Colby College.

Dagan is confident the new approach is already paying dividends, based on the way the players have responded.

MMA features one of the most prolific senior trios in the state – and probably in the entire country.

Burns, a 6-0 swing player, last week scored her 1,000th career point. She averaged a team-high 17.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists during 2005-06.

Both Gott-Stilwell, a 5-10 forward and 3-point shooter, and 5-11 guard/forward Knights are nearing the 1,300-point mark in their careers. Gott-Stilwell averaged 14.9 points and 7.8 rebounds last season, while Knights averaged 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds.

“We have three kids within reach of the 1,500-point plateau,” Dagan said. “There are a lot of things that we’ve got secure. We’re not going to be searching for points.”

Dagan is equally excited about this year’s supporting cast. He is expecting great things from sophomore Megan Franklin of Skowhegan, a 5-10 forward who missed most of last season with a foot injury.

“She’s a tremendous basketball player. She has great instincts, can defend, rebound,” Dagan said. “She’s probably our best passer.”

Caitlin Grant transferred and Amanda Johnson graduated, leaving senior Rebecca Moore of Winthrop and junior Kaitlyn Leeman of Baileyville to share the point guard duties.

“I don’t think we’re going to miss a beat,” Dagan said.

Freshmen Katie Quimby of Orrington and Kelsi Eiane of Harpswell have been splitting time at the shooting guard spot.

The Mariners’ versatility and depth should enable Dagan to utilize Burns and Knights in somewhat different roles.

“We’ve moved Alyssa and Julia to playing more post,” Dagan said. “We’re running a different offense to kind of get them the ball in better situations than they have in the past.”

Dagan hopes the new offensive philosophy will enable his “big three” to play with less pressure and have more fun.

MMA also returns senior post player Ashley Hayden of Bangor, while sophomores Jo-Ann Provencher and Morgan Miller of Freeport and frosh Michelle Ferry of Woodland, Amanda Laney of West Farmington provide support.

“This is probably the best team I’ve ever had here in terms of quality and depth,” Dagan said. “It will make us a better team if we get more points from other people.”