By Erika Carrubba

It’s one of the few consistent things in collegiate sports: Change.

Every year, a new team must be built after the veterans graduate and new freshmen come in. And as Northeastern’s programs continue to move into the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), teams must handle one more change.

The women’s basketball team is no exception. However, they are not focusing on the move into the CAA but simply preparing for another season on Huntington Avenue. It starts on Friday vs. Holy Cross.

“We have other things to worry about than the CAA,” coach Willette White said. “When we get film, we will worry about it one game at a time.”

NU was picked to finish ninth out of 12 teams in the CAA preseason poll, after finishing seventh in the America East last season.

“We aren’t really doing anything different to get ready for the season,” senior guard Maralene Zwarich said. “We know we’re the so-called ‘underdog’ but we are ready for teams to underestimate us and we can use that to win games.”

Zwarich, who led the team in scoring last year, was chosen as a member of the CAA preseason second team, despite a slow preseason due to knee surgery. She had surgery in April and should be ready for the team’s game against Kansas on Nov. 27.

Zwarich is one of four returning starters, including last year’s AE Rookie of the Year Shaleyse Smallwood. Guard Jody Burrows and forward Michelle Decerbo, the team’s captains, finish off the quartet. The team lost only one starter, Francesca Vanin, who averaged 11.8 points per game and led the team in rebounds for four years.

“Francesca as a captain was a really big part of our team, not just for her scoring and rebounding, but for her leadership skills,” senior forward Erica Sheppard said. “She brought such a presence to the court.”

NU welcomes three freshmen and one transfer, who will complement the team’s offensive style.

“We have quick guards in Shaleyse and Jody and excellent shooters especially when Maralene gets back,” Decerbo said. “And then [freshman] Ashlee [Feldman] is an excellent shooter.”

However, the team is conscious they need to work on their defense, said White. In fact, it may be the team’s top priority.

“We definitely aren’t quite where we would like to be defensively at this point. Our offense is ahead of our defense,” White said.