LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates women's basketball team enters the 2023-24 season looking to push the pace and find a way to replace one of the greatest players in program history. The Bobcats open the season Tuesday when they host the University of Maine-Farmington at 7pm. 

With the graduation of All-American and Bates all-time leading scorer Meghan Graff '23, head coach Alison Montgomery is implementing a new-look offense that will give a variety of players a chance to score.

"A lot of what we did previously centered around getting Meg the ball and putting her in positions to score," Montgomery said. "This year, we have a lot of women on our team who can score it, and so we're going to run a four-out motion offense with some Princeton principles. We are hoping to push the ball in transition and create a much more equal-opportunity offense where a lot of people have the opportunity to make plays and to score."

The Bobcats do return five of their six leading returning scorers from a year ago, with Morgan Kennedy (Oklahoma City, Okla.) the top option at 9.9 points per game. Kennedy and senior Davina Kabantu (Portland, Maine) are the team's captains this season.

"They have been just so steady for us since day one," Montgomery said. "For me as a coach, I like women as captains who have really demonstrated our values during their time here. Morgan and Davina have done that, just staying really committed through their own challenges. Both of these women really understand what our culture's about and are both really, really competitive. So they've done a great job so far leading us this season."

The Bobcats have a lot of depth at guard, with junior Alexandra Long (Newtown, Pa.) coming on strong last year, scoring in double figures in four of the last five games, including a career-high 19 points in the NESCAC quarterfinals against Williams. 

"We always try to remind ARose, 'You have the ability to drive past your defender and score it nearly at will,'" Montgomery said. "I think towards the end of the season, she had a moment, she was like, 'Oh, yeah, I can see that.'" 

Returnees sophomore Sophie Spolter (Blacklick, Ohio), senior Alyson Kennedy (Oklahoma City, Okla.), and sophomore Ava James (Bethesda, Md.) all have the potential to have breakthrough years this season.

"We need to keep Alyson healthy, she has been super impressive in practice so far this winter," Montgomery said. "Sophie was a true back-up point guard last year, and will be adjusting to a different style of play this season. And we think this new offense really suits Ava's playing style well, so we are really excited for all these pieces to come together." 

The Bobcats have less depth in the low block, at least until first-year Petra Kuncz (Budapest, Hungary) returns from injury. Sophomores Elsa Daulerio (Harpswell, Maine) and Danielle Adams (Southborough, Mass.) will be counted on to deliver big-time minutes this year for Bates. The six-foot-three Daulerio had an impressive debut season, being named to the Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association's All-Rookie Team and leading the Bobcats with 42 blocks (4th in NESCAC) and 172 rebounds (10th in NESCAC) over 24 total appearances, five starts.

"I think Elsa's one of those players when she came in as a first-year, I felt so strongly her best basketball was ahead of her in terms of her ability to develop," Montgomery said. "She did that exponentially over the course of the season last year. Then when I think about how she's been performing in the preseason, I think she's grown and developed a ton."

Speaking of impact first-years, rookie guard Sarah Hughes (Rumson, N.J.) has the potential to be a difference-maker, having shown terrific scoring ability in practice. Fellow first-years Angel Huntsman (Harpswell, Maine) and Mya Hicks (Ann Arbor, Mich.) join Hughes and Kuncz as part of the class of 2027. Like Kuncz, Huntsman is working her way back from injury. 

"I'm just excited for our team to step out on the court and make a statement about just who we want to be and how capable we can be this year," Montgomery said. "It takes time to develop a team identity, but I think we will demonstrate our mentality and our potential early in the season."