Despite several new faces in the starting lineup the Coe College womens’ basketball team is off to an 8-2 start. Coach Randi Peterson’s team lost four starters from last years team that finished 26-4, won a share of the Iowa Conference title and made it to the “Sweet 16” of the division three national tournament.

Peterson says after an 0-2 start the team has started to jell and they are still working on that. Peterson says they graduated a big senior class and that had an impact on it.

Peterson the progress they have made is based on getting more comfortable with each other and knowing their strengths and weaknesses as different players have stepped up and played when needed.

Defense has been a key to their success. Opponents are shooting only 37 percent from the field. “Defense is always something that I hold in high regard, but to get your team to actually understand the benefits of it is another story, and these kids are starting to understand that offense is not always as dependable as defense,” Peterson says.

Coe returns to action on Monday by hosting Rockford College.