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have the ball in their hands a lot at the end of the game," McGraw said. "Lind- say is really playing like an All-Ameri- can right now." Joining Turner up front will be 6-4 junior Taya Reimer, who was fourth in scoring (10.2 points a contest) and second in rebounding (6.1 per game) last season. This summer, Reimer was a starter in five games for the silver medal USA Basketball team at the Pan Ameri- can Games, but she had to rest an Achil- les injury the first couple of weeks of practice in October. Receiving plenty of action in Reimer's place is 6-2 sophomore Kathryn West- beld, a stellar passer whom McGraw believes will be this year's X-factor after averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while rotating with Turner and Reimer up front. Meanwhile, the tandem of fifth-year senior Madison Cable and senior Mi- chaela Mabrey will likely split about 20 minutes per game between them, as they did last season. Mabrey averaged 7.2 points per game, while supreme hustler Cable, who hit the game-winner versus South Carolina in the Final Four, averaged 6.2 and tied Loyd for the team lead in steals with 59. FRESHMEN LEAD VAST DEPTH The three freshman guards will sig- nificantly challenge Mabrey and Cable for playing time, depending on who defends the best. "Offense is paramount in their minds — and defense is first in mine," Mc- Graw noted of the rookies. "I know they can score, but we're really trying to get them to play the other end as well. So far it's been really good." Ali Patberg (5-10) is a classic point guard who might push Allen more to Loyd's two-guard role as the season progresses. "I think she's going to be one of the best leaders we've ever had as she ma- tures and grows into her game," Mc- Graw said of Patberg. "She is very strong with the ball, and she's a great communicator, which is something that we really need." Marina Mabrey (5-10) was the co- MVP of the McDonald's All-American game and is described as feistier and more physical than older sister Mi- chaela, who is exclusively a perimeter shooter. "She is really crafty with the ball, and is somebody that is definitely going to contribute immediately in terms of scor- ing," McGraw said. "She's really hard to guard." Arike Ogunbowale (5-8) is the small- est among the trio, but also the strongest and has the versatility to post up or play on the perimeter. "I think she's going to lead the team in free throw attempts, because she can drive the ball and get her shot up with contact," McGraw said. "She can finish with contact. I'm really excited about her and her ability to do different things." In addition, 5-9 senior Hannah Huff- man became a valuable defensive stop- per in last year's NCAA Tournament. The Irish also return 6-4 junior Kris- tina Nelson, who redshirted last season because of shoulder surgery, and 5-7 sophomore guard Mychal Johnson, who provides instant energy on both ends of the floor. Both have been slowed by inju- ries this October, but McGraw is hardly out of options — including 6-5 junior