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Virginia's women basketball is going through a transition period, and that's OK with Lauren Moses. In 2015-16, Moses was the fourth tallest players on the team but with an infusion of height from the recruiting trail the Mount Holly, N.J., native now has some other bigs in the frontcourt. For starters, Virginia added 6-3 redshirt first-year forward Shakyna Payne, 6-3 first-year forward Lisa Jablonowski and 6-9 first-year center Felicia Aiyeotan. Add to that second-years Debra Ferguson (6-4) and Moné Jones (6-3), and Moses is now the shortest member of the UVA frontcourt along with fellow forward Jae'Lisa Allen, both at 6-2. The third-year forward started all 34 games last season, leading the Virginia defensive effort while averaging 6.9 rebounds per game (No. 13 in the ACC). Moses had four double-doubles, eight dou- ble-digit rebounding games and 16 double-digit scoring efforts. As the dean of the post players and one of just two returning starters from last season, Moses has taken on a key leadership role for the Cavaliers. "Being the person the new players look up to or talk to when they have questions has been good, but also having help has been great," she said. "We have more people who are willing to rebound." Moses said the veteran players and the coaching staff raised the expectation levels this season and the rookies are buying in. "We set a platform for our first years to know that we're not taking any breaks, and we're not giving up," she noted. "We've got a lot of younger girls who are really going to make an impact early in the season. We're learning each other's game, learning where the pass is and learning where we like to shoot. "I think we play well together. We really are buying into the concept that if we outwork other teams that we'll be good." The additional post presence frees up Moses to utilize some of her other skills like bombing from behind the arc, taking opposing defenders off the dribble or posting up down low. They also give head coach Joanne Boyle some options. "I think we can use different lineups," Boyle said. "We can go big with Fee [Aiyeotan] and Deb [Fergu- son] at 6-9 and 6-5, but we can also go small and have Lauren at the five and a really big wing group." Moses may no longer be the tallest player on the frontcourt, but with the addition of four new impact rookies and the emergence of some role players she could have a big season. — Greg Waters HOO TO WATCH: LAUREN MOSES Moses posted 9.4 points and 6.9 boards per contest last year, while anchoring UVA's interior defense. PHOTO COURTESY UVA