Trinity University coach Amie Bradley is not one to mince words when it comes to describing her Tigers and the 2008-09 campaign.

“We are a scrappy and hard-nosed team,” said coach Bradley, in her fourth season at the Tigers’ helm. “I think the most important aspect is a work ethic and defensive intensity. But, we are also going to have more offensive firepower.”

Those “hard-nosed Tigers” will take the floor on Nov. 16, meeting Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in the friendly confines of Sams Gymnasium.

Leading the way will be four starters from the 2007-08 season, where the Tigers made their sixth overall appearance in the NCAA playoffs.

Senior post Krista Prato Matthews of Davis, Calif. (Calif.), an All-South Region and All-SCAC honoree, produced 15.3 points per game and grabbed 9.3 rebounds each contest (second in the SCAC). She also accounted for a team-leading 71 steals. The 6-foot-1 Prato Matthews was ranked No. 22 in Division III in blocked shots per game (2.6) and 38^th in field goal percentage (53.3 percent). Prato Matthews was elected to the D3hoops.com All-South Region Third Team and the All-SCAC First Team. She also was a standout on Trinity’s softball team.

Danielle Hubenak, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard of San Antonio (Churchill), scored 6.9 points per game, shot 47.7 percent, pulled in 3.1 rebounds per game and led the team in assists with 88.

Alexandra Blake, a 6-foot-1 junior post from Belleville, Ill. (John Burroughs), accounted for 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Blake was also a standout on the Tigers women’s soccer team.

Also returning is sophomore Lauren Hickey, a 5-foot-10 sophomore forward from Boerne, Texas (Boerne). Hickey, who played in 22 of 25 games, scored 1.3 points per game, grabbed 1.1 rebounds and chalked up 13 assists. Two other sophomores return to the Tiger lineup: Landes Randall (5-foot-9) from Spring, Texas (Klein); and 6-foot-1 post Lindsey Hovland of Colleyville, Texas (Heritage).

Three seniors were lost to graduation: guard Tierney Hughes, forward Meghan Scholbe and post Martha King.

A number of talented newcomers will add depth and strength to the Tigers’ lineup this season.

Abby Dietert, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward from Cibolo, Texas (Steele), was named to the San Antonio Express-News All-Area Super Team. Dietert, a team captain, helped lead the  Knights to the Class 4A regional championship and state tournament. She was selected for the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) All-State Team.

Kelsey Goodell, a 5-foot-11 power forward from Portland, Ore. (Lincoln), was an All-State selection for the Cardinals. Goodell was also named Portland’s Class 6A Player of the Year.

Ali Marzella, a 5-foot-8 guard from Katy, Texas (Taylor), was First Team All-District for the Mustangs. Marzella, a team captain, set two school records: most 3-pointers in a single game (8) and consecutive free throws made (46).

“We have a very young team,” coach Bradley concluded. “But we have a lot of players who are persistent. They typify Trinity athletics, which means you give your best every time you step on the floor.”

Trinity travels to Redlands, Calif., for a Nov. 21 game with the University of Redlands and a Nov. 22 contest with Chapman College.

The Tigers will co-host the Trip Sports Thanksgiving Classic at Trinity University on Nov. 28 and 29, taking on Schreiner University and Lehman College (N.Y.), respectively.

The Trinity University Texas Challenge is scheduled for Dec. 29 and 30, with Baldwin-Wallace College (Va.) and the University of Southern Maine providing the competition.

Trinity starts its home SCAC campaign Jan. 2 against Millsaps College and meets Hendrix College Jan. 3. The University of the South-Sewanee comes to town Jan. 23 and Oglethorpe University on Jan. 25. The Tigers play host to the University of Dallas on Feb. 3 in a non-conference game and take on Southwestern University Feb. 7 in a SCAC tilt.

The regular-season home schedule closes with two conference games: Colorado College (Feb. 20) and Austin College (Feb. 21).

Hendrix is the host for the SCAC Championship Tournament Feb. 27 to March 1 at Conway, Ark.