MIDDLETOWN, Pa- Most teams would be ecstatic about and settle for an impressive record of 18-9 overall, a 16-6 finish in conference play and a postseason semifinal run. 

Not Penn State Harrisburg.

Last season was the most successful women's basketball campaign in school history.  But the 2011 Lions are out to accomplish even greater things this year.

With eight players returning, five of them starters, Head Coach Ross Patrick's ladies are ready to build on 2010's achievements.  North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) all-first team selection Daril Foose (Altoona, PA/Altoona) is back to anchor the post for Penn State Harrisburg.  The junior forward led the team in points per game with 11 in 2010 and was the conference runner-up in blocked shots with 55.  Also returning is 2009-2010 NEAC third team all-conference pick in senior guard Dorothea Dixon (Middletown, PA/Middletown).  The Middletown grad averaged 6.2 ppg and finished third in the conference with 86 steals.

Junior Monet Cunningham (Highspire, PA/Bishop McDevitt) ranked second on the squad in ppg with a 10.8 average and finished third in the NEAC in 3-point field goal percentage, junior Stephanie Yetter (Thompsontown, PA/East Juniata) averaged 7.2 ppg and sophomore Miranda Zeanchock (Carroltown, PA/Cambria Heights) finished 2010 ranked first in the conference in 3-point field goals and free throw percentage.  These young ladies will fill out the rest of the starting roster.

Also back are key contributors Brittani Guerre (Tobyhanna, PA/Pocono Mountain West), Amanda Moyer (Carlisle, PA/Cumberland Valley) and Alisha House (Crownpoint, NM/Thoreau).  Guerre played in 24 games last season, starting 14 of them, and averaged 6.9 points per game.  Moyer played in 25 games and recorded a 6.4 ppg average a year ago and House appeared in five games in 2010 but should see more playing time in her sophomore outing.

New to Penn State Harrisburg this season are freshmen Emilee Truitt (West Chester, PA/Bishop Shanahan) and Dalian Salmon (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley).  Coming over from the Lions' volleyball team to join the ladies on the hardwood is sophomore Jocelyn Mitchell (Heath, OH/Heath).  These three women will be called upon to fill the shoes of last year's role players Nikki Zangari (Etters, PA/Red Land), Brittany Adams (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York) and Alyssa Stirling (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville), none of whom are members of this year's team.

The 2011 Lions will find out quickly just how they stack up to last year's squad with a slew of early games against strong non-conference opponents, beginning with a season-opening home matchup with Juniata.  The blue and white takes on Elizabethtown in December but the biggest contest of all comes on Nov. 26 when Penn State Harrisburg hits the road to face nationally ranked Messiah.  Their non-conference slate will only help the Lions once NEAC play rolls around.

With seven of the team's top eight leading scorers returning from a squad that last year led the conference in points per game (68.8), the Lions look poised to not only build on 2010's success, but exceed it. 

Penn State Harrisburg's 2011 season tips off on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.