Junior forward Andrieka Jackson is one of only three returning starters for the 2005-2006 basketball season. She is also the Skyhawks’ only preseason All-OVC pick.

“She’s a beast on the boards,” said teammate and lone senior guard Keva Robinson. “She is so talented and plays with a lot of heart. She’s just an awesome player.”

Last season Jackson led the Skyhawks with 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. She was third in the OVC in field goal percentage (.550).

But don’t praise Jackson too much. She’s the first to point out that she had a lot to work on during the offseason.

“I’ve gotten in better shape. I had to get faster so I can move better,” said Jackson. “My team expects me to play 40 minutes and I need to be able to do that.”

As a team, winning on the road is something that needed to be improved upon.

“We have got to learn to focus on the road,” said second year head coach Tara Tansil. “We do a better scouting job than a lot of other teams. There’s no reason we can’t win those games.”

“Away games are different,” Robinson said. “For some reason, we can’t come out on top. We don’t have the great fan base on the road like we do here. Our fans are amazing!”

To help pick up these much needed road victories, the Skyhawks will look for help from their other returning starter, junior forward Deina Willingham.

“She was injured part of last year,” said Jackson. “But this year she’s going at it 100 percent. “

“She will be an immediate leader,” Tansil said. “She’s really improved her game and we’re going to use her a lot.”

Tansil also complimented her other two returning players.

“[Robinson] is our most vocal leader and she leads by example. She is a hard worker and one of our best defenders,” said Tansil. “[Jackson] will come into her role better. She’s wiser and better with her decision making abilities.”

Also coming back is sophomore forward Crystal Fuller. “She will get to play a lot more minutes this year,” Tansil said. “She still has a lot to learn, but she’s picking it up fast.”

With just three returning starters, the Skyhawks picked up three junior college transfer players and two freshman in the offseason.

Joining the Skyhawks this season are juniors Lakus Bonner, guard; Kimberly Cox, guard and Tracie Harris, post player. The freshman are post player Phyllisha Mitchell and guard Tristian Johnson.

“The [new players] have really meshed well,” Tansil said. “They get along on and off the court. They seem focused and ready to go.” Tansil is optimistic about the different things that each of the new players brings to the team.

“Johnson has the tremendous ability to shoot, especially from three-point range,” Tansil said. “Mitchell has some of the same moves as [Jackson]. She put up 10 points and nine or 10 rebounds per game in high school.”

“Harris is the big body inside that we need and Cox is a very scrappy guard and a hard worker. Bonner is very quick and can push it down the floor,” Tansil said.

The biggest challenge facing the Skyhawks is getting everyone used to playing.

“We’ve got to get [the new players] used to Division-I basketball. The level of competition is definitely going up for them,” Tansil said. “Getting farther and winning the OVC is our main goal,” Jackson said. “I’m ready for the pressure. I perform better.”

“I’m going to enjoy it whether we win the OVC or not,” Robinson said. “This is my last season and I’ve loved every minute.”

“Hopefully I’m wiser,” Tansil said. “It’s a little easier the second time around. I’m ready. They’re ready. They’re ready to start beating up on the OVC.

The Skyhawks take the to court Thursday in an exhibition game against Cumberland University. Tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.