SOUTHLAND PREVIEW : Three other Southland teams: : CAL STATE FULLERTON

Last season, her first at the Division I level, Coach Debbie Ayres inherited a team with no returning starters. As a result, she started three freshmen and thought a lot about what she would do when she had an experienced team.

“Last year wasn’t too difficult in that I didn’t have any pressure on me,” Ayres said. “Anything we did was a plus.

“This year, I feel a little more pressure. The kids are more experienced in this system, they want to do better and I want to do better.”

Ayres thinks this season’s team, which opens at home against Arizona at 7 p.m. Friday, has already blended better than last season’s squad.

“When we played Finland (a season-opening exhibition Nov. 19), I was very impressed with the heart of our team,” Ayres said. “This group has the potential to play as a team.

“Last year’s team had great players but we never came together as a team.”

One subtle addition Ayres hopes will make a difference is the hiring of former Fullerton star Genia Miller as an assistant coach. Ayres, who worked short-handed last season, had a coaching position added to her staff for 1993-94 and signed Miller, a former All-American who is Fullerton’s all-time leading scorer (2,415 points) and rebounder (1,162).

Miller will work with the Titans’ inside players. Ayres’ hope for improvement is fueled by two players who made the Big West all-freshman team, guard Shayla Bradshaw and forward Shefonda Colbert. Another sophomore, Faye Hagan, was the No. 2 rebounder last season.

Immediate help is expected from junior college transfers LaCheri Grant, Autumn Hollyfield, Koko Lahanas and Beth Taylor.