The UNC Wilmington women’s basketball team returned to the court this past week for the first time in 196 days. The Seahawks finished off the 2010-11 campaign—one of the best seasons in school history—with a second-round loss to Eastern Michigan in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, March 21.

The team’s first official practice took place Oct. 3, marking the second consecutive year that the Seahawks have taken advantage of NCAA bylaw 17.3.2.2. The rule states that a women’s basketball program may have their first practice no more than 40 days prior to their first regular season matchup. During that time, the team isn’t allowed to participate in more than 30 days of countable athletic-related activities before the first game.

Hall-of-Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke led the Seahawks to a 24-9 overall record in her first year as UNCW head coach. Entering her second season, Cooper-Dyke will look to build off of last year’s success and take the team deeper into the postseason. Much of that process will involve getting back to the basics during the first few weeks of practice.

“I want to emphasize fundamentals and we’re emphasizing intensity; intensity on offense, intensity on defense and intensity as we are going through the different drills,” said Cooper-Dyke. “We’re trying to get game-ready. It’s one thing to get in shape. It’s a totally different thing to get ready for a game.”

One of the most important aspects for the Seahawks in the preseason will be developing chemistry between the players on a revamped roster. UNCW returns only six players from last year’s team and will be without former standouts Brittany Blackwell and Martha White in the paint.

“That’s going to be the toughest part and that’s where the leadership comes into play,” said Cooper-Dyke. “It’s going to be tough to get everyone on the same page, but… (if the players) really focus on what we are trying to do as a team, that’s when we will become successful.”

The Seahawks will have two preseason exhibition games at home against Johnson C. Smith (Nov. 2) and UNC Pembroke (Nov. 6) before opening the regular season on Nov. 11 with a matchup against Middle Tennessee State in the Lady Lion Classic at Penn State.