Welcome to the CAA’s new women’s basketball world.

In the past, the league had a set hierarchy, ODU on top, one or two teams competed with the Monarchs, a middle tier of teams, then the bottom dwellers.

So far this year, things are much cloudier.

But UNCW hopes that its team is developing after winning the Big Sky Classic Dec. 29 and 30 and dropping its CAA opener, 57-56, to Delaware at Trask Coliseum Jan. 4.

The Seahawks dropped to 0-1 in the CAA and 5-5 overall. UNCW travels to Hostra Jan. 9 and Drexel Jan. 11.

The game was part of an opening weekend that featured a number of slightly surprising results. Hofstra topped VCU, 75-70 and Drexel downed James Madison 61-59.

“The league is very different than what it has been in the past,” senior forward Tracy Morgan said. “Before it was two or three teams that dominated, but now a lot of teams are stepping up. And anybody can beat anybody on any given night.”

Coach Ann Hancock added, “I think it’s going to be an interesting, interesting year.”

The Seahawks left its conference opener with a mixed bag. UNCW played strong first-half defense and came back from a nine-point, second-half deficit, but it struggled terribly on offense before halftime, home-court victories are a must and the Blue Hens clobbered the Seahawks in rebounds, 42-23.

“Well, we’re finally starting to come together. It’s been a very different team from last year, where people are having different roles and doing different things then what they’ve done in the past. Finally, everyone is finding their niche,” coach Ann Hancock said. “I think that’s a positive.

“But when you do start conference play, it’s really to your advantage to win at home. It would’ve been big for us to get that win over Delaware to go into conference play with a win at home. … It should be interesting and challenging. Hopefully the team is coming together and we’ll be able to face what comes the rest of conference play.”

The Seahawks entered league play strongly, developing a new defensive style which forces opponents to shoot from the outside and capturing the tournament. Senior Cherie Lea, the Big Sky Classic’s Most Valuable Player, scored 22 points against Delaware and reached double figures in every game but one. Senior guard Jennifer Kapper earned All-Tournament honors.

Freshman Denise Lawrence scored 11 second-half points, reaching her second double-figure scoring performance in three games.

The squad, despite some success wants more consistency shooting from the floor and on the foul line.

“I know this is pretty simple, but we’ve got to make shots. Free-throws, that’s a big part of it. We haven’t shot the ball well from beyond the 3-point line,” Hancock said. “And we’ve got to be able to do that.”