With only one senior lost to graduation, the Northgate Flames girls' varsity basketball team hopes that game-time experience will lead the way to improving on Northgate's one-win season last year.

Head coach Bill Quinn, who is in his second year as the varsity coach, said the Flames have three returning seniors this year, two of whom will start.

Seniors Erica Benny, who will play center, and Karianne Hoover, playing a wing position, will captain the Northgate squad. Returning senior Carlee Mazuer will see playing time off the bench, Quinn noted.

"We are expecting big things from her," Quinn said of Benny, noting that she scored 15-20 points in some games last year.

Quinn said that junior Kayla Saylor will run the point this year, and junior Sarah Dunn will play small forward.

Three sophomores will share the fifth position on the court: Savannah Paladin, Chloe Quinn and JaNiece Freeman-Webb.

Quinn said that all of the players are experienced, having seen playing time last year.

"Every one of them played," Quinn said.

Quinn also said that the girls' basketball program is growing as a whole, with nine ninth graders signed up to play this year.

"I'm hoping to turn the whole program around," he said.

That hope, Quinn believes, also is felt by the players.

"I think the girls realize they have a chance to turn the program around," Quinn said. "They are working hard."

Quinn said that the Flames are a much faster team this year, and because of that will try out a few new ideas. He noted Northgate will play more man-to-man defense this season, and he plans to play a lot of transitional basketball and take advantage of fast breaks.

The head coach said that there isn't one match-up that is more important than the next for the Flames this season.

"Every game is big for us," Quinn said.

Last year's team finished 1-17, and went winless in section competition.

The Flames open the 2009 season tonight, when they travel to Wilkinsburg to compete in a tip-off tournament at 7:30 p.m.