OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 11, 2015) – When changes to timing rules for women's basketball that seemingly put a value on depth were introduced for the 2015-16 season, Oklahoma Christian coach Stephanie Findley immediately began wondering how her team could take advantage.

Findley, who will begin her 31st season at the OC helm on Friday, when her team visits Colorado-Colorado Springs, has a bit of everything on her squad.

Experience? Nine juniors and seniors, including two returning All-Heartland Conference picks. Speed? A group of guards with lightning-quick hands. Height? Five players who stand 6-foot or taller. Defensive enforcers, rebounders, shooters who can extend a defense – the Lady Eagles have players who specialize in all those duties.

Collegiate women's basketball will use four 10-minute quarters (instead of two 20-minute halves) this season, and only one artificial (AKA "media") time-out will be used per quarter – and that can be replaced by a called time-out by one of the teams. That means it's conceivable there will be long stretches of game action with no breaks, hence the importance of depth and fitness.

At all positions, the Lady Eagles will have that depth, which should be an asset as they compete in OC's first season as a full NCAA Division II member.

"We're as deep as we've ever been, probably," Findley said. "Depth is always a good thing. We do seem to have all the pieces."

OC will return one of the Heartland's top players in junior forward McKenzie Stanford, a second-team all-conference selection who averaged 16.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists per game   last season.

A terrific athlete – one who tied the school record in the high jump after basketball season ended – Stanford will be able to play her natural power forward position instead of having to be the Lady Eagles' de facto center. Her outside shot, which was already respectable, has improved to the point she might occasionally play a wing position, which would make her even more of a matchup nightmare for opponents.

Perhaps the most important additions to the OC roster came inside. Junior-college transfers Sarah Parker and Hannah Holasek are a pair of smart, physical post players who will handle most of the center responsibilities. Parker is particularly skilled at taking charges and can stretch defenses with her 3-point shooting ability, while Holasek combines quickness and agility with a tenacious rebounding ability.

There's plenty of other experience inside for OC, too. Versatile senior Aisha Martin has improved her 3-point shot to go with the rest of her well-rounded game, while junior Emma Gade looks to bounce back from a season lost to injury and provides another 3-point threat on the wing, along with the length (at 6-foot-1) that makes her particularly effective in OC's press game.

Sophomore Hope Dawkins and freshman Hannah Bentsen both can provide extra height inside if necessary as they continue to develop and learn the OC system. Dawkins showed flashes last season of being able to create shots from difficult angles.

Speedy sophomore Audrey Hayes is another player who isn't limited by position, listed as a forward but who could also see action at guard, where her ability to tip passes is a particular asset. Findley said Hayes has taken a major step forward from last season.

Three seniors, all from Edmond, will lead OC's corps of guards – Sydney Hill, Daisha Gonzaque and Jasmine Hinton. Hill is one of the Heartland's top point guards, receiving honorable mention on the all-conference team the past two seasons. She's coming off a campaign during which she averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

Hinton and Gonzaque have mostly been role players during their OC careers, but will be counted upon more during their final season. Both have shown they are capable of handling those increased expectations, Findley said, while continuing to produce on the defensive end. Both are defensive pests who cause havoc for opponents, which often leads to extra possessions for the Lady Eagles.

"For the seniors, it is their time, and they seem to be taking a hold of it and doing something with it," Findley said.

Junior Kylee Hicks is perhaps the Lady Eagles' most effective defender and rebounder and her insertion into the starting lineup during the second semester last season helped spur a late-season turnaround for the team.

Among the newcomers in the backcourt, freshman Addy Clift has the most familiar name to OC fans, as she's the younger sister of former standout Katy Clift. Addy Clift was a small-school prep dynamo and brings a shooting range to the Lady Eagles not seen since the days of famed sharpshooter Ali Griffin in the early 2000s.

Another freshman guard, Shae Scheffler, arrives with a championship pedigree, as she helped Deer Creek High School win Class 5A titles the past three years, along with speed and tenacity. Sophomore Jessica Foster joins the Lady Eagles after a season at NCAA Division III University of Dallas, while freshmen Kayla Mount and Madison Maxwell should provide quality depth as they learn the OC system.