Limestone's Lauren Pace will start at point guard this season. She averaged 7.5 points a season ago. When the Limestone women’s basketball team opens its season Sunday against Armstrong State, several team members might need a road map to center court for the tip.

The Lady Saints have eight new players this season, including six freshmen.

“We did a good job in recruiting,” Limestone coach Corey Fox said.

Two of the freshmen, Tia Williams and Jonelle Hamrick, will be in the starting lineup.

Williams, from Dacula, Ga., will start at shooting guard. Fox calls her the top shooter among the freshmen class and a good defensive player. Hamrick, a 6-footer from Summerville, can score around the basket. Another freshman, Ashley Robinson, will compete with Hamrick for the starting spot once she’s fully recovered from a shoulder injury.

Hamrick and Williams will be joined in the starting lineup by point guard Lauren Pace, who averaged 7.5 points a year ago; small forward Whitney Todd, the team’s leading returning scorer at 10.5 points a game; and Brittney Miller, the team’s best defender who averaged six points and six rebounds in 2008-’09.

Maria Young, Stephanie Hayes and Breanna Ray will be expected to contribute off the bench.

Hayes, in particular, could be key to the team’s success. She helped Lower Richland to four straight state titles and is the team’s best on the ball defender.

A season ago, the Lady Saints started strong outof the gate with a 4-1 conference record but stumbled to an overall 13-15 mark and tied for seventh in the conference.

If the freshmen are as good as advertised, the Lady Saints could contend for one of the top four stop and an automatic home game in the conference tournament.

Sunday’s game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. at the Timken gym.