By B.J. Bennett
 
This preseason has been one of preparation for the Coastal Georgia women's basketball team. The Mariners, under new head coach Katie Novak-Lenoir, have prioritized and maximized each and every practice leading into their showcase season opener against Life University on Saturday, October 24^th at 1pm. With seven returning players to pair with an equal mix of newcomers, the process of growing collectively as a team has been the theme of the summer and fall.  
 
"There has been a lot of a tone-setting the last couple of months I would say, just trying to get the team to understand what they're capable of, to start playing together and learning a new style and a new system," Novak-Lenoir shared. "We have a lot of new faces, too, so really just moving together and taking small steps every day as a team. That's what we've been focused on."
 
Teaching, learning and improving have underlined the Coastal Georgia preseason. With game one rapidly approaching, the mindset, for the Mariners, is now locked in.
 
"I feel like the reality that it's game week has just set in, so there's a different level of seriousness going into playing at home this Saturday. We're not trying to look too far ahead at any moment. We're really trying to take everything day-by-day and make sure we know we're moving the needle every day to the best of our ability. Some days we don't and some days we do," Novak-Lenoir continued. "Working on consistency is going to be a big piece for this team."
 
After months of adjusting to a new system, gelling together as a roster and developing the solidarity that all successful teams have, the Mariners are ready to put their hard work to the test.
 
"The 'want' to go play other people and not just play against ourselves is really high right now. So we're excited for that and can start fine-tuning some more things once we have that outside competition a little bit, too."
 
Expectations are high for Novak-Lenoir's Coastal Georgia debut. The Mariners were recently picked fourth in the Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Back are six players with starting experience in Taylor Blackshear, Hadiya Kennerly, Niya Moon, Amanda Roach, Peyton Shafer and Alli Stone, with Blackshear, Moon and Stone each averaging in double figures scoring a year ago. Novak-Lenoir is in her 13^th season of coaching and tenth season as a head coach. There is a lot of reason for excitement and optimism.
 
"I think we're ready for it. I hope we have a good crowd on Saturday, just for homecoming and things like that. But we're going to play competitive and we're going to play tough. It's going to be fun to watch if we're doing what we're supposed to be doing. So we just need to see that translate, so yet to be determined on a lot of it. But they're really ready to go. I can feel that from the team for sure."