When Stephanie Gaitley took over the Monmouth University women's basketball program prior to last season, she talked about "building a championship-level program."

Then the Hawks went out and put together a strong 18-13 mark after being selected fourth in the Northeast Conference coaches' preseason poll. Due to their success on the court, Monmouth clinched the fifth seed in the conference tournament, upset fourth-seeded Quinnipiac, 69-67, in the final seconds of the quarterfinal round, and was eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champion Sacred Heart.

Needless to say, it was a strong opening campaign for the new coach, who came to Monmouth with an impressive coaching résumé.

However, when one takes a look at this season's roster, it is clear that Gaitley's plan to build this program to a championship level really begins this season.

The team she inherited last year was a veteran group, poised to make a run at the NEC Tournament based on its experience. This year's MU squad features a host of new faces, and has played like it more often than not this year.

Monmouth returns just three players with experience from last season: starting guard Alexis Canady (of Forestville, Md.) and top reserve Laura Forbes (a Monmouth Regional grad from Tinton Falls), as well as junior Chanel Gomez, of Perth Amboy.

Canady averaged just over six points per game a year ago, while Forbes, a fifth-year senior, averaged just over three. Between them, they represent the veteran presence on this year's Monmouth team, since the remainder of the roster features seven rookies to the program.

Thus far, the results have been pretty much what you would have expected from such a young team. Monmouth is 3-6 on the season, having most recently lost a 70-54 affair to Columbia on Dec. 13.

In that game, Canady, a sophomore, scored a careerhigh 16 points (including 6-of-8 from the foul line), and pulled down four rebounds to lead the Hawks, while freshman Alysha Womack (of Springfield, Pa.) also played well, with 14 points, three assists and two steals. Chanel Gomez was a force in the paint, scoring 12 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and registering three blocks.

Columbia jumped on Monmouth early, racing out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back in this one. Monmouth was simply overmatched from the outset, though they did make a late run to cut the lead to 64-52 with two minutes after four quick points from Gomez. But Columbia answered to extend its lead back to 14 points.

Another newcomer who played well against Columbia was freshman guard Carly Thibault (of East Lyme, Conn.), who scored six points off the bench.

Though Monmouth fans need to be patient with this year's young team, there have certainly been glimpses of potential through the first nine games of the year.

Womack in particular has impressed with her play, earning Choice Hotels/Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honors recently. She currently paces the Hawks in scoring, averaging 10.1 points per game during her first collegiate campaign, and has shown the type of playmaking ability that should warrant plenty of court time the rest of the way.

The Hawks have plenty of experimenting to do this year, since the roster also features newcomers Erin Rooney (a 5-8 freshman from Christchurch, New Zealand), Gabby Singer (a 5-7 freshman from Harrisburg, Pa.), Adriana Allen (a 5-11 freshman from Ajax, Ontario), Betsy Gadziala (a 6-0 freshman from Whitesboro, N.Y.), and Abby Martin (a 5-10 freshman from Maplewood).

Thus far, Gaitley has used Canady, Matin, Rooney, Womack and Allen as her typical starting five, though Thibault and Forbes have also started a game.

Monmouth is currently in its longest break of the season and will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. when it hosts Howard in the opening game of the first-ever Hawk Holiday Classic, which will be a two-day tournament, with the championship game scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m.

The Hawks' next regular-season game is on Jan. 2, when they host Quinnipiac in the NEC opener. Then, on Jan. 4, they'll get a shot at defending NEC champion Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn.