The SIU women’s basketball team is on a mission to put the past behind it.

The Salukis won five games last season. Injuries depleted the roster as four players were forced to redshirt.

Freshman guard Kiley Gorski, sophomore guard Rishonda Napier, junior guard Cartaesha Macklin and senior center Alexus Patterson all sat out most or all of last year for various reasons. Their absences allowed other members of the team to see the floor more than they would have otherwise.

Gorski suffered a career-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury before the season started, but Napier, Macklin and Patterson are all back to create competition amongst the Salukis.

“It’s absolutely outstanding,” said head coach Cindy Stein. “Kids can fall behind, and this is a really competitive group. If they fall behind, sometimes it’s tough to come back. Plus, it gives us so much more depth, and I think depth is always a key to winning championships.”

Macklin led the team with 15.0 points per game in 2012-13 and was named honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference for the second year in a row. Macklin was the MVC Freshman of the Year in 2011-12.

Patterson was named to the MVC All-Freshman team in 2011-12 after leading the team in rebounding.

Napier ranked second on the team with 11.3 points per game as a freshman in 2012-13, and was named to the MVC All-Freshman team.

Napier is excited to be back on the court. After playing five games last year, she redshirted because of a digestive tract disorder.

“It’s great to be back in action,” Napier said. “Just to experience the momentum and the thrill again is awesome.”

With those three players back, junior forward Dyana Pierre said this year will be much better than last.

“I think we’re going to do great,” Pierre said. “We’re expecting big things. Coach is pushing us hard. We’re ready to see how we do.”

Pierre was a bright spot in a down season for SIU last year. She led the MVC in rebounding and double-doubles while becoming the first Saluki to be named First Team All-Conference in seven years.

Pierre also led the team in scoring, blocks, free throws, field goal percentage and minutes played. She was named to this season’s MVC Preseason All-Conference team.

The Saluki frontcourt goes deeper than just Pierre. Azia Washington was second in scoring and rebounding last season for SIU. Stein said sophomore Kim Nebo and freshman Celina VanHyfte have also been impressive in practice.

Another positive for the 2013-2014 Salukis was the emergence of walk-on junior guard Hannah Shores. Shores led the team in assists as a sophomore after getting a shot to play once Napier and Macklin were out for the season.

After receiving an athletic scholarship this fall, the versatile Shores will contribute to the depth of the Saluki backcourt.

“The great thing about Hannah is that she’s got a year’s experience, so she knows any position,” Stein said. “She can play the point guard, and she can play the off guard. She’ll add depth to those positions. I think she challenges [Macklin and Napier] on a daily basis.”

The Salukis’ schedule does not include any schools receiving votes in the Associated Press preseason poll. SIU’s non-conference schedule includes Memphis and Illinois at home, and a trip to New Orleans to face Oregon State and Toledo. The Salukis will begin MVC play Jan. 4 at Illinois State.

SIU will open the season Friday with an exhibition game against NCAA Division II opponent Quincy University.

Although SIU was picked to finish second to last in the conference in the preseason polls, Stein does not allow outside opinion to dictate the way the Salukis approach the season.

“We expect to win every game,” Stein said. “Our goal is to be competitive in every single game, and have a chance to win at the end.”