The 2010-11 season didn’t end the way the FAU Women’s Basketball team would have imagined. Instead, it was a season mounted with losses that closed with a defeat to Arkansas State in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.

After spending the long offseason reflecting on last season’s mishaps, players are ready start fresh and leave the unsatisfactory 7-21 record behind them.

The difference from last season and this year’s is that team chemistry has improved, at least according to one player.

“Last year, there was no team chemistry,” said senior guard Breana Turner. “We didn’t know each other as players.”

To improve the chemistry, the team participates in group bonding activities like Game Night, Movie Night and beach volleyball.

“It helps to get to know each teammate better,” Turner added. “And it motivates us to get more out of each other.”

Coach Chancellor Dugan is also finding ways to motivate her team. At the beginning of the offseason, Dugan introduced a new theme and motivational strategy to remind the players to play with P.U.R.P.O.S.E. It is an acronym that stands for: People, Understanding, Respect, Passion, Optimism, Sisterhood, Everyday.

The players already seem to buy into Dugan’s philosophy.

“It reminds us of unity, no complaints and excuses,” said Turner. “and it teaches us how to overcome adversity. If we follow P.U.R.P.O.S.E we’ll succeed and there is no limit to what we can do.”

Senior guard and team captain Teri Stamp believes Dugan’s acronym will lead to a successful season. Which, to her, is a big deal.

“[To win] the Sun Belt [Conference],” Stamp said about her goals. “And not settling for anything less.”

The team’s theories will be put to the test when the season begins on Friday, Nov. 11, against Warner Southern University in the home opener.