Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – As much as the Griffins women's basketball team offers a different look this season – now armed with seven players 6-foot or taller – the heart of their playing style remains the same.

When they kick off a new Canada West season on Friday and Saturday in Kamloops, B.C. at Thompson Rivers University (7 p.m. MT and 6 p.m. MT, respectively, Canada West TV), expect to see same blue collar work ethic that defined a squad that made the playoffs last winter.

They just won't be undersized any more.

"It definitely changes our approach a little bit," said Katherine Adams, who is entering her second season as MacEwan's head coach. "But some things are still the same. We're still pretty athletic and pretty dynamic. People can play multiple positions.

"Yes, we're longer to be able to contest bigger players, but we still want to come out with that scrappy, gritty defensive approach that we've had."

Third team Canada West all-star Kendall Lydon, who led the Griffins in scoring (16.3), assists (3.6) and steals (2.6) has graduated, as has solid role player Alex Lauber (second on the team with 4.8 rebounds a game). Point guard Juhee Thompson, who brought elite defensive intensity, has also moved on.

But MacEwan has starters Kayla Ivicak (fourth-year St. Albert), who led the team with three double-doubles last season, and Paige Knull (fifth-year, St. Albert), a solid contributor across all categories, back in the fold. They've been leading the charge so far for a young squad that features eight players in their first year of eligibility.

"The nice thing, I think, is that we're a lot deeper than we were last year," said Adams. "Our veteran players have been just solid and steady and have stepped up from what their roles were last year. Knowing that we can rely on them, it allows our young players the flexibility to come in and see what they can do, not be afraid to make mistakes."

That's paid early dividends in the preseason as rookie Mackenzie Farmer looks ready to make an instant impact. The 6-foot-1 Sherwood Park product (Bev Facey) led the Griffins in scoring with 16 points in a non-conference game against Laurier earlier this month.

"Mackenzie Farmer had a really good preseason and showcased that she has the ability to score the ball," said Adams of the guard. "She's someone who I think you'll see show up on the scoresheet a fair bit for us this season."

First-year point guards Madison Chamberlin (Edmonton) and Hannah Gibb (Lethbridge) will battle for playing time with third-year Kristen Monfort-Palomino (Calgary) as they figure out how to replace Lydon and Thompson at a very important position.

"We've had two rookie point guards step in," said Adams. "With the loss of Kendall, there's obviously some big shoes to fill, but they've held their own and hung in there against some tough competition we've seen so far."

Then there's the new height. Hallie Watt (Calgary) and Shannon Majeau (Spruce Grove) lead the way at 6-foot-2, while Monika Curtis (Kelowna) and Farmer check in at 6-1 and guard Darian Mahmi (Edmonton) is a 6-footer. They combine with returning players Ellie McCarthy (6-2, Kelowna) and Areena Lewis (6-0, Edmonton) to form a formidable force of players that Adams can use to match up with Canada West's big teams.

Other returning players for the Griffins include third-year three-point specialist Brielle Wise (St. Albert), promising second-year guard Kathryn Sutherland (Spruce Grove), fifth-year versatile forward Kerilynn MacLennan (Winnipeg) and guard Carly McHarg (Calgary), who still has first-year eligibility after red-shirting last season.

Considering MacEwan's women's basketball team has made the playoffs in all three years since they've been in Canada West, the goal remains just that. Not even Adams knows what she has yet, though; the Griffins' short-term fortunes largely depend on how well her stellar recruiting class adjusts to the level.

"Hopefully we're not in that up-and-down continuum," she said of the dreaded 'rebuilding' term often tossed around. "Hopefully with that veteran leadership, we can maintain some level of consistency. We know there's going to be lots of opportunity for our young kids to get experience. That will largely determine how well we do, how quickly they pick up and get used to the league and the physicality.

"We'll see where we go."

Following the weekend road trip, the Griffins return for their home-opening weekend Nov. 3-4 as they welcome Lethbridge.