Head women’s basketball coach Shimmy Gray-Miller is thankful for her six upperclassmen.

It’s nothing against the youngesters-in fact, she loves the freshmen. Even so, she recognizes that they can be “silly,” and the upperclassmen bring needed maturity to the team.

In addition to this maturity, Gray-Miller said the upperclassmen provide crucial experience.

“My juniors are really like seniors,” Gray-Miller said. “The underclassmen don’t understand, and the upperclassmen help them to understand.”

Junior guard Theresa Lisch is one source of wisdom to the underclassmen.

“Don’t get too high when things get good, and don’t get too low when things get bad,” Lisch said.

But Lisch acknowledged that the learning is reciprocal, and she has mentioned the newbies have something to teach her as well.

Along with Lisch, the returning players include sophomore forward Lauren Woods, juniors Katie Paganelli and Amanda Kemezys and seniors Heather King and Jameela Haynes.

“[These players] bring a hunger. They came here with the intention to turn this program around,” Gray-Miller said.

Joining the returning players are six freshmen: guards Alisha Goodwin and Janisha Gearalds, guard/forward Devonna Smith, forwards India Warfield and Kayci Will and center Kaelin Reid.

“The freshmen are a great group to come out and compete,” Lisch said.

Additional newcomers with past college experience are junior center Kat Hester and sophomore center Nichole Johnson. Both transferred to Saint Louis University from other schools.

Gray-Miller recognizes that her team is still young.

“We are fun to watch, there is never a dull moment,” Gray-Miller said. “I think that the fans in attendance will want to come back.”

The Nov. 16 game was anything but dull. The team was trailing 65-67, when Lisch nailed a three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to win the game.

“It takes five people to make it happen,” Lisch said.

Gray-Miller was a happy spectator: “That was one of my favorite Lisch moments,” she said.

The team plays Kansas at home on Nov. 23 in Chaifetz Arena at 4 p.m.