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NORFOLK, Va. - Coming off of a 7-22 overall record last season, which included a 4-12 MEAC mark, the Norfolk State women's basketball team kicks off its 2013-14 season on Friday at Morehead State in Morehead, Ky. Tip-off is at 12 p.m. at Johnson Arena.

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Full 2013-14 Season Outlook: With the return of a key player from injury and the addition of five athletic, versatile recruits, the Norfolk State women's basketball team is looking to pick up its pace during the 2013-14 campaign.

The Spartans lost some size from last year's roster in the form of post players Batavia Owens, Kristian Parker and Tamara Majette, all of whom stood at least 6-feet tall. The result is a smaller, yet faster lineup for the Spartans in 2013-14.

"What we're losing in size, we plan to make up for in speed and defense," said head coach Debra Clark, who is entering her fifth year at NSU. "We plan to be more of an attacking team and want our defense to generate some offense, particularly in the open floor."

If the Spartans can achieve that result it will be due in no small part to the return of shooting guard Rae Corbo. Corbo, who averaged 11.6 points per game as a sophomore two years ago, played just two games last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Clark is excited to have the speedy, offensive-minded redshirt junior back in the lineup.

"Rae looks really good and has done well throughout her recovery," Clark said. "We look for her to pick up where she left off before her injury."

Corbo will have a new running mate in the backcourt. The Spartans lost dependable point guard Recca Trice to graduation. Trice started 98 games in her career and left campus second all-time at NSU in assists. Clark said the task of replacing Trice will come down to either junior Jazamine Gray or freshman Kieera Basey. Gray is a former walk-on who has seen her playing time increase over her first two years. She is one of the team's better perimeter defenders. Basey, meanwhile, was a prep standout in West Virginia who Clark says has a great understanding of the game.

Clark also expects true freshmen Dominique Harper and Koryn Lawrence to contribute to the team's backcourt play right away.

"Dominique will be able to contribute defensively right away by pressuring the ball," Clark said. "Koryn gives us added offense on the perimeter. She has a real scorer's mentality."

NSU will also look for increased scoring from wing player Ebony Brown. Now a junior, the 5-9 Brown came on at the end of last season with a pair of 20-point performances down the stretch, including 23 in NSU's MEAC Tournament win over Florida A&M. She averaged 7.7 points per game last year and is also a key factor in NSU's defense.

"I think the biggest improvement you make in college comes from your sophomore to your junior years," Clark said. "I look for Ebony to really step up her game this year. I think she gained a lot of confidence from how she played at the end of the year and that proved to her that she can be the player we know she can."

NSU also welcomes back sophomore Janel Cannon on the wing. One of the team's two walk-ons, Cannon played in 13 games as a freshman last season, and Clark thinks her role could increase this year.

"Janel looked really good in summer workouts and I think she is poised to contribute more this year," Clark said.

The Spartans are experienced in the post. Senior forward Rachel Gordon is coming off a second-team All-MEAC season in which she led NSU in scoring (10.6 points) and rebounds (9.7) last year. She also shot 47 percent from the floor and enters her senior season with a chance to break the NSU all-time rebounding record.

"I think Rachel should have a great season," Clark said. "We're looking for her to finish more consistently around the basket and stay out of foul trouble."

She will be joined up front by center Quineshia Leonard. The 6-1 junior started 10 games last year as a sophomore, splitting time with Owens. Leonard averaged 5.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season.

"Quineshia understands her role now as our main inside player," Clark said. "She has also shown that she is willing to put in the work to reach her potential."

NSU's reserves in the post are a trio of freshmen, 5-10 Amber Brown, 6-0 Logan Powell and 6-0 Ronesia Spicer. Brown, the younger sister of Ebony Brown, is a versatile forward who can play facing the basket on offense but guard bigger players on defense.

"Amber plays bigger than her size and can give posts trouble with her quickness," Clark said. "Once Logan adjusts to the college game, I think she will be a factor for us. She has good shooting range as a post player, as well."

Powell was a productive high school post player who helped her team win the state championship. Spicer earned all-district first team honors for basketball during her senior year of high school.

With a nice balance of young talent and veteran leadership, Clark is optimistic about the 2013-14 season.

"We'll be small, but fast and tough," Clark said. "The chemistry on the team is good and the newcomers are picking things up nicely."

The Schedule: NSU opens the season at Morehead State and then will return home for three-straight home games against Radford, UNCG and Wofford. The Spartans close out the month of November with a pair of games against UT-Pan American and UT-San Antonio at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

The Spartans will be home for nearly the entire month of December as they welcome fellow MEAC opponents Florida A&M and Bethune Cookman to Joseph Echols Hall on Dec. 5 and Dec. 7.

NSU also hosts non-conference opponents East Carolina (Dec. 17) and Virginia University Lynchburg (Dec. 20). The Spartans will travel to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on UMBC (Dec. 29) and either James Madison or Ohio (Dec. 30) at the James Madison Tournament.

NSU will open the month of January with a trio of away games. The Spartans will close out nonconference play at Penn (Jan. 5), before traveling to Maryland Eastern Shore (Jan. 11) and Delaware State (Jan. 13). NSU will return home to host Morgan State (Jan. 18) and Coppin State (Jan. 20). The Spartans will close out the month of January at South Carolina State and Savannah State.

After heading to Morgan State to open the month of February, NSU will host Howard and Hampton on Feb. 10 and 15, respectively. The Spartans will complete their road trek with games at Coppin State (Feb. 22), Howard (Feb. 24) and Hampton (March 1).

NSU will wrap up its regular season at home with games against Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina Central. The MEAC Championship is set for March 10-15 in Norfolk, Va., at the Scope Arena.