VERMILLION, S.D. -- There wasn't much Amber Hegge didn't accomplish as a high school basketball player, leading Crofton to three straight Nebraska Class C1 state championships.

Her banked three-pointer at the buzzer, a game-winner against Norfolk Catholic, was the final shot of her high school career. Then, as a freshman at the University of South Dakota, she played a key role as a reserve on an NCAA Division II national runner-up squad.

The 6-foot-1 Hegge, though, sat out last season as a redshirt in USD's first year as a transitional NCAA Division I school. The Coyotes finished with an 18-11 record, but Coach Ryun Williams is anxious for the return of his versatile guard/forward.

"I saw Amber play a lot as a freshman and she's just so disruptive on defense," Williams said during USD's media day on Thursday. "She makes up for other people's mistakes because she's so long and such a great shot blocker.

"She's still learning how to become a scorer, but we're gong to lean on Amber a lot both offensively and defensively. You're going to see us go through her a lot because she creates so much for everybody else.

"She played point guard in high school. We don't play her at the point, but she can be a point forward for us and create a lot of scoring opportunities for other kids. I know the other kids like playing with her because she gets them a lot of shots."

Hegge played in 35 games as a freshman, averaging 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds as well as a block and a half per game.

"It's been a long time so I'm pretty anxious about practicing for something instead of just practicing," said Hegge. "I'm not really sure what my role will be, but I'll do whatever the team needs that night. Hopefully I can be somewhat of a scoring threat and a good help defender."

Hegge should fit in well with a lineup that returns three starters -- seniors Jasmine Mosley and Kara Iverson and sophomore Annie Roche. Mosley and Roche, a Vermillion High School product, have been named to the Great West Conference preseason all-league second team, while Hegge was an honorable mention pick.

The 5-10 Mosley shot 52.2 percent from the field and led the team with 105 assists. Roche led the team in minutes played and averaged 9.2 points as a freshman while Iverson, who played at Yankton High School, became a starter late in the season after working her way back from an early season foot injury.

Jackie Hiebert, a sophomore guard who played at Ohio University, and former Sioux Falls Roosevelt standout Teresa Case, a transfer from Wayne State College, are two more players who redshirted last season and should contribute immediately.

"We're excited about what we think is going to take place starting next week," said Williams, a USD graduate in his second season as head coach. "I think you can anticipate a little different team. We can be a little bit more versatile offensively and more versatile defensively.

"We're really going to miss Bridget Yoerger. She did so much that maybe the average fan wouldn't see. We're not very deep inside, so we're going to have to play a style where we can use our length and our active feet to create some disruption defensively in the post."

Yoerger, a Hinton, Iowa, product, led the Coyotes in both scoring (16.7) and rebounding (9.7) last season.

Williams said Abby Kinder, a 5-10 junior transfer from Danville (Ind.) Area College, has earned a starting role. Freshmen Pam Jaunary (5-9), Samantha Mehr (5-9) and Emily Guenther (5-9) should also see playing time along with Jamie Young, a 6-1 transfer from Calerdon (Texas) Junior College.

McKayla Knudson, a freshman from South Sioux City, will sit out the season as a redshirt. Knudson has still not recovered from a knee injury suffered early in her senior season.

South Dakota, which plays an exhibition game against Winona State on Wednesday in Yankton before opening the season against Wisconsin-Green Bay on Nov. 15, faces a difficult schedule. The Coyotes have games at Wichita State, Nebraska, Santa Clara and Iowa State.