ANDERSON, S.C. -- The No. 1 thing Jim Brunelli is asking for is an open mind. Brunelli took over the Anderson University women's basketball program in July after spending two seasons as an assistant at Akron. Brunelli inherited a team that was 28-4 overall and 19-1 in Conference Carolinas last season but had just seven healthy players when he arrived. He has since built the roster to 12 players. "They've been responsive," Brunelli said about his new team. "Some of them were recruited by one coach, played for one, and are finishing up with another. They're in a tough spot. I have to adjust to new team that I don't know. We're talked a lot about it. I have told them they will be able to pick up things quicker if they have an open mind." The Lady Trojans, ranked No. 24 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll, open the season Sunday afternoon at USC Aiken. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Brunelli prefers a fast-paced style, but depth will force his first Anderson team to pick its spots. "They pick up things pretty quick," he said. "Typically, they haven't played like I would like them to play. You have to play with what you have. If you have the horses to run, you're going to run. I don't think we're going to fast break a lot, but we're going to fast break and shoot the three. When we have the opportunity to run, we're going to run. Defensively, I like man-to-man aggressive full court, but we don't have the depth to do that." Brunelli's first Anderson team will be built around seniors Keana Boyd and Genia Holbrook. Boyd, a first-team All-Conference Carolinas pick, led the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game and shot .405 from three-point range. Holbrook is a rugged inside player who averaged 6.6 rebounds per game last season. "Keana is a player," Brunelli said. "You can tell she is a first-team all-conference player. She separates herself with her skills. I have so many plays set up for her because she can shoot it and take it off the dribble. Genia is doing a great job. We're doing some different things in the post. She's been showing some range. She is big and strong. I can see how she's going to use her body. A lot of people have told me how much of a warrior she is." The major addition in the off-season was senior Kirsten Peterson, a transfer from the University of Albany. "Not many people on this team get a shot off against her," Brunelli said. "Her biggest contribution is going to be on the defensive end. She can jump, she is athletic, and she's 6-4." Juniors Egle Bauzaite and Shanice Wilson will serve as team captains. "Egle is the hardest worker we have," Brunelli said. "You can tell she did the work in the off-season. Shanice is coming off a knee injury. She has the physical skills and is a competitor. I'm looking for her to be a starter." Sophomore Alexa Neal returns after a solid freshman season. Neal averaged 7.8 points per game and was second on the team in three-point goals made with 42. "Alexa has the potential to be an all-conference player," Brunelli said. "She can score, she can handle the ball, and she can run the point." Junior Korie Sellers also will provide some valuable minutes on the front line. "Korie is fun to watch," Brunelli said. "She has so much untapped athletic ability. She is wirey and moves well. I think she can defend anything two through five." Among the other newcomers are freshmen Kathryn Henderson and Ashley Abed and walk-ons Jessica Beasley, Ashley Thomas, and Becky Gardner. Beasley is the sister of former Anderson player Nicole Beasley. "Kathryn doesn't know how physical she can be," Brunelli said. "Beasley is shaking off the rust. She is one of the most aggressive players we have."