KEYSER, W.Va. — The Allegany College of Maryland women’s basketball team will open the season tonight, 7 p.m., against Potomac State College in Keyser.

The Trojans, under second-year head coach Garett Sherman, finished last season at the NJCAA National Tournament in East Peoria, Ill. and finished with a 28-2 overall record. The team won the Maryland JUCO state tournament, defeating Baltimore City Community College 51-50. Then the Trojans beat Cecil Community College 59-54 for the Region XX Championship, which qualified them to play in the NJCAA National Tournament.

The Trojans, ranked 22nd in the 2009-2010 preseason poll, return two sophomores from last year’s team, Jackie Simon and Jesse Owens. In addition, sophomore transfer Kim Jones from Louisburg College will look to add experience.

“We have a young team,” said Sherman, “with only returning two sophomores from last year. We believe we have the right pieces to be successful. The key to our season will be learning to play together and with intensity.”

Simon, a 5-foot-7 guard, averaged 8.3 points a game as a freshman and had her two best offensive outputs at the National Tournament, scoring 19 points in each game. Owens, a 5-7 guard, averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds a game her freshman year. Jones, a 6-1 transfer forward, averaged 6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds a game for the Hurricanes who finished their season at the National Tournament as well.

Allegany welcomes nine freshmen to the roster this year: Larae Allen, Hagerstown; Torie Bosley, Oakland; DeTonia DeGross, Cumberland; Ashleigh Fossett, Frederick; Jazmine Hatcher, Richmond, Va.; Dakeea Marshall, Ranson, W.Va.; Briana Miales, Mathews, Va.; Tamara Nesmith, Richmond, Va.; and Tyesha Tharpe, Capitol Heights.

Allen, a 6-0 guard/forward, played at North Hagerstown High School and was named to the All-Area, All-County, and Piedmont Conference teams. She averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds a game. Bosley, a 5-8 guard, played at Southern Garrett High School and was named to the Times-News All-Area and AMAC teams. During her senior year she averaged 12 points a game and made 53 three-pointers.

DeGross, a 5-3 point guard, played at Allegany High School and was the WMIL Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008, and made the All-Area team during her senior season. She averaged 14 points and 7 assists per game. Fossett, a 5-8 guard, played at nationally-ranked Riverdale Baptist and transferred to Urbana High School for her senior year. She made the Washington Post All-Met and All-County teams while averaging 14 points and 6 assists.

Hatcher, a 5-11 forward, played at Meadowbrook High School and was named to the All-Central District team. She averaged 12 points and 13 rebounds a game. Marshall, a 5-9 guard, played at Jefferson High School and made the All-Area and All-State teams as a senior. She averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds a game. Miales, a 5-6 guard, played at Mathews High School and was named to the All-Tidewater District team. During her senior season she averaged 17 points a game.

Nesmith, a 5-11 forward, played at Matoaca High School and was named to the All-Central District team. During her senior year she averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds a game. Tharpe, a 6-2 forward, played at Oxon Hill High School and averaged 12 points and 13 rebounds during her senior season.

The Trojans’ home opener will be Nov. 16 against Prince George’s Community College.