ACU women’s basketball has been together since June, and head coach Julie Goodenough says it shows.

This summer, the Wildcats went on an international tour that took them to Greece and Rwanda. To get ready for it, the team held two full weeks of practice in July, time most teams don’t get together until fall. ACU then played two games in Greece in August before finishing the trip in Rwanda.

Goodenough said that extra time has the team ahead of where it usually is.

“I feel like we’re several weeks ahead of where we normally are at this time in the fall,” Goodenough said.

Most of that comes from who’s back. ACU returns 10 players from a team that made a historic run to the WNIT Super 16 last season. The Wildcats finished second in the WAC’s final season, though, and missed the NCAA Tournament. Goodenough said that’s still on their minds.

“We lost several key games last year by one and two possessions,” Goodenough said. “That one missed blockout or that one careless turnover will get you in the end.”

So the message this offseason was details. Through the first few weeks of practice, the focus has been on two areas: defense and 3-point shooting.

Senior guard Payton Hull said she spent her offseason working on both.

“I’ve been really focusing on my defense because I want to do really well and help the team out defensively,” Hull said. “And then just coming in the gym and shooting with all my teammates, making sure we have a good 3-point percentage this year.”

The returners are also helping the new players get up to speed. Goodenough said when she calls out a drill, the veterans set it up and walk the newcomers through it.

“They’ve been instrumental in our ability just to get through practices,” Goodenough said.

One of the newcomers is in the middle of the biggest position battle on the roster. Samara Morrow, a transfer from the College of Southern Idaho, is competing with Jazmyn Stone for the starting point guard spot. She said she’s not stressing over it.

“You honestly just have to embrace it,” Morrow said. “I’m playing alongside great girls that have really different game aspects than I do. So just going hard in practice every day and focusing on the things that I can control.”

Morrow said ACU’s culture and family atmosphere sold her on the move. She thinks fans will like what she brings at the point.

“I feel like I’m a pretty good shooter,” Morrow said. “So having a good shooting presence at point guard will be something interesting for them to see.”

ACU also added some size. Raimi McCrary, a 6-foot senior forward from Allen, transferred from Incarnate Word. She was the Cardinals’ leading rebounder last season, averaging 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, and she’s had some of her best games against ACU. When UIW played at Moody Coliseum last November, she had 15 points and 15 rebounds. She’s expected to come off the bench at the four, but she has the size and rebounding to slide to the five when the Wildcats go small.

The goal is the same across the roster: win the first United Athletic Conference championship and get to the NCAA Tournament.

“Our goal was to be first, so it was a disappointment,” Goodenough said of last year’s finish. “We have to be improving every day.”

ACU opens the season Nov. 2 at home against Howard Payne. Later in the month, the Wildcats host Big Ten opponent Northwestern on Nov. 18.

Goodenough’s pitch to students is simple.

“Just give us a shot,” Goodenough said. “If you don’t like what you see, don’t come back. So it’s our job to win you over.”