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The Tigers' star shined brighter and brighter as the days went by last winter.

The all-around game of Kwinnyata Mercer allowed her to become the first All-American for the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team since 1989 as she received first team honors with an outstanding freshman season.

Four Tigers, including Mercer, return from last year's squad that went 25-8, was ranked 13th in the final NJCAA Division II rankings and advanced to the Region XI championship game.

Marshalltown opens the 2009-10 season today in West Burlington with a matchup against St. Louis Community College-Forest Park in the Fun City Classic.

No one compared to the 5-foot-8 guard Mercer in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference in player efficiency - a formula of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goals, free throws and turnovers.

Mercer led the conference in rebounding (11.3 rpg) and steals (2.9 spg) and ranked second in scoring (16.9 ppg) - all while shooting 54 percent from the field.

"She's a smart basketball player," said Marshalltown head coach Larry Roberts. "Anybody that came and watched us last year could tell that."

"Obviously she had a good season last year and we'd like her to do the same, but also to do some things a little different," he added. "She's a pretty good team player so she shares the ball already and that's going to be beneficial to us, especially as we get the freshmen worked in to what we do. We've asked her to try to be a little more of a vocal presence in practice and she's been able to do that."

Point guard Shannon Lee returns after working into the starting lineup the second half of last season and led the team with 3.3 assists per game. April Mielke scored 7.4 points per game last year, while Claudia Silva will play a larger role in her second season.

"Those four sophomores are going to have to lead us in the right direction," Roberts said.

Silva played in 24 of the team's 33 games last year and averaged 2.2 points per game.

"Claudia is going to start for us. It's unbelievable the improvement she's made since last year. She really struggled at times last year," Roberts said.

"She wanted to know what she needed to do to get better then she got here this year and we thought we had a completely different player. She'd improved that much."

The Tigers have a fifth sophomore on the roster in Courtney Bobinger. Marshalltown recruited her out of high school and the strong 3-pointer shooter comes to the Tigers after transferring from Butte College in California.

Seven freshmen are on the roster for Roberts, three from Florida, two from Iowa, one from Wisconsin and one from New York.

Tracey Williams will step into a starting role for MCC in the frontcourt after being a member of the large class high school undefeated state champions in Florida.

Stephanie Cruz, Ralissa Nelson, Heather Eash and Maquasia Campbell are among those that will be pushing for playing time as well. Nicole Royer gives Roberts something he hasn't been able to have on the court during his time at MCC, a 6-2 post player.

"The first couple weeks as we go on the road, we'll find out what girls get it done in the games," Roberts said. "It's one thing to do some stuff in practice, but when it's time to go do it in games, are they able to do it?

"We need to find someone like we did in Kwinnyata last year. Our first dozen games she didn't start, then we got to some of the these games and it's like she can be pretty good. It's just something that didn't show up in practice."

Three-time defending national champion Kirkwood is No. 1 in the Division II preseason poll. The Eagles are looking as good as they've ever looked, Roberts said. DMACC is No. 17 in the preseason rankings and joins a large group of teams in a rugged conference that Roberts said will be improved this winter.

"We've got such a tough conference that you've got to play good every night or there's a good chance you're not going to win," Roberts said.

Marshalltown has its home opener Nov. 18 against South Australia Sports Institute. Conference play begins Dec. 2 at Southwestern.

"A key is that the freshmen come along, mature and grow into their spots," Roberts said.

"Last year we had seven or eight kids that any night could score in double figures and this year I think we have that same type of look," Roberts added. "It's just a matter of somebody stepping up every night and doing it. We know Kwinnyata can do it every game out."

Mercer has been named to the 10-player preseason All-American first team. Forest Park also has a player on that squad in Christina Coney, who was the country's No. 3 scorer a year ago at 23.2 points per game.