It’s a big-goal season for the Miami University women’s basketball team.

The RedHawks were 21-10 and went to the WNIT last year. Now, with a lot of talent returning and a highly regarded freshman class, they are aiming even higher.

“This definitely has the potential to be in my top two teams,” said MU coach Maria Fantanarosa, beginning her 15th season at the helm. “We’re very talented and very focused. Now I have to watch the process as they continue to mature and how the roles get defined. We want to enjoy the day-to-day journey and still be confident that we can get to where we’re going.”

Miami returns eight letterwinners and three starters. It has been voted the team to beat in the Mid-American Conference East Division after finishing second in 2011-12.

Topping the list of returnees is senior guard Courtney Osborn. She has 1,575 career points and trails only Amanda Jackson (1,979), Heather Cusick (1,728), Monica Niemann (1,608) and Mary Ann Myers (1,600) on MU’s all-time scoring list.

Fantanarosa has switched the RedHawks’ offense from a ball-screen approach to a five-out motion. An up-tempo attack will be the norm.

“Everybody in the conference knows that Courtney Osborn has every aspect of her game. The offense is set up so that they’re not going to know how to guard her,” Fantanarosa said. “If she has a small player on her, she can post up. If she has a big player on her, she can shoot outside. You can tell why she’s getting a lot of attention for All-American.”

The 5-foot-10 Osborn averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last season. The other returning starters are senior forward Kirsten Olowinski and junior guard Hannah Robertson.

Osborn knows opponents will focus on her. She’s fine with that.

“We have so many other players that can step up and hit big shots,” said Osborn, who tallied 13 assists in MU’s 80-70 exhibition win over Tiffin. “And if they’re going to key on me, that just opens my teammates up even more. So that’s great.”

Olowinski is still working herself into top shape after suffering a knee injury last season, but she can be a force. She collected 11.2 points and 9.9 boards per contest a year ago.

“She’s a 6-1 player who has 3-point range and can post up, and she’s one of my better passers,” Fantanarosa said. “When she gets touches in the halfcourt, good things happen.”

Miami’s problem in the preseason has been injuries. Robertson is questionable and sophomore guard Courtney Larson is out for today’s season opener at Eastern Kentucky, and they’re among the team’s best athletes and defenders.

“Courtney will change the look of this team,” Fantanarosa said of Larson, who’s expected to be sidelined until mid-December with a knee injury. “Very quick. Very explosive. She sets people up in this offense. She’s an attack-the-rim type of player, not just with a cut, but with the dribble. That adds a dimension to this offense.”

Because of the injuries, the RedHawks will go with a bigger lineup early in the year. That will affect the squad’s pressure defense in the halfcourt, which was expected to be a strength.

“We’re having to make a lot of adjustments because obviously we’re post heavy,” Fantanarosa said. “Those adjustments are giving the players more opportunities to play different positions and take on different roles. The big picture is slower, but the individual opportunities are bigger.”

Junior Haley Robertson is another returning guard and will play a key role. Freshmen Hannah McCue and Maddie McCallie are also in the backcourt mix, particularly McCue.

“Hannah McCue is one of my smartest players offensively and defensively, and she’s very competitive,” Fantanarosa said. “Maddie McCallie has surprised me the last two weeks. She’s kind of upped her game.”

Olowinski and 6-2 junior Kelsey Simon are post players who have been helping out at the No. 3 spot because of the injuries. Juniors Erica Almady and Kristin Judson also return in the frontcourt, and 6-2 freshman Jessica Rupright has shown that she’s ready to play at this level.

Rupright, Indiana’s Miss Basketball last season, hit 8-of-9 field goals and scored 17 points in the exhibition game.

“She’s the wow player,” Fantanarosa said. “We don’t want to put pressure on her. We saw flashes in practice, and you saw in the exhibition game, she brought it. She can face the basket and hit the 3, she can take you inside. She’s a very finesse player, but has court savvy about her, and she’s a solid passer already.

“As she gets in the flow of the system, the sky’s the limit for her. Her defense has continued to get better each day. She’s just another kid that’s really eager to learn, very humble.”

Almady brings a physical presence down low, and Fantanarosa said Simon may be the team’s most improved player. Freshman forward Tamira Ford is one of Miami’s best athletes, but she’s out indefinitely with a concussion.

There are plenty of 3-point threats on the roster. Among the best, according to Fantanarosa, are Osborn, the Robertson twins, Olowinski, Rupright, McCallie and McCue.

“I have a lot of options on offense, and this offense gives us an opportunity to focus on everybody’s strengths,” Fantanarosa said. “We’re shooting at a higher percentage. We’re taking better care of the ball. We’re taller at more positions, and because we have a balance of skill and athleticism, this is an offense that we should be able to rebound out of.”

Miami, Bowling Green and Akron were picked 1-2-3 in the MAC East. Fantanarosa said that’s a fair ranking on paper.

“I don’t think any of us care now,” she said of being the preseason favorite. “It was good for that day. It was a nice compliment.

“Every day that goes by, I think the trust in each other is going to continue to build. Our team right now is very focused on the investment in this championship vision. I feel like this is a group that’s special.”

The RedHawks’ home opener will be Monday night against Northern Kentucky.