DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Far from being broken heroes on a last-chance power drive they are, but Ashanti Hunt and Angel Golden know they have just one last chance to make a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship real.

Along with fellow senior Chasimmie Brown, Hunt and Golden have been denied a trip to the NCAA tournament, falling by a combined four points to Hampton in the 2017 tournament championship game and 2018 semifinals.

As they began their final season with Thursday's official start of preseason practice, the  goal of a tournament loomed large for both seniors.

"We definitely have a hunger for it," said Golden, the 2018 MEAC Player Of The Year. "Everything we're doing is going to get us ready for that."

"Definitely championship. No bust," said Hunt, the 2018 MEAC Defensive Player Of The Year.

Both seniors are all in on Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis' approach of paying attention to the details.

"We are majoring on the minor things to ensure we take advantage of every opportunity to reach our goals," said Blair-Lewis, who was named MEAC Coach Of The Year for the third straight year and fourth overall. "Our seniors have taken the stance that there are no more tomorrows."

Both Golden and Hunt have their own goals as well.

Golden knows that she's going to be a target coming off a MVP season that saw her average 15.7 points a game – fourth best in the MEAC – and shoot 39.6 from behind the arc.

"People are going to come at me harder," Golden said. "That means I have to go out harder than I did last year."

Hunt's been working on her offensive game. She averaged a solid 9.7 ppg last while doing all the defensive dirty work.

"I've been focused on shooting the ball more and being more confident when I do shoot," Hunt said. "I'm trying to be very meticulous."

B-CU lost two starters and five total players from last year's 24-7 team, but Golden liked what she saw Thursday.

"We have more players who are more versatile," Golden said. "They all can do a lot more on the court."

Bethune-Cookman opens the season at home November 7 against Edward Waters.