When you mix an experienced coach in her sophomore season with a new school and a group of determined upperclassmen, you’re bound to find some electricity on the court. You’ll also find a valid reason for opposing teams to be scared in the America East tournament.

The second-seeded Stony Brook Seawolves (18-10, 14-2 AE) come into Friday’s tournament harboring a school record 14 wins in AE play; their last win was a comeback victory against Maine on Saturday when the Seawolves turned a 13-point deficit into an 11-point win.

The team is stacked with juniors and seniors who are eager to make up for their disappointing overtime loss in the semifinals last year to Boston University. Among them is guard Mykeema Ford, a clutch senior who was recognized as the America East Player of the Week four times this season. Ford and senior forward Jessica Smith, the only two players to start every game this season for SBU, led the team with 19.3 and 16.5 ppg, respectively.

Head coach Maura McHugh, a veteran coach with experience in the WNBA, cautions that despite her team’s success, Stony Brook knows better than to depend on two seniors to carry it through the entire tournament.

‘Leadership comes by committee, with each player putting her 2 cents in,’ McHugh said. ‘They feed off of each other and play better because of it.’

And as for McHugh’s tourney favorite?

‘Obviously Stony Brook!’ she said.

That confidence is what will make for an exciting beginning to the games. The Seawolves will open the tournament on Friday, taking on UMBC in the first of the quarterfinal matchups at noon.