It came from a desire to educate.

Of the four referees addressing The Master’s University women’s basketball team at center court before an intersquad this week, one asked for a show of hands from the freshmen.

Seven arms went up.

Over the next 15 minutes, the officials showed the newbies the ropes. What constitutes a foul in the college game. What doesn’t. It was a classroom on the court.

Such lessons – in a more fast-paced, physical fashion – will continue over the coming month as Master’s opens its season with a host of daunting exhibitions.

“They’re going to get baptized by fire real quick,” said coach Dan Waldeck.

Waldeck was speaking specially about a young group of post players. But the sentiment could apply to a team that features three juniors and no seniors.

There’s a lot to learn. And it’ll have to be picked up quickly by a squad that graduated two All-Americans in Bianca Cubello and Megan Lindsley.

Fortunately, the task of replacing those two won’t fall to any one player.

“Everybody needs to step up,” said Mustang junior Jamilee Iddings, who headlines a group of guards who have grown leaps and bounds since stepping on campus.

Sophomores Hannah Forrar, Brooke Bailey, Hannah Ostrom and Sabrina Thompson each played substantial minutes last season when the Mustangs advanced to the NAIA national tournament for the fifth straight season.

“They’re tons better,” said Waldeck, whose team opens the season ranked No. 18 in the country and third in the Golden State Athletic Conference. “Their biggest adjustment, because their role is now to carry more scoring, is how to let that come to them and not force it. To balance being in attack mode yet involving their teammates.”

As far as the frontcourt, talented freshmen Rebekah Throns, Anika Neuman and Jessica Soares, all 6-foot-1 and above, are expected to make an immediate impact, with Rebekah’s sister, Hannah, joining the team at winter break.

The young trio will be tested.

The Mustangs open the season against NCAA Division 2 California Baptist on Thursday and Division 1 Cal State Northridge on Saturday before trekking to the Northwest to play D1s Washington State and Eastern Washington.

“They are really versatile,” Waldeck said of Rebekah Throns, Neuman and Soares. “The big thing for us is how physical can we be down there. … We need to get tougher and scrappier down there.”

Of course, it’s been tough to simulate gritty post play in practice with no upperclassmen at the position. But, being a team stocked with young talent like freshman point guard Tristen Coltom has its own advantages.

“We don’t have a lot of expectations on us coming into the year,” Ostrom said. “It allows us to play more free and together.”

Master’s plays Cal Baptist at home Thursday at 5:00 p.m.