They’ve got the horses.

Now it’s time to let them run.

The North Idaho College women’s basketball team opens the season today at noon, hosting Northwest College of Powell, Wyo., at Rolly Williams Court.

Among six returners with experience are Cierra Dvorak — a 5-foot-9 guard and Lake City High product — who was named to the Northwest Athletic Conference All-East Region team last year.

“She led us in almost every category last year,” said NIC coach Chris Carlson, who begins his 14th season as NIC coach. “She’s trying to cut down on her turnovers and fouls, but a lot of that was learning to be a point guard at the college level last year. She’s had a full season and now she’s learning to be more efficient on the court.”

Whitney Meier, a 5-5 guard also from Lake City, and Lana Berg, a 5-10 forward from Bigfork, Mont., also return. Shelby Jordan, a 5-10 guard from Kansas City and Gia Sorn, a 6-2 post from Richland, Wash., also are back.

Shae Logozzo, a 5-9 redshirt freshman guard from Chiawana High in Pasco, also returns after tearing her ACL in the team’s opener last season.

“The good thing about this group is we’ve got is that six of those kids that averaged 10 points per game,” Carlson said. “They’ve got a lot of experience.”

Meier made 61 3-pointers for NIC last year, a team high.

“Whitney can just shoot the heck out of it,” Carlson said. “She’s just a great shooter, and the same with Shae. Both of them are deep threats from the 3-point line. It’s going to be nice to have them out deep with the guards we have that can get to the basket.”

Ronnie Harris, a 5-9 guard from Billings, transferred from NAIA Rocky Mountain College.

“I thought we recruited really hard over the summer,” Carlson said. “I think we got ourselves back in position to get where we want to be.”

Thanks to a day off during the NWAC schedule last year, Carlson, along with his wife Carey — his longtime assistant coach — were able to watch current freshman Kelsey Auer — a 6-foot post from St. Maries — in a state 2A tournament game.

“Kelsey’s been playing fantastic for us,” Chris Carlson said. “She’s really versatile. The second time we saw her play, she pushed the ball up the court and hit a 3-pointer to send her team to overtime. She’s big, strong and a tough kid. We’re really happy to have her and how she’s come along.”

NIC added to its bench during the offseason, adding former Idaho coach Mike Divilbiss as an assistant coach.

“He was back in the area and working for Northwest Mutual in Spokane,” Carlson said. “He gave us a call late in the summer and we got to talking to him. He was looking to get back into coaching. He’s just a walking clinic and amazing coach.”

Divilbiss’ daughter, Chantel, was a point guard on NIC’s 2011 NJCAA championship team.

The top four teams from each region advance to the NWAC Championships at Everett Community College in March.

NIC went 13-13 last year and failed to qualify for the NWAC tourney.

“It’s a tough league, but I think if we would have stayed healthy last year, we could have made the playoffs,” Chris Carlson said. “I think we’re on the right track. With the East finishing 1-2 last year, it just shows how strong the teams were last year. We went out and got the horses, and I think we’re in the right position to compete.”