 Bowling Green, Ky. - A total of 11 teams that competed in the postseason in 2009 - including seven NCAA Tournament teams - and 14 regular-season home games highlight the 2009-10 Western Kentucky University women's basketball schedule released on Wednesday.
 In fact, nine of WKU's 11 nonconference opponents competed in the postseason a year ago.
 "By far, this is the most challenging schedule we have put together. However, this type of competition fits our philosophy of playing against the best," said Lady Topper head coach Mary Taylor Cowles. "By being challenged every time we step on the floor, we are going to be able to get better, get stronger and put ourselves in a great position to be ready for post season. Lady Topper Basketball wants to compete against the best and this schedule provides us that opportunity every day."
 After taking the court in exhibition games against Lindsey Wilson and Brescia on Nov. 2 and 8, respectively, the Lady Toppers officially open the regular season on Nov. 14 when Eastern Kentucky visits Diddle Arena. Ten of WKU's next 11 games will be against teams that competed in the postseason, beginning with back-to-back road games at Ball State (Nov. 16) and South Dakota State (Nov. 22). The Lady Toppers then travel to Cancun, Mexico, to take part in the Caribbean Challenge hosted by Triple Crown Sports over the Thanksgiving holiday. WKU will meet Duke on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26), then face off with Arkansas the following day in its second and final game of the event.
 December opens with a home game against North Dakota on the 2nd before the Lady Toppers travel down to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt on Dec. 6. WKU returns home for back-to-back home games Louisiana Tech and Western Carolina on Dec. 9 and 12 before opening Sun Belt Conference play at Middle Tennessee on Dec. 20.
 The pre-Christmas schedule wraps up with a home date against Pittsburgh on Dec. 22. After a six-day break, the Lady Toppers head to the nation's capital to take on George Washington on Dec. 28.
 The remainder of the slate will be against Sun Belt teams, beginning with a New Year's Eve meeting with Louisiana-Lafayette. The new year will begin with road games at South Alabama (Jan. 6) and Denver (Jan. 10), before WKU returns home for five of its next six games. After hosting Florida Atlantic on Jan. 13 and Florida International on Jan. 17, the Lady Toppers visit Troy on Jan. 20. A three-game homestand to close out January begins with a Sunday matchup against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 24, and home games against SBC West Division foes North Texas and New Orleans on Jan. 27 and 31, respectively.
 The final month of the regular season includes home games against Troy (Feb. 6), Arkansas State (Feb. 10) and South Alabama (Feb. 17), and road contests at Louisiana-Monroe (Feb. 3), UALR (Feb. 13), Arkansas State (Feb. 20), Florida Atlantic (Feb. 24) and Florida International (Feb. 27).
 All 13 teams in the league will converge upon Hot Springs, Ark., for the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament March 6-9.
 Season ticket renewals for the 2009-10 Lady Topper basketball season will run from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. All renewal information will be sent prior to Sept. 15. Season-ticket prices are set at $160 for Red Towel seats, $130 for chairback and $25 for bleacher seats. For more information, contact the WKU Athletic ticket office at 1-800-5 BIG RED.
 
- WKU -
