 Bowling Green, Ky. - The start of the 2010-11 season is officially underway for the Western Kentucky University women's basketball team.
Thanks to new NCAA legislation adopted in April, women's basketball teams across the nation are allowed to begin practice after 5 p.m. on the date that is 40 days before the school's first regular-season contest. WKU opens its season Nov. 16 at Louisiana Tech.
"It's exciting to be back out here. You could tell that it was a first day in a lot of respects, but I really like the team we have," said Lady Topper head coach Mary Taylor Cowles, who is beginning her ninth season at the helm of the program. "We've got a very eager basketball team. This is a group that's excited to play with each other."
The new rule also allows the Lady Toppers to get a handful of practices under their belt prior to Hilltopper Hysteria, which is schedule for 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Lady Toppers return eight letterwinners from last year's 21-11 squad, including a pair of all-Sun Belt Conference selections in seniors Arnika Brown and Amy McNear. Three freshmen - Mimi Hill, Chaney Means and Ellen Sholtes - all participated in their first official collegiate practice on Thursday, and sophomore Janae Howard is preparing to return to the court this season after sitting out '09-10 after transferring to the Hill from Louisville.
WKU will play the first of two exhibition games on Nov. 2 when it hosts Lindsey Wilson at 7 p.m. Lee (Tenn.) University will provide a final tune-up on Nov. 7 before the Lady Toppers head to Ruston for the season opener.
- WKU -
