Game Notes | Watch
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU women's basketball team opens the 2019-20 season on the road at No. 9 Louisville on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (CST) at KFC Yum! Center.
Tuesday tips the second season of the Greg Collins era. Collins led the Lady Toppers to their seventh consecutive 20-win season in 2018-19 and will look to extend that streak to a program record eight straight in 2019-20.
Collins has veteran experience back this season, highlighted by Conference USA Preseason All-Conference selections Dee Givens and Raneem Elgedawy. Overall, WKU returns 86 percent of its offensive production from a season ago, including the top five scorers.
The Lady Toppers had a preseason tuneup against Kentucky Wesleyan on Halloween night. After trailing for much of the game, WKU tripled up the Panthers, outscoring them 21-7 in the fourth quarter to secure a 72-60 win. Givens led all scorers in the game with 19 points and nine rebounds. Elgedawy had a rough start, going 1-of-6 from the floor early but bounced back to make five of her next six shots to finish with a double-double on 15 points and 16 boards.
WKU is 35-11 in season openers all-time. Tuesday will be the first true road season opener for the Lady Toppers since the 2015-16 season when they opened the season at Ball State.
WKU and Louisville have met 46 times in the two programs' history. There are only four other opponents that the Lady Toppers have faced that many times. Those programs are Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State and South Alabama.
WKU owns a 25-21 record against the Cardinals, but the Cards have the advantage in Louisville, 12-9.
The Lady Toppers last win against a ranked opponent came in the 2017-18 season opener against Missouri. WKU pulled out a 79-76 win in the 2017 Hawkeye Challenge in Iowa City, Iowa. The Tigers were ranked No. 16 at the time.
The Cardinals are coming off their second straight 30-win season and a trip to the Elite Eight in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Louisville graduated All-American Asia Durr and several other key contributors from 2018-19, but head coach Jeff Walz brought in the talent to reload for 2019-20.
Season and single-game tickets are now on sale through the WKU Ticket Office online at WKUTickets.com or by phone at 1-800-5-BIGRED or 745-5222 locally.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on Twitter, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
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