RICHMOND, Ky. - Coming off back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference titles, the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball program will try to reload and push for a third consecutive championship. The quest begins Wednesday when the Lady Colonels take to the hardwood in their only exhibition contest of the season. EKU will entertain the Sports Reach Crusaders in a 7:30 PM contest.

The new season offers the Lady Colonels a chance to do two things that no Eastern Kentucky women's basketball squad in history has been able to do - string together three consecutive OVC titles and post three straight 20-win seasons. In order to accomplish those goals, however, Eastern head coach Larry Joe Inman will be looking for someone to step up and fill some big shoes.

This year's team will have to win without All-American guard Chrissy Roberts and EKU's all-time leading rebounder Laphelia Doss, both lost to graduation.

"We'll have to lean on a lot of our veteran players to step their game up if we are going to be successful," said Inman.

Also working against the Lady Colonels this season will be a tough non-conference schedule to open the season. Eastern will travel to Kansas State (Nov. 18) and Xavier (Nov. 28), as well as play in the Seelbach Tournament hosted by the University of Louisville (Dec. 28-29). The Seelbach will feature three teams that played in last season's NCAA Tournament in Louisville, Kent and Nebraska.

"Our team is going to get fed to the wolves early," continued Inman. "They're going to have to grow up quick. The problem with that is if they can keep their confidence. As a coach, you want them to keep their confidence. So, we are not going to focus as much on the winning and losing, as much as we're going to focus on getting better."

Eastern returns a solid nucleus of veterans who are more than capable of capturing a third OVC title. The 1998-99 squad will be led by junior guard Marla Gearhart (10.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and sophomore forward Charlotte Sizemore (8.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg), who both received pre-season all-conference honors.

Also returning for Inman will be three seniors to add leadership to a young team. Leading the list of upperclassmen will be forward Jennifer King (3.6 ppg. 4.1 rpg) and forward-center Shannon Browning (5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Also returning for her senior season will be center Cathy Dues (1.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg).

The regular season home schedule will get underway for the Lady Colonels on November 21^st against Miami University. That game will tip-off at 7:30 PM.

Admission to both the exhibition and the home opener against Miami will be free.
 

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