Trojans' Season Begins Friday in Preseason WNIT

Preseason WNIT First Round Game: Little Rock vs. North Texas
Date	Friday, November 11
Time	6:30 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Stadium	Jack Stephens Center
Stats	Statbroadcast
Audio	KARN The Sports Animal
Video	Little Rock All-Access
Notes	Little Rock | North Texas | WNIT

LITTLE ROCK – Basketball season is officially here, with the Little Rock women opening the year on Friday against North Texas at the Jack Stephens Center in the Preseason WNIT. The Trojans and Mean Green are set to tip off at 6:30 p.m.
 
Before Friday's contest, Little Rock will hold a banner-raising ceremony to recognize the Trojans' terrific 2015-16 season that saw the team advance to the Postseason WNIT for the fourth time in school history. Friday's game will also be a part of Homecoming and feature Trojan Trek and Pep Rally festivities starting at 6 p.m.
 
But in this year's Preseason WNIT, lots of possibilities remain. With a victory on Friday, Little Rock would advance to the Second Round of the WNIT bracket where it would face the winner of Green Bay and Elon with that second-round contest scheduled for Sunday. A loss on Friday would put Little Rock in two consolation bracket games the following weekend at sites to be determined.
 
Little Rock enters the 2016-17 with three returning seniors: Kaitlyn Pratt, Keanna Keys and Sharde' Collins. Guard Monique Townson is the team's only junior, meaning the Trojans have just four upperclassmen on the team.
 
Pratt is the Trojans' top returning rebounder, and she was named to the All-Sun Belt Preseason First Team last month. Collins is Little Rock's top returning scorer, and she earned All-Sun Belt Preseason Second Team honors.
 
Sophomores on the team include Ronjanae and Raeyana DeGray, Kira Shepard and Kiara Scott. They will be joined by six new freshmen: Sydney Chastain, Kyra Collier, Anna Hurlburt, Emily Lytle, Alex Murray and Destinee Pointer.
 
The Trojans were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference this year in the preseason coaches' poll. Little Rock ended last year in impressive fashion, winning 15 consecutive games, reaching the conference championship game and the Postseason WNIT to end with a 20-13 record. Little Rock has now reached the national postseason eight of the last nine years and won 20 games nine of the last 10 years.
 
North Texas will come to the Jack Stephens Center on Friday looking to hand the Trojans their first home loss since January. Little Rock is on a nine-game winning streak at home. The Mean Green will bring a familiar face to Little Rock, as Associate Head Coach Bobby Brasel was an assistant coach under Joe Foley during the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons.
 
 
TIP OFF

• The Little Rock women's basketball team enters the 2016-17 season coming off its ninth 20-win season in the last 10 years and its eighth national postseason appearance in the last 10 years.
• The Trojans reached the WNIT First Round last season, losing at Saint Louis to finish the season.
• Little Rock rattled off 15 consecutive wins during the year at one point – the second-longest winning streak in school history – and finished second in the Sun Belt Conference regular season.
• The Trojans lost seniors Shanity James and Alexius Dawn to graduation but have their other three usual starters back: Monique Townson, Kaitlyn Pratt and Sharde' Collins.
• Kaitlyn Pratt and Sharde' Collins were named to the Sun Belt's All-Preseason Teams. The Trojans were picked to finish second in the league by the coaches.
• Little Rock has six newcomers for the 2016-17 season, all freshmen.
• Little Rock is 12-11 all-time against North Texas and has not played the Mean Green since 2013.

North Texas Associate Head Coach Bobby Brasel was an assistant coach for the Trojans under Joe Foley from 2013-15.