Oct. 1, 2012

The University of Memphis women's basketball team kicked off its season with the first full-team practice session on Monday. The Tigers are coming off three straight seasons with 20 or more wins, including a 25-8 record last season when Memphis advanced to the second round of the WNIT.

But it is a very new look for Memphis this season. Gone are 2012 C-USA Player of the Year Jasmine Lee, Defensive Player of the Year Ramses Lonlack, three-time all-C-USA honoree Brittany Carter, and Danay Collier and Kiana James. In their respective places are eight new faces, including five freshmen. While the newcomers come in highly-ranked, the Tigers coaching staff got its first look at the full team to try to begin to sort expectations for the upcoming season on Monday.

Memphis does return senior forward Nicole Dickson, a second team All-C-USA honoree last year, and starting point guard Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. Both talked with the Memphis Tiger Network after the first day of practice, as did head coach Melissa McFerrin.

The Tigers open their 2012-13 schedule with an exhibition game against Rhodes College on Saturday, Nov. 3rd at 2 p.m. Fans can get their first look at the women's basketball team as part of Memphis Madness festivities on Friday, October 12th at FedExForum.