RALEIGH, N.C. - Monday will be the Wolfpack fans first chance to see the women's basketball team in action this season when the club hosts North Greenville University, a Division II team from South Carolina, in an exhibition game at 7 p.m.
This will mark Kellie Harper's first appearance in Reynolds Coliseum after being named the head coach of the program back in April.
Though the coaching staff may be new, 11 of the 12 members of the team return from last year and are excited to get its season off to a good start.
"We're just so anxious to take the court Monday to see what are team is going to be like this season," said junior forward Tia Bell. "We've worked so hard in the preseason, learning an entirely new offense that we're really excited to see how it works against another team.
"And of course we look forward to seeing our loyal fans again in Reynolds. It should be a fun night for everyone."
The Wolfpack return four seniors in Sharnise Beal, Lucy Ellison, Nikitta Gartrell and Inga Muciniece. This is the first time in three years that the roster boasts more than one senior, so this quartet, along with red-shirt junior Amber White will be counted on to provide that upper-class leadership that is so vital to a team.
Bell and classmate Brittany Strachan give the Pack seven players that are either a junior or senior. Throw in to the mix red-shirt sophomores Hanna Halteman and Emili Tasler and you have a very experienced group that is battle tested in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference.
Also back in the mix is sophomores Kim Durham and Bonae Holston, the ACC's Sixth Player of the Year last season.
The only newcomer to the roster is freshman Marissa Kastanek, who has come all the way from Lincoln, Neb. She is a sharp shooting guard that has turned some heads in practice already with her on court leadership, hard work and dedication.
The regular season gets under way Friday, Nov. 13 when NC State hosts the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational. The Pack will take on Florida International at 8 p.m., that evening. Vermont and Western Michigan will play at 6 p.m.
Courtesy: ACC/JK Bryan
