FOR OPENERS
The Maryville women’s basketball team, the reigning Great Lakes Valley Conference champion, begins the 2012-13 season with two home games. The Saints host their season opener Sunday, Nov. 11, when Blackburn comes to Moloney Arena for a Noon start. Missouri Western visits for a 6 p.m. game Saturday, Nov. 17.

MORE ON MARYVILLE
The Saints return their top 11 players from a squad that posted a 19-12 overall mark, 11-7 in the league. Leading the squad are first-team All-Conference selection senior forward #Abby Duethman# (15.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg), GLVC Freshman of the Year and GLVC Tournament MVP sophomore guard #Shelby Miller# (12.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 50 3-pointers) as well as senior guard #Kate Childs# (8.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

FRESH FACES
The Saints have added two veterans to the mix this season. Joining the team are Division I transfers #Kayla Person# and Britnye McSparron. The duo comes to Maryville from Drake University and both are senior guards.

ABOUT BLACKBURN
The Beavers were winless last season and will be led by sophomore Briana Rae who led Blackburn in scoring at 10.6 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Senior Rashonda Willis added 9.5 ppg and 2.1 steals per game.
 
ABOUT MISSOURI WESTERN
The Griffons posted a 7-20 record overall, 5-15 in the MIAA. Brittany Griswold leads all returning players with a 9.5 ppg scoring average. Alicia Bell averaged 8.1 ppg and handed out 51 assists to go along with 41 steals.
 
TUNE IN
To watch Saints home games on-line featuring new Voice of the Saints Jim Powers, log on to www.maryvillesaints.com/showcase. Cost to view a single game is $6.95, $10.95 per month, with an annual option to watch all Saints home events for $89.95. In addition, audio will be available for selected road games.
 
GOING TO THE POLLS
In the preseason Division II Bulletin top 25 poll, the Saints were ranked No. 19. Maryville also received 38 votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches’ preseason poll. The last time the Saints were ranked in any poll was week 13 of the 2005-06 season in the D3hoops.com poll when it was ranked No. 19.
 
BE SOCIABLE:
Follow Maryville Saints on Twitter @MaryvilleSaints and use the hashtag #SaintsNation for all items on Twitter associated with Maryville. Be sure to “like” the Maryville athletics Facebook page at www.facebook.com/maryvillesaints.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Saints head to Springfield, Mo., to take part in a tournament hosted by Drury University. Maryville takes on Union Friday, Nov. 23, then faces Northwestern Oklahoma State Saturday, Nov. 24.