The Maryville women's basketball team opens the 2024-25 season with a pair of home contests in Moloney Arena. The Saints face Parkside at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and are right back in action with a 2 p.m. clash versus Roosevelt Saturday, Nov. 9. Maryville was picked to finish fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings in a preseason vote of the league's head coaches.
 
Leading Maryville's returners is point guard Gracie Stugart, who averaged 6.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and dished out 124 assists along with a team-high 45 steals last season. Forward Faith Hawthorne added 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, while Madyson Rigdon sank 19 3-pointers to go along with 11 assists and 10 steals.
 
The Saints have six additions to the roster, including three transfers and three freshmen. Transferring into the program are Alicia Burgos (Lander), Katey Flynn (John Wood C.C.) and Claire Rake (Truman State). Joining out of high school features Helen Ben (Coon Rapids, Minn.) Lindsey Schadewalt (New Glarus, Wis.) and Yazzy Whitsitt (Decorah, Iowa).
 
Head coach Brita Hand begins her third year directing the Saints who are coming off a 19-11 slate a year ago and an appearance in the semifinals of the 2023 GLVC Tournament.
 
In the preseason, the Saints defeated NCAA Division I SIU Edwardsville 81-66, Maryville's second win in three seasons over a DI team. The Saints dropped their preseason finale at No. 25 Indiana.
 
All Maryville University home games as well as all Great Lakes Valley Conference road contests will be available for viewing on a pay-per-view basis on GLVCSN.com. Single-game passes are $12, monthly passes are $25 with a yearly all-access pass costing $120. Sign up at www.glvcsn.com