Wayne State opens the 2022-23 women's basketball season at home Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. hosting Newman University of Kansas in Rice Auditorium.  The Wildcats return four starters from last year's team that was 9-15 and 6-14 in the NSIC South Division.
            For the second straight season, head coach Brent Pollari has to replace the NSIC South Division Player of the Year.  Gone from last year's team is Wayne guard Kylie Hammer, who averaged 20.1 points per game while collecting NSIC Player of the Year honors in the South Division after Erin Norling accomplished the feat in 2021.  Senior guard Lauren Zacharias started all 24 games last season and averaged 12.0 points a game while leading the team in assists (2.8) and steals (1.6).  Senior forward Logan Hughes added 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds a contest with senior Kassidy Pingel averaging 7.1 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore Maya Fitzpatrick started all 24 games last year as a freshman and produced 6.5 points and 3.7 boards per contest.
            Wayne State College was selected 13th overall and tied for sixth in the South Division in the NSIC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll announced October 13 by the league's office in Burnsville, Minnesota. Senior forward Logan Hughes was listed as Wayne State's Player to Watch in the NSIC this season.
            Newman was picked 13th out of 14 teams in the MIAA Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll released October 11th and returns two starters from last year's team while bringing in seven transfers.  6-0 senior center Britney Ho led the team in scoring last season with 10.4 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field to go with 5.1 rebounds a contest.  Senior guard Carissa Beck started all 28 games last season and averaged 6.5 points and 2.9 boards per game. 
            In last year's meeting played in Wichita, Kansas, WSC outscored Newman 23-13 in the fourth quarter to rally for a 72-65 win over the Jets.