HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky's women's basketball team will give fans a first look at the new squad this Saturday, when the team hosts Asbury University in an exhibition game at noon on Nov. 4. The game is part of an exhibition doubleheader with the NKU's men's team, which takes on Urbana at 2:30 p.m.
 
A FRESH LOOK: With eight newcomers on the 2017-18 roster, Northern Kentucky should certainly be a different team from just one year ago. Head coach Camryn Whitaker added seven freshmen and a transfer to the team, and with four sophomores and one senior rounding out the roster, that makes NKU one of the youngest teams in the nation. However, the Norse added much-needed height to the lineup, with the freshman class averaging six feet tall. In the post, NKU adds 6-foot-3 Grayson Rose, 6-foot-1 Chyna Anthony, 5-foot-11 Jazmyne Geist and 5-foot-10 Kailey Coffey. The Norse also have some sizeable backcourt players, with wings Reece Mungar and Samari Mowbray both standing at 6-foot-1 in addition to 5-foot-9 guard Grace White running the point.
 
BACK FOR MORE: Rounding out the Norse lineup are five returners, with Mikayla Terry as the team's lone senior. Terry is NKU's leading returning scorer as she averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The Michigan native gained a wealth of experience in her penultimate year with the Norse, averaging 34.4 minutes per game. Three sophomores return from last year in Hannah Clark, Taryn Taugher and Laura Thomas. Molly Glick, a 2016 Horizon League All-Freshman honoree, will also be back on the floor after sitting out last season to injury.
 
SCOUTING ASBURY: The Eagles went 15-15 last season, but lost its top-scoring duo that averaged nearly half of the team's points in 2016-17. Asbury also graduated its best post defenders that helped the Eagles average 4.1 blocks per game, which ranked 12^th in NAIA Division II. The Eagles return Shelby McDonald for her senior campaign as the leading returning scorer, who averaged 10.2 ppg and was one of the team's top 3-point shooters. Asbury has already played one game this year, dropping a 78-57 decision to Mount Vernon Nazarene on Oct. 28. Freshman guard Kelsey Johnson had a strong career debut with 17 points and six rebounds, while senior Bailey Brown added 13 points fueled by three of the Eagles' four 3-pointers.