DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College women's basketball team welcomes the Edgewood College Eagles to Lillis Court for its season-opener on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mike Molstead Motors Tip Off Classic.

The Duhawks begin their 2023-24 campaign ranked No.19 in the preseason poll by D3hoops.com, following an NCAA tournament appearance last season that came to an end in the round of 32.

"We are really excited to bring back an experienced team that has had success but is hungry for more," said first year head coach Justin Busch. Our goal is to ride the momentum of last year and have another great season."

The Purple and Gold return four starters from last year, which include Sami Martin, Daniella Jarrell, Madison Fleckenstein and Madison Haslow. Martin was a first-team all-conference selection, a D3hoops.com Second Team All-Region pick and named a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American during the 2022-23 season. She also earned a spot on the Preseason D3hoops.com Honorable Mention All-American list heading into her senior year.

Jarrell and Fleckenstein both garnered second-team all-conference honors last season after ranking second on the team in assists (59) and leading the team in blocks (17) respectively. Haslow returns to the starting lineup with her extra year of eligibility to provide veteran leadership to the squad. Last year, she was nearly perfect from the foul line shooting 97 percent (32-of-33).

The Duhawks return over 72 percent of their scorers from the 2022-23 season to this year's team.

This season Loras will take on some notable opponents including No. 8 Wartburg College and defending American Rivers Conference Regular Season Champions twice with the first meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m. inside the Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center. They will meet No. 18 Elizabethtown College in the Puerto Rico Clásico on Tuesday, Dec. 19 as well.

Following the Duhawks home-opener against Edgewood, they will return to the court to face off against the winner of the 5:30 p.m. contest between St. Catherine University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.