By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor

In preparation for the season which begins Nov. 8, the women’s basketball team will have its first official practice on Tuesday.

The Wildcats finished out the 2001-02 campaign at 11-15 overall and 6-8 in the Lone Star Conference South Divi-sion, a mark that head Coach Wayne Williams said he wants to improve upon.

“I think we’ll see a great deal of improvement, without question,” Williams, in his sixth year, said. “We have three things-talent, experience and depth-that are all better than last year.”

The team has four starters (all juniors) returning from last season- all-America center Melanie Carter, guard Jenny Jackson, forward Jackie Vinson and wing Leah Wilson. Sophomore Meredith Doyle, who most likely would’ve started last season, instead redshirted because of a knee injury.

The Cats also welcome several key new additions to the team. One of these is junior center Lynsie Blau, who transferred from Division I Northern Arizona, where she was an all-Big Sky Conference performer last season.

“It’s gonna be very competitive for starting positions and playing time,” Williams said. “That’ll just make us a better team.”

The team is ranked No. 2 in the preseason LSC South poll, but Williams said the Cats have potential to go farther.

“We’re definitely a contender for the championship,” he said.

ACU begins its season the weekend of Nov. 8-10 at the Disney Tipoff Classic in Fla.