FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The regular season begins for the NAU women's basketball team at Memphis, out of Conference USA, on Friday, Nov. 14. The road trip will continue for the Lumberjacks at Arkansas State on Sunday, Nov. 16. Under head coach Laurie Kelly, NAU is 2-3 in season openers, and won its season opener last year vs. UT Arlington.

NAU is coming off a 10-20 season and also looking to rebound from a loss in its exhibition game vs. Fort Lewis on Nov. 9.

Video/Audio/Live Stats Info
The Lumberjacks' game at Memphis is available by subscription only at www.gotigersgo.com, through the All-Access site. Gametracker live stats are available for free through the women's basketball schedule link at www.gotigersgo.com.

The Lumberjacks' game at Arkansas State is available by subscription only at www.astateredwolves.com, through the Broadcast & Media link on the left-hand side. Live stats are available for free at www.astateredwolves.com, then the Live Stats link on the left-hand side of the page.

Year Six for Head Coach Laurie Kelly
Head Coach Laurie Kelly returns for her sixth season with the Lumberjacks, and is 83-69 in her five years at NAU. She has coached the team to two 20+ win seasons, but the Lumberjacks faltered last year with a losing record for the first time since 2003-04.

Three Starters Return in 2008-09
Senior Sadé Cunningham, an All-Big Sky Second Team selection last year, is the team's leading returner at point guard and holds the all-time record for assists at NAU. The Lumberjacks also return starters in senior guard Janelle Matthews and sophomore forward Jenna Galloway. Cunningham was third on the team last year in scoring at 9.5 points per game. Matthews was fourth at 8.5 ppg and Galloway ranked fifth with 7.6 ppg.

Two Redshirts Looking to Make a Big Impact
Two unknowns return for the Lumberjacks this year in senior guard/forward Katie Schafer, sidelined last year with a knee injury, and sophomore forward Lauren Hoisington, who sat out last year after transferring from San Diego State. In Schafer's first and only active year at NAU in 2006-07, she averaged 5.2 ppg. Hoisington averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.0 rebounds per game in her freshman year at San Diego State.

Challenging Opponents on the Slate for NAU
The Lumberjacks' challenging non-conference schedule includes contests at Memphis (Conference USA), and South Florida (Big East). NAU will also face Hawai'i (WAC) and possibly Arizona State (Pac-10) on the Sun Devils' home court in December. ASU is ranked 18th in the USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll. Montana, the defending Big Sky champ, received votes in the poll.

Series History vs. Memphis and Arkansas State
NAU has never faced either Memphis or Arkansas State in the history of the program.

Scouting Memphis
Like NAU, the Tigers suffered a loss in their exhibition game, dropping a 73-66 decision to team DT-3. And like NAU, Memphis was without its starting point guard, LaToya Bullard. Last year, the Tigers were 10-20, the same record as NAU. Head coach Melissa McFerrin took over the reins in the offseason after going 50-70 in four years at American University.

Scouting Arkansas State
Coming off a 20-12 season in 2007-08, the Red Wolves haven't missed a beat yet, beating Henderson State in an exhibition game by a score of 74-65 on Nov. 11 after also knocking off Arkansas-Monticello 72-57 on Nov. 1. All five starters return from last year's team under 10th-year head coach Brian Boyer.