Expectations are high for UD basketball this season, and the women's team is no exception.

Coming off their second consecutive postseason appearance in the WNIT and their first postseason win in the program's modern history, the lady Flyers are expecting to take the next step this year.

"Our goals are to get to the NCAA Tournament and win the Atlantic 10 Conference," head coach Jim Jabir said.

The goals are simple; the schedule is not.

After an exhibition game against Indiana University (PA), the Flyers will open their regular season against Michigan State at UD Arena. The Spartans are #10 in the AP preseason poll, and they're coming off a season in which they advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Next on the schedule is Louisville, last year's national runner up and #23 in the AP. Xavier, an opponent that Dayton will face twice in the regular season came in at #11.

"Our schedule is challenging, anyone who looks at it can tell that," senior Kendel Ross said. "We booked the schedule that we have because we believe we are now at a level where we can compete with these teams."

The Flyers also bolstered their out of conference schedule this year by accepting invitations to two different tournaments.

Starting Nov. 20, UD will travel to West Lafayette, Ind. to play in the BTI Classic. There they'll take on Georgetown, Purdue and Seattle. Then at the end of December, the team will travel to Hanover, N.H. to compete against Vermont and Dartmouth in the Blue Sky Classic.

"We're excited to play every team between us and the end of our season," Ross said.

Although the schedule will be tough, the Flyers do have experience on their side.

The team returns all five of its starters and its top seven scorers from a team that went 21-14 a year ago.

UD's top three scorers last season were junior Kristin Daugherty, Ross, and sophomore Justine Raterman, last season's Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.

Raterman is coming off a year in which she led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.1 points and 8.5 boards a game while starting 34 of 35 games. She also led the team in double-doubles with nine, and racked up nine Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week awards.

Ross, UD's only senior on the roster, finished third on the team in scoring averaging 10.1 points with 7.1 rebounds a game. Being the lone senior is a role Ross doesn't resent.

"What's nice about our team is that we are all on the same level so I don't feel a divide between me and everyone else because I am a year or more older," she said. "It's kind of like we're all the same year except I am the only one leaving next year."

Rounding out the team's top scorers from last year is Daugherty. She was second on the team averaging 12.7 points a game while also leading the team in free throws. Daugherty was selected to the preseason Second Team all A-10.

The Flyers roster will also feature three talented true freshmen. Kari Daugherty is joining her older sister Kristin in the Flyer family this year.

"Having her on campus and around during practices is a really unique experience which I am so happy I get to have with her," Kristin Daugherty said. "We are really close and I'm excited she decided to come play here."

Another freshman to look out for is Samantha MacKay. A Dublin, Ohio prospect, MacKay received a McDonald's All American nomination her senior year of high school.

"Sam MacKay is a smart player who feels the game," Jabir said. "Her court awareness is amazing and she plays with a little swagger which I like."

UD's final true freshman is 6' forward Olivia Applewhite, a force in the post who seems to even intimidate her own teammates.

"Olivia Applewhite came in and almost immediately took a spot as one of the strongest players on our team," Ross said. "You don't want to run into her in practice."

Coming into this season, the Flyers are picked to finish tied for third in the A-10, the highest preseason ranking ever for the program.

Clearly a team on the rise, the UD women are looking forward to a big season.

"We are working hard every day," Daugherty said. "Hopefully we can get some quality wins which would only help our resume for the NCAA."