WICHITA, Kansas – Six-hundred miles and 10 ½ hours of travel is all leading up to the Northwestern State Lady Demon basketball season opener against Wichita State at 2:05 on Saturday.
 
The first-ever meeting between the two schools will debut a Lady Demon squad that's young on paper but rich in experience.
 
“I definitely wouldn't consider it a rebuilding year,” said eighth year head coach Jennifer Graf.  “I know you look at the roster and see all of the young names on there, especially with the five freshmen.  That's a lot.  But we return so much playing experience with Ronikka (Drake) and Jordi (James), Trudy (Armstead), Meredith (Graf), and JB (Jasmine Bradley).  They all have so much time on the floor.”
 
Those returning five players mentioned above accounted for 60 percent of the Lady Demons' scoring last season and 59 percent of the minutes played.  The group combined to start 96 games in 2010-11 as James started in 28 of 30 games while Armstead started in 27 of 28.
           
James, who will be making her homecoming as she's from McPhearson, Kan., which is just 50 miles north of Wichita, and Armstead, ranked 1-2 on the team in scoring last season – James averaging 12.2 points per game while Armstead notched 10.8 ppg.
 
Drake will run the point but true freshman Arianne Ausmer, who is a gifted and talented point guard, should see an ample amount of playing time.
           
At the 2-guard, James has that position locked down while Graf will start at the 3-guard position.  James knocked down 31 3-point goals last season and connected on 102 of 124 from the free throw line.
           
“Jordi's shot is just tremendous right now,” said Graf.  “She has really worked hard in the offseason, as has Meredith.  I'm looking for a lot of good things from those two this year.”
 
Bradley (9.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg) returns from a stellar freshman season that saw her lead the team in rebounding and steals (62).  With her aggressive style of play, she can play either the inside or the outside, and will also be in the starting lineup on Saturday.
           
Armstead will round out the starting five while fellow twin tower, Jasmine Upchurch (5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 21 blocks), will see a lot of action.
 
“We're going to dress out 10 girls and all 10 can play,” said Graf.  “We're excited about getting the season started.  Wichita will present a big challenge for us because they are a lot bigger than we are.  But both of us like to push the ball up the floor, so I expect it to be a fast-paced and physical game.”
 
The Shockers are coming off a 17-15 season last year while making an appearance in the Women's NIT, and are picked to finish third in preseason polls in the Missouri Valley Conference as they return four starters from last year's squad.
 
They'll be led by preseason all-conference selection Haleigh Lankster, who averaged 13.3 points per game last season.