ALVA, Okla. – Experience and chemistry are two important factors for any athletic program to move forward in the process to become a winning program.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University women’s basketball coach Tasha Diesellhorst feels like her Lady Rangers are poised to make that next stuff for those exact reasons.

“We’ve had a really good preseason. Our leaders and seniors have done a good job leading up to this point,” said Diesellhorst. “When you return as many people as we have that played last year, we are in a really good position as experience goes. We have a few new faces and they are picking up things quickly. I’m excited about where we are going to start the season this year.

“Our number one goal this preseason was to be great teammates, so we have really focused the preseason on ourselves. I really feel like that’s one reason this group has one of the best team chemistries I’ve seen in a long time.”

The Northwestern women kick off their 2018-19 campaign Monday evening when the Lady Rangers travel to Tabor College (Kansas). When Coach Diesellhorst’s squad takes the floor against the Lady Jays, five returning starters and a total of seven who have seen playing time in the past will be suiting up for the Lady Rangers.

One of the key returners this season is senior point guard Jade Jones. In her third season with the Northwestern program, Jones is a returning all-conference mention who led the team in points with 13.7 a contest and assists at 5.3 per game last season.

“It’s invaluable to have a point guard in our league like Jade,” said Diesellhorst who also led Jones during her high school career. “She’s done a great job leading and she knows how a season is going to go. She’s been real good about talking to the young players and letting them know what they are about to experience.”

“That whole senior class has played minutes, we have a good group of juniors and even the sophomores that were starters last year. A year makes a big difference, so I’m excited to see what kind of year they will have.”

The Lady Rangers will tip-off its home schedule Nov. 15 against Emporia State at 7 p.m.

Joining Jones as returning starters is redshirt junior Jakeria Otey and sophomores Bailey Brown and Selena McDonald. Returning seniors Bailey Forell, Deja Beechum and McKenzie Billy saw significant time last season with nine starts between the trio.

The season also marks the return of 2014-15 Great American Conference Freshman of the Year Kalea King who has started 48 games in a Northwestern uniform. King averaged 16 points a game two seasons ago to lead the team.

“This group has been one of the most enjoyable groups I’ve had,” mentioned Diesellhorst. “They enjoy each other and enjoy playing together. We will get up and down the floor and it’s going to be a face paced game”

Northwestern was selected to finish 10th in the GAC this season by the league coaches, despite just missing the conference tournament last season due to a tiebreaker. However, Diesellhorst said her staff and her team haven’t really talked about the poll, as they have continued to focus on their main goal: themselves.

The Lady Rangers will wrap up its first week of play in the MIAA/GAC crossover next Friday and Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, when they take on Central Oklahoma and Northeaster State, respectively. Following the home opener against Emporia State, they will host Oklahoma Christian on Nov. 20 before heading to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Oahu Thanksgiving Classic against Minot State (North Dakota) and Chaminade (Hawaii).

The GAC slate will begin at Percefull Fieldhouse Nov. 29 against Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist on Dec. 1.