The NIU women’s basketball team will open its season at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

“Our young ladies are excited to get started,” said NIU head coach Carol Owens. “It’s been a long time coming. We’re really looking forward to the first game. IUPUI will be a really good opponent. They’ll do a lot of different things against us, and we expect that.”

Despite losing stand-out Whitney Lowe from last season, the Huskies return plenty of upperclassmen leadership for the 2008-09 campaign led by senior Jessie Wilcox and junior Kylie York.

York is the top returning scorer from last season after averaging 10.9 points per game.

York is also a threat from behind the arc, making 77 three-pointers last season, three shy of an NIU record.

NIU also has four new members to its squad this year highlighted by Florida A&M transfer Marke Freeman. Freeman led the Huskies in scoring in its exhibition opener with 19 points after missing last season due to NCAA transfer regulations.

“Marke’s going to impact our offense in a lot of different ways,” Owens said.

“She can score, but she can create for others. That’s a presence you want from your point guard. She exemplifies natural leadership and that’s what you want from your point guard.”

IUPUI is coming off of a 17-16 season last year while placing a 11-7 record in the Summit league. The Jaguars have won the last two meetings with NIU, including a 58-55 game on Dec. 29, 2007.