DeKALB | The 2006-2007 season kicks off for the NIU women’s basketball team at 7 p.m. tonight against St. Xavier.

St. Xavier has its leading scorer Candis Jackson back for her senior year. Last year, the Cougars went 24-9.

NIU has one-year head coach Carol Owens and all three leading scorers back. Senior guard Stephanie Raymond, senior power forward Kristin Wiener and senior small forward Mary Basic all return for their final years.

The three players combined for 60 percent of the team’s points last year.