The Waynesburg University women’s basketball team opens its season in the Hampton Inn Tip-off Classic in Grantham this weekend.

The first game of the season for the Yellow Jackets is against Messiah on Friday, Nov. 17. Messiah was one of the best teams in the country last year, posting a 25-3 record, and only lost one player that saw significant minutes from last season.

Messiah has been a top tier team for a while under head coach, Mike Miller, who is entering his 31st season. Miller has 596 wins entering the 2017-2018 campaign, the most in Messiah College history, and he owns a .719 winning percentage throughout his career.

Last year, Messiah had four girls that averaged around 10 points a game and each of them return this season. Given the distribution of points, head coach Sam Jones said the key in the game will be finding ways to slow down the well-balanced attack.

“We’re going to have to be disciplined on the defensive end of the floor specifically, and take care of the ball,” said Jones. “If the Yellow Jackets can execute the plan, they have a good chance to win the first game.”

The second team the Yellow Jackets play is SUNY Geneseo on Sunday. SUNY Geneseo went 28-2 last season, with one of its losses coming in the NCAA DIII tournament. Despite graduating their starting five from the previous season, the Knights have a history of piecing together a winning basketball team. SUNY Geneseo has won more than 20 games in six out of the past seven years.

Stylistically, Jones said he can get a look at how they play, but personnel-wise Jones said it will be difficult since no starters are returning for the Knights.

“Expect us to be up-tempo, and get up and down the floor,” said Jones. “This year we have been focusing on the little details of defense. We want to win the battle on the boards and execute well on offense.”

Jones said he likes playing against quality competition to start the season because it acts as a gauge on how to improve for the rest of the season.

“It shows that we belong, and gives us a measuring stick on where we need to be,” said Jones.

This season, the team has experience in some returners since playing in the ECAC tournament last year.

“The experience of that playoff atmosphere against really good teams is a positive for our team this season,” said Jones.

From a team perspective, the Yellow Jackets are using the losses in the playoffs last year as motivation moving into this season.

“I believe it will motivate us more this year to keep pushing further and try to reach bigger goals that we have as a team this season,” said junior guard Julie Deklaven.

One thing that worries Jones about this season is his lack of depth at the post position. The Yellow Jackets have four post players, but Jones would like six for foul trouble issues.

“We’re going to have to rely on some younger players,” said Jones.

Early on in the season, Jones said he is looking for players to find a role that did not have as big a role last season or did not see the floor at all. The weekend will be the first test for the Yellow Jackets against quality competition at the Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic.