CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team opens the 2016-17 season on Saturday, Nov. 19 as it hosts Lane College. Tip-off at A.E. Wood Coliseum is set for 2 p.m.
 
MC is 5-0 all-time against Lane College as the two teams meet for the first time since the 2014-15 season – a 91-56 win in Clinton. Saturday marks just the third time the two teams have met on the Navy and Gold's home court.
 
MC looks to extend its season-opening win streak to three games following a 76-70 win over Belhaven last season. The Lady Choctaws are 35-5 in season openers since the 1975-76 season. A 70-70 setback to LaGrange to start the 2013-14 season interrupted a 20-plus, game win streak in season lid lifters.

"We are excited to open this season and compete in our first season as full Division II members," said head coach Paul Allen Duke, who is 18-3 in season openers as he heads into his 22nd season in Clinton. "This is a really tough league and we feel like our two exhibitions and these first few games will get us where we need to be to compete in the Gulf South Conference."

Duke has compiled 344 wins in his career in Clinton and has averaged 16-plus wins during his tenure. His 22 seasons in coaching is third among Gulf South Conference head women's basketball coaches to Delta State's Craig Roden and Shorter's Vic Mitchell - who are both entering their 27th seasons.

The Lady Choctaws roster consists of 14 players, including nine newcomers headlined by Copiah Lincoln Community College transfer Kelley Allen and Louisiana State University-Shreveport transfer Lanae' Bickham. The duo was selected among the top newcomers in the Gulf South Conference preseason release.
 
Five returners help solidify this season's edition of the Lady Choctaws. Toni Woods and Ashley Minor standout among the returning players for the Navy and Gold. Woods led MC in rebounding last season as she averaged seven boards per game. Minor, after being redshirted last season, returns as the team's leading scorer with 11.8 points per game during the 2014-15 season.
 
Among the roster, only Minor has faced Lane College on the hardwood. Minor, a senior guard, totaled 15 points against the Lady Dragons two seasons ago. The point total was second-best on the team behind former Lady Choctaw, Kristen Sampson's 25 points.
 
"I feel this year we have more depth and are more athletic than years past," Duke said. "We have Ashley back this season after she was out last year. People who haven't seen her play will really enjoy getting to watch her. Toni led us in rebounds last season and was solid on the defensive end. We had Lanae, Kelley and Cortrice, who have each already played one season of collegiate basketball. Their experience on the college level would add some really good experience for us. We've also added some freshmen that will see some playing experience this season."
 
Lane College is 0-3 on the season after the Lady Dragons dropped a 52-47 outcome at Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday evening. Lane has also dropped contests at Arkansas Tech (81-51) and Jackson State (57-52). The Lady Dragons are led by Allie McNeely and LeTrice Ragland. McNeely has averaged 11.0 points per game while Ragland has 10.3 points per game. Tashara Jones leads the squad with eight boards per game.
 
Saturday's outing is the first of four inside A.E. Wood Coliseum to open the season. MC hosts Henderson State (Nov. 22), in-state and GSC foe, Delta State (Dec. 1) and LeMoyne-Owen (Dec. 6). The lone break coming on Monday, Nov. 28 at Tougaloo College.