SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University women's basketball team opens the 2022-23 season at home competing in the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel Classic facing The University of Alabama in Huntsville and Lee University. The Lions are looking to improve upon a 2021-22 season in which they went 17-12 overall and 12-8 in Sunshine State Conference play, finishing in fifth place in the conference. 

Coaches Corner
"Opening weekend is always a great challenge to help us get ready before conference play" said Head Coach Anthony Crocitto. "Lee is always close to top 20 in the country and certainly ranked in the region. Alabama Huntsville is always well coached, always finding ways to score and have been very successful under their coach. This is two very solid crossover games for us to kick off our season."

Last Game
Saint Leo gained a vital amount of experience competing against Division I rivals, University of Central Florida and The University of Florida in their exhibition matches. Tamara Shash led the Lions offense with a team-high eight points, while Amanda Ulrich finished second in points with seven and led Saint Leo with her seven rebounds. 

Player to Watch
Amanda Ulrich was named to the SSC All-Conference First team for the 2021-2022 season. Ulrich started in 28 games, while playing in 29 games a season ago and led the whole Sunshine State Conference in scoring averaging 18.8 points-per-game. She also led the lions with her .417 field goal percentage and led in minutes-per-game at 36.2. Against Texas A&M International she scored her season-high 32 points. Last season Ulrich surpassed 1,000 career points. She heads into the 2022-23 season at 1,123 points.

Scouting The Chargers and Flames
UAH is led by 9^th year head coach Andrea Lemmond.  The Chargers were voted 10^th in the Gulf South Conference coaches preseason poll. The Chargers finished their 2021-22 campaign with at 7-17.  The team is led by Redshirt Senior Forward Alexis Woods, who led UAH with a 12.3 points-per-game average and had a team-high 8.9 rebounds-a-game a season ago. The Chargers had two newcomers named to the preseason Newcomer Watchlist, Haelim Adle and Andie Flatgard.

Lee University is led by 19^th year head coach Marty Rowe. The Flames were chosen to finish second in the Gulf South Conference Coaches preseason poll. Haley Schubert was selected as preseason ALL-GSC. Schubert finished the season sixth in the GSC in scoring with 16.4 ppg and first in assists recording 157.

Up Next
The Lions will return to action, Saturday, November 19^th  when the host Trinity Baptist College. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM.

For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo Women's Basketball, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.