Lady Toppers Start 2023-24 Season in Win Column

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU women’s basketball team started the 2023-24 season in the win column, topping Mercer 70-64 at E.A. Diddle Arena on Monday night. The game featured 13 lead changes and 12 ties, but the Lady Toppers led for the final 6:10 of the game.

“We’ve got growing pains,” said head coach Greg Collins. “We have to grow through them. There’s no shortcut for experience and we got some experience tonight. It’s a whole lot better to get that experience with a win than a loss, so I’m thankful for that.”

Teresa Faustino was the leading scorer for WKU on the night with 15 points along with four steals and three rebounds. Karris Allen had 11 points, getting all 11 from the free throw line where she shot 11-of-12. Allen also had eight rebounds and three steals. In her first collegiate game, freshman Caitlin Staley had 10 points, six blocks and four rebounds. That’s the first time a Lady Topper has recorded six blocks since Ivy Brown (Woodcock) against UAB on Jan. 13, 2018.

WKU improves to 37-16 in season openers since the 1973-74 season and 41-11 in home openers in that same span. The win snapped a five-game losing streak in season openers for WKU after starting the last five season with Louisville (twice), Tennessee, Purdue and Vanderbilt.

The Lady Toppers struggled from the charity stripe to start the game, going 2-of-8 in the first half. WKU bounced back in the second, making 21-of-22 from the free throw line.

Mercer had a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Staley and Faustino each had four points in the half to lead WKU in the period. The Lady Toppers opened the second quarter with a 5-0 run to take a 4-point lead, but Mercer responded with a 7-0 run. Staley scored back-to-back baskets to end the run. From there, the two teams traded baskets with WKU taking a 1-point lead into halftime.

The Bears scored the first four points of the second half to go back ahead by three. A three from Faustino tied the game at 33. That set off a 10-2 run by the Lady Toppers. The two teams went back-and-forth, but a 6-0 run by Mercer once again tied the game. Faustino scored three points on a layup and foul shot with eight seconds left to give WKU a 3-point lead, but a three from Mercer at the buzzer tied the score going into the fourth quarter.

Hayes scored the first points of the fourth quarter to put WKU ahead, but Mercer followed with a three to regain the lead. At the 6:10 mark, a pair of free throws by Hayes put WKU ahead and the Lady Toppers would hold on to that lead for the rest of the game. Mercer would draw within two twice, including with 19 seconds left to play, but WKU held on to win 70-64.

The Lady Toppers will hit the road for the first time in 2023-24, taking on Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah on Friday, Nov. 10. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT).