TIME TO GET THINGS STARTED: Towson opens its 48th season of basketball and 33rd as a Division I program Friday. The Tigers travel to Penn State for a 12 noon tip in the first game of the Preseason WNIT.

SERIES HISTORY: Towson faces Penn State for just the second time ever Friday. The last time these two squads met was in March of 1975 as part of the EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament. Towson sneaked out a 64-63 behind 16 points from Gail Abrams and 14 points from Denise Houck.

PRESEASON WNIT: The Tigers are making their second appearance in the Preseason WNIT. Towson opened the 2009-10 campaign by competing in the event. That year, the Tigers fell to West Virginia, 79-42 in the opener. Towson returned home to host a consolation bracket and defeated Winthrop (56-46) and North Carolina A&T (74-69).

PICKED TO FINISH: The Tigers were picked to finish fifth in the Preseason Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) poll released at Media Day. The Tigers have been among the middle of the standings in each of the last CAA polls. James Madison, who is the defending CAA Champ, was selected to finish first in the poll. Delaware and Drexel rounded out the top three in the poll.

WELCOME TO THE PACK: Head Coach Niki Reid Geckeler and the Tigers will welcome a large group of newcomers to the roster this year. Towson has six true freshmen, a redshirt freshman and a senior that could contribute this season. Breonn Hughey, Shanea Butler, Ece Yurdakul and Daijha Thomas all saw time in the exhibition win over Stevenson. Markeema Crawford and Braysia Hicks are the other two freshmen. Jordyn Smith is ready to contribute after redshirting last season due to injury. Alexandra Silva is a senior transfer. In addition, the Tigers have a new director of operations as Cheyenne Curley joined the staff. Curley was a four-year standout for Head Coach Niki Reid Geckeler at Howard.

I'M HONORED: A pair of Tigers were honored as the Preseason All-CAA teams were released at Media Day last month. Redshirt senior forward LaTorri Hines-Allen was named first team Preseason All-CAA. She was a second team All-CAA selection last year after averaging 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Hines-Allen also contributed 11 double-double performances last season. Junior guard Dominique Johnson earned Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention accolades. A constant in the Tiger line-up over the last two years, she averaged 10.3 points per game and dished out 109 assists for the Tigers.

GOING DEEP: Towson junior guard Dominique Johnson enters her third season with the black and gold with her name firmly entrenched in the Tiger record book. Through two seasons Johnson has connected on 85 career three-pointers, which ranks 12th in school history. Her 58 triples last season ranked fifth in single-season history at Towson. Johnson needs 15 more three-pointers to become the eighth player in program history to make 100 or more career three-pointers. The school record for three-pointers made is 190 set by Mia Chapman.

UP NEXT: The Tigers are guaranteed to play two more games in the Preseason WNIT. The winner of Friday's game will face the winner of Albany and St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday. The loser will drop to the consolation bracket to be played November 21 and 22.