The UW-La Crosse Women's Basketball Team is gearing up for another strong season this year. Last season marked one of the best seasons in decades, earning the first 20+ winning season since the 1987-88 team. In the entire UW-L history, only six teams have made that mark. Last season, the Eagles went 22-7 overall, and 12-4 in conference which ties the school record for Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) wins in a season. After a great regular season, last years' team went on for a NCAA postseason bid, the first playoff berth since the 1987-88 team, again. Unfortunately, the Eagles fell in the first round to Wisconsin Lutheran College, 73-59.

Last season, the Eagles' Women's Basketball Team finished the regular season third in the WIAC, being bested only by UW-Whitewater, who finished second, and UW-Stephens Point, who finished first. Despite the great successes the team created last season, the Eagles are projected only to finish fifth in the WIAC this season. Why the lack of faith in a repeat season? It could be because five of last season's starters graduated: Taylor Larson, Lindsey Litrenta, Dana Churchill, Melissa Lang and Danielle Frank. Head Coach Lois Heeren said, "Last season, our players were very dedicated, focused, and committed in everything they did.  They believed in one another, our system and worked extremely hard in the off season in preparation for their season." Those five women accounted for all top five scorers in total last season, led by Frank with an average of 12 points per game. Frank also led the team in rebounds, both offensive and defensive followed closely behind by her senior cohorts.

Needless to say, this season's team has big shoes to fill. However, this season's team is not all novices. Senior Kassie Robinson appeared in all 28 games last season, posting a 7 point per game average and 3.1 rebounds per game averaging on top of the spectacular performances of last year's seniors. Along with Robinson, another six players are returning from last season. Heeren said, "Although they have not been in the starting roles, they understand what it means to be competitive every game and they know what must be done in terms of working hard and getting it done on and off the court."

New this season for the Eagles is a new assistant coach. Tina Kuhle was named as the new assistant coach, starting in the 2011-12 season. Kuhle was head coach for the UW-Platteville Women's Basketball team from 2005-2010, earning double digit victories in 5 out of her 6 seasons there. Kuhle also led UW-Platteville to be the first WIAC team to play an exhibition game against the UW-Madison Women's Basketball Team.

To start off the 2011-12 season, the Eagles have 4 straight games on the road. Their first game is against Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. After their first 4 away games, the Eagles play home seven out of the next eight games. Their first home match is against Finlandia University from Michigan in the Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. The Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classis is a single elimination tournament between four teams including UW-L, with the championship game and a third place match played the following day, Sunday Nov. 27, 2011. The other two teams in the tournament are Wartburg, a university in Iowa, and North Central, a university in Illinois.

This season is looking to be very exciting for the UW-L Women's Basketball Team as they fight to overcome many challenges. Heeren said, "First and foremost, we want to get it done in the classroom and get back into the top 25 for the Women's Basketball Coaching Association Academic Award. Two years ago, we were #10 in the nation in Division III for GPA. We also want to compete for the Conference Championship as well as a return trip to the NCAA tournament." Outsiders don't believe a return trip will happen, as is shown in the low ranking the Eagles received this preseason; but, with the help of six returning players and the addition of Kuhle's experience as a coach, the Eagles hope to overcome adversity and earn another winning season.