After leading West Liberty women's basketball to its second 21-win season and Top 10 Atlantic Region ranking in the last three full seasons, sixth-year head coach Kyle Cooper and his Hilltoppers look to carry that momentum into the 2022-23 campaign.
   
Four returning starters form the core of a high-powered attack that lit up the scoreboard at an 82.3 ppg. clip year ago – No. 2 behind only national champion and MEC rival Glenville State among all NCAA Division II schools – but Cooper thinks the Black and Gold have even more in the tank.
   
"That's definitely a pace we want to continue to play at but as a coaching staff, we're pretty greedy," he said with a smile. "We'd like to crank it up even another notch. We know how good this roster can be and we're going to keep pushing them. When you look at this team from a standpoint of talent, depth, and athleticism, I believe we are in a really good place for success."
   
With eight returning letterwinners and six impressive newcomers, the cupboard is far from bare on the hilltop but Cooper and his veteran staff do have a couple of holes to fill after graduation claimed record-setting All-American point guard Audrey Tingle and a key reserve in 6-3 post Molly Bauer. Tingle remains with the program as a student assistant coach while working toward a graduate degree.
   
A first-team All-MEC and All-Atlantic Region selection who was also honored as the NCAA Division II National Academic All-American of the Year, the 5-6 Tingle averaged a double-double (14.1 ppg., 10.5 rpg. and 7.1 assists/game) while setting an NCAA Division II single-season record with six triple-doubles. Bauer provided quality minutes off the bench at both ends of the court, ranking among the MEC leaders with 53 blocked shots while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor.
   
"Audrey has been with (associate head coach) Cassie (Seth) and I since the beginning of our time together at West Liberty and we're thrilled to have her back as a coach," Cooper said. "Not only did she earn this opportunity, I can't imagine competing without her filling some significant role. Molly came to us as a graduate transfer last year and immediately fit in as a key contributor and valued member of the Hilltopper family."

All four returning starters averaged double-figures a year ago in an up-tempo Hilltopper offense that ranked among the top 3-point shooting teams in the nation but was also more than capable of doing damage in the paint.
   
Corinne Thomas returns for her fourth season on the hardwood. The 5-9 junior guard started every game and was voted first-team All-MEC after averaging 14.0 points and 5.9 rebounds a night. Her 93 3-point bombs ranked No. 4 nationally. "Corrine continues to be a leader and just a phenomenal all-around player," said Cooper. "She understands the game so well and in turn that elevates the play of everybody else around her."
   
Bailee Smith, a 5-7 sophomore guard, exploded onto the MEC scene in her first collegiate season. Voted MEC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-MEC by the league coaches, Smith led the Black and Gold in scoring at 15.2 ppg. She also set a WLU freshman single-game scoring record with a 34-point explosion at Fairmont State. "We're looking for big things from Bailee once again," Cooper said. "Even after having that great first year, we think she's made a major jump."
   
Senior post Arriana Manzay is also back after emerging as a potent force on the low blocks. The 6-3 frontliner averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game while ranking No. 3 nationally in field-goal percentage (136-209, .651) – highlighted by a school-record 11-of-11 showing against Ohio Dominican. Manzay had 19 double-figure scoring games and three double-doubles last season. "Arri is a big-time athlete with a terrific combination of size and speed," Cooper said. "She's coming off a great season and we're excited to see what she has in store for us."
   
Another deadly 3-point shooter, Karly McCutcheon is the Hilltoppers' fourth returning starter. After averaging 13.4 ppg. and draining 76 3-pointers a year ago, the 5-9 sophomore is coming off a strong preseason. "Karly continues to make strides, but now we have seen her make her biggest jump yet," Cooper said. "We think she could have a really big year."
   
Grace Faulk, an experienced 5-9 junior guard, is a 3-year letter-winner who averaged nearly 23 minutes a game off the bench last season while contributing 7.6 points a night. "Grace has made great progress in her consistency and owning her role more," Cooper said. "Her experience and court sense are valuable assets."
   
Anna Lucarelli, a 5-8 point guard, is back for her sophomore season and looks to be at full strength after battling through a series of injuries in her freshman campaign. "We're really excited about Anna," Cooper said. "She is evolving as a point guard who really is a servant leader. Having a servant leader point guard who truly understands the system with the offensive power that we have, that's a true luxury as a coach."
   
Returning sophomores Paige Julian, a 5-8 guard, and Jenna Riccardo, a 5-11 post, each missed time with injuries a year ago. "Paige and Jenna are starting to understand and own their roles," Cooper said. "A big part of it for them is getting and staying healthy.
   
There are six new faces on the WLU roster for the 2022-23 season. Two of them are collegiate transfers with four arriving on the hilltop fresh out of high school.
   
The transfers are Natalija Sekulovska, a 5-11 sophomore guard from NCAA Division I Duquesne, and Sonia Sarda, a 5-6 graduate transfer point guard from NCAA Division II Seton Hill (Pa.). Sekulovska, who played on the Macedonia U-20 National Team in the FIBA European Challengers Tournament, saw action in 16 games for the Dukes last year while Sarda, a native of Spain, averaged 8.0 ppg. and dished out a team-high 106 assists with the Griffins last season.
   
"Natalija is a very gifted athlete with length and athleticism," Cooper said. "As she grows more confident within our system, she can be quite a weapon for us. Sonia was an All-Conference guard at Southern Nazarene before transferring to Seton Hill and competing against many of the best teams in our region. Her veteran experience and leadership have been welcome additions in the preseason."
              
Cooper is also very high on his four incoming freshmen. Olivia Baker is a 5-8 All-State guard who averaged 15.6 ppg. as a senior for No. 1-ranked Shelby (Ohio) High School; Bailey Beckstedt is a 5-7 All-Ohio guard who was a four-year starter at two-time state runner-up Sheridan (Ohio) High School; Gracie Lyon is a 6-1 post who was voted District IV Player of the year after averaging 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds as a senior at Navarre (Ohio) Fairless High School while Halley Smith is a 5-8 All-State guard who averaged 20.2 ppg. for state-ranked Frankfort (W.Va.) High School.
   
"We're incredibly excited about our freshmen," Cooper said. "Not only were all four 1,000-point scorers in high school, they're great fits for who we are and what we do both on and off the court at West Liberty. They have been quality additions to the program and the university."
   
Cooper and Seth will once more be joined on the sidelines by assistants Robbie Bonar and Dr. Douglas Swartz with Tingle completing the coaching brain trust. Associate head coach Seth enters her sixth year as a key member of Cooper's staff. "I continue to be very lucky and fortunate to keep Coach Seth here," said Cooper. "She makes me a lot better and our program a lot better."
   
West Liberty opens the season on Nov. 11-12 in the MEC/PSAC Challenge at the University of Charleston with both games slated for a 12 noon tip off.

Follow Hilltopper basketball all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_Hoops | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_wbb | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.