WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University women's basketball team will get an early test against NCAA Division I competition when it travels to Duquesne University for an exhibition game next Tuesday evening. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh.

The matchup serves as the Hilltoppers' final tune-up before opening the regular season Friday against Edinboro in the WLU Conference Challenge at the ASRC.

Tuesday's game also carries a special connection between the two programs. Duquesne is led by head coach Dan Burt, a 1993 West Liberty graduate and former Hilltopper basketball player, who has built the Dukes into a consistent contender in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

West Liberty head coach Kyle Cooper said the exhibition offers not only valuable preparation but also a meaningful opportunity to face a program led by a respected alum. "I have a ton of respect for Dan Burt — he's a West Liberty grad, and that connection has created a mutual respect between us," Cooper said. "He's built something really impressive at Duquesne, and for them to invite us up there says a lot about both programs. It's a tremendous opportunity to test ourselves, and we're going to approach it the right way."

While the Dukes compete at the Division I level, Cooper emphasized that the Hilltoppers will use the game as a measuring stick as they continue to develop chemistry and identity ahead of the regular season. "It's another opportunity for us to grow together — no matter what the scoreboard says," Cooper noted. "We want to focus on who we're becoming and how consistently we can live up to our standards. If we leave that floor feeling like we controlled our own narrative, then that's a win in itself."

The exhibition also gives the Hilltoppers a chance to showcase several players from western Pennsylvania in front of friends and family, a key recruiting area for Cooper's program. "We recruit the Pittsburgh area heavily, so it's special to bring our team up there and play in front of that community," Cooper added. "It's a great showcase for both programs."

For Burt, the game represents a homecoming of sorts — a chance to reconnect with his alma mater while continuing a friendship with Cooper. "So excited for this game!" Burt said. "West Liberty, my alma mater, was an incredible growth experience for me. I'm forever indebted to the Hilltop and its people. To be able to play and coach against my friend Kyle and the great program he's built at West Liberty, I'm just so excited to have this game come together."

Following Tuesday's exhibition, West Liberty returns home to open the 2025–26 season Friday evening against Edinboro as part of the WLU Conference Challenge at the ASRC.