The No. 19 UK women’s basketball team will begin their season with an exhibition game against the Union University Bulldogs Thursday Nov. 3 at Memorial Coliseum.

Similar to this season, last year the Cats started their season with an exhibition game against the Bulldogs, and won that contest 95-63.

Six of the eight UK players that played in last years game scored double-digit points, including Evelyn Akhator, who also had the second most rebounds for the Cats in last years exhibition game.

Akhator will be one of the six returners from last years team, three of which, including Akhator, were starters. Makayla Epps is one of those returning starters hoping to end her college career with a memorable year.

Going into her senior season, Epps has had lots of hype surrounding her. Epps was recently added to the 2017 Nancy Lieberman Award preseason watch list, an award that honors the top point guard in women’s college basketball.  

Before being added to that watch list, Epps was also named to the Preseason All-Southeastern Conference team, and also earned preseason honorable mention All-American honors by both the Associated Press and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Epps led last year’s team in points per game and is expected to do so again this year.

Fans who watch Thursday’s exhibition game will also get a chance to see the six newcomers that joined the team this offseason. 

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Makenzie Cann is one of those newcomers, and she is expected to contribute immediately to the team. Last season Cann was on UK’s roster, but sat out the entire year due to NCAA transfer rules. This season Cann is ready to put on a UK jersey and help lead the Cats to an eighth straight NCAA tournament appearance.

Jaida Roper is one of two freshmen on the team. Roper was a three-star prospect according to ESPN, and averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 assists per game her senior year.

On Nov. 1, the Associated Press released their Preseason Top 25 poll, and the Cats were ranked inside the Top 20 for the seventh year in a row. The Cats wound up taking the 19th spot in the poll. The USA Today/Coaches Preseason Top 25 also had the Cats at No. 19.

The Cats were just one of six SEC Conference teams to be ranked in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25.

The Cats will have their chance to face tough competition early, as they will open the regular season against No. 14 Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 11. 

Before that game against Miami, head coach Matthew Mitchell will have the opportunity to figure out rotations and roles for his new players against Union.

The game against Union will be played at Memorial Coliseum and tipoff is scheduled at 7 p.m.