DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team opens up the 2024-25 season Tuesday, Nov. 2 at home against Southeast Missouri St. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at UD Arena.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton is coming off the 2023-24 campaign in which the Flyers went 12-19 overall, 5-13 in Atlantic 10 play, and earned the No. 12 seed in the A-10 Championship tournament. For the second straight season, UD earned a postseason victory.

Head coach Tamika Williams-Jeter is in her third season in charge of her hometown Flyers, coming over after a year at Wittenberg. She has assistant coaching stops at Kansas, Kentucky, Penn State, and Ohio State.

The Flyers averaged 63.5 points per game and give up 68.9 points to opponents. Dayton shot 40.1 percent overall, 28.9 percent from three point range, and 72.9 percent from the free throw line. UD benefited from a +7.2 rebounding margin, but faced a -3.9 turnover margin.

Defensively, Dayton allowed opposing teams to shot 43.7 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from behind the arc, and 67.9 percent from the charity stripe.

The top returner for the Flyers is senior leading scorer  Ivy Wolf with 11.9 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 94.7 percent from the free throw line and hitting a team-high 62 threes. Fellow senior Arianna Smith averaged nearly a double-double with 10.6 points and 9.2 rebounds each outing. Transfers Rikki Harris (Ohio State) and Nicole Stephens (Columbia) are graduates with multiple years of high-level experience and are expected to contribute right away.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Southeast Missouri State enters the 2024-25 season with almost an entirely new roster and new coaching staff as the Redhawks look to hit reset after a 9-20 season last year and 6-12 conference mark. SEMO was 3-13 on the road last season.

Head coach Briley Palmer is in her first season at SEMO and first Division I coaching job, coming over from Mineral Area College.

As a team, the Redhawks averaged 62.1 points per game while giving up 66.7 points to opponents. SEMO shot 37.9 percent from the floor, 27.0 percent from three and 70.6 percent from the free throw line.  

The only returning letterwinner for the Redhawks is sophomore guard Indiya Bowen who averaged 9.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game with 20 starts. Redshirt freshman Brianna Hill is a transfer from A-10 foe Geroge Mason as well.

SERIES HISTORY
The Flyers and Redhawks are meeting for the first time in program history.

FLYERS PICKED 11TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Dayton was picked to finish 11th in the 2024-25 Atlantic 10 preseason poll with 84 points. The Flyers were picked ahead of George Washington, Massachusetts, St. Boanventure, and La Salle. Richmond was chosen as the preseason favorites, followed by Saint Joseph's, George Mason, and Davidson.

LOOKING AHEAD
Dayton's non-conference schedule features eight home games, one true road game, and two neutral site games. Besides hosting the likes of Providence and Vanderbilt, UD will travel to Duke on Nov. 14 and will participate in the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

IN A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY
Dayton has an overall record of 29-23 in its 28th appearance in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Flyers have previously won A-10 Championship titles in 2012, 2017, and 2020.

LEADING THE CONFERENCE
Senior Arianna Smith led the A-10 in offensive rebounds, rebounds per game, total rebounds, and was second in double-doubles. She ranked eighth in the nation in offensive boards, 14th in rebounds per game, and 40th in total rebounds.

UP NEXT
Dayton will remain at UD Arena to host Delaware State Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. to finish up the home stretch to start the season.

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