This is the first segment previewing the 2012-13 IUPUI women's basketball team. The Jags play their first exhibition on Monday, Nov. 5, against Franklin College at 7 p.m. at The Jungle, before opening their regular-season at home on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Noon against Grace College.

2012-13 GUARDS
 
With the departure of Emily Phillips, IUPUI will turn to a trio of veterans and several newcomers to lead the Jagars at the guard position for the 2012-13 campaign.
 
“This is an exciting time of year as we prepare for the start of the season. Practices have been extremely competitive as we have much more depth on the perimeter this season,” head coach Austin Parkinson said. “We are fortunate to have several players back from last year who made significant contributions to the team. Their leadership will be a key as we also integrate several new faces to the mix as well.”
 
Among those returners are Dawn Luster, Dee-Dee Bellamy and Katie Comello. Luster, a junior from Holland, Ill., has shown glimpses of being able to lead the squad during her first two seasons.
 
As a sophomore, Luster averaged 6.5 ppg and in conference-only games proved to be disruptive on the defensive end averaging 2.1 spg to rank fifth.
 
Joining Luster in the backcourt is Bellamy, which Parkinson refers to as one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the league. On a nightly basis, Bellamy is given the assignment of the opposing team’s best scorer and more often than not, Bellamy holds that player below her scoring average with her quickness and athleticism despite standing just 5-foot 6-inches tall.
 
Comello returns as the top scorer among the guards after averaging 10.1 ppg last year en route to earning Summit League All-Newcomer Team honors. Comello showed the ability to score in bunches exhibited by her 28-point performance, which included six three’s, in a 24-point win over Oral Roberts.
 
Five players, four of which redshirted last year, will have an impact at the guard position and give the Jags depth at the position that the team has not possessed in some time. DeAirra Goss, Demetria Nunley-Lash, Alex Thompson and Jordan Barton all sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules or injury, while the lone true freshman among the group is Nicole Rogers.
 
“Our practices have been very up-tempo as we are trying to play at a faster pace,” Parkinson said. “If we can learn to play at a faster pace while staying under control this guard group could be fun to watch.”