DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake women's basketball team held its first practice of the 2012-13 season in the Bell Center Monday afternoon. First-year Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk's team will host two exhibition games against Quincy (Nov. 2) and Upper Iowa (Nov. 7) before hosting the regular season opener against the South Dakota Coyotes on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2:05 p.m.

The 2012-13 Bulldogs roster will be talented but young with 10 first or second year players paired with two juniors and one senior. Seven letterwinners return from last season's team that finished second at the MVC tournament to Creighton and qualified for the WNIT. Sophomore guard Kyndal Clark (Webb City, Mo.) at 9.8 points a game is the top returning scorer this year. Clark was named to the 2012 MVC all-freshman team.

The team will have many events between now and the first exhibition game. This Thursday (Oct. 11) they will host the One-on-One with the team event at the Knapp Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is a chance for the public to come out and meet this season's team and enjoy dessert and a short reception with members of the Drake faculty. The 2012 Primetime Preview with the Drake men's basketball team will take place Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center. The final event will be the Bulldog basketball breakfast tipoff event at the downtown Des Moines Marriott on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 a.m.

To purchase tickets visit here or call the Drake ticket office at 515-271-DOGS (3647). The office is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.