ATLANTA, Georgia – The Piedmont College women's basketball team will kick off its 2012-2013 season Friday and Saturday by participating in the Emory University Tip-Off Classic featuring Spelman College, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and the host Eagles.

The Lady Lions are under the direction of eighth-year head coach Jamie Purdy and are on the heels of a 21-5 campaign last season that saw the team ranked as high as #19 nationally.  Piedmont returns eight letterwinners and a pair of starters off last year's squad.  Seniors ALYSSA JONES (9.5 ppg) and Kiki Thompson (9.9 ppg) are the Lady Lions' top returning scorers.

Piedmont was voted to finish seventh out of 12 teams in the annual USA South Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll as the 2012-13 athletic season is the first for the Piedmont College athletic programs. 

“We have focused this preseason on our defense and have plan in place to utilize our depth and our team speed.  We are comfortable playing an up tempo style of game and letting our defense create transition opportunities,” stated Purdy.

Emory will tangle with crosstown foe Spelman College in the first game starting at 6:00 PM, while Piedmont and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will clash in the nightcap at approximately 8:00 PM.  The consolation game will be held on Saturday starting at 6:00 PM followed by the championship contest.

Emory enters the season ranked #21 in the USA Today ESPN NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and #22 in the D3Hoops.com poll.  Spelman returns nine letterwinners from last season's 9-16 team. Rose-Hulman finished last season with a 9-18 overall ledger and was voted to finish sixth in the Heartland Athletic Conference's preseason coaches' poll. 

Live video, webcast and live stats are available courtesy of the EU Sports Information. 

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