Hempstead, N.Y. -- The Hofstra women's basketball program will start the 2012-13 season on Friday against Stetson at 1 p.m. in the WBI Tip-Off Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.

For ticket information for the 2012-13 season please contact the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office at (516) HOF-TIXX or visit here.

2012-13 Hofstra Women's Basketball Outlook:

The Hofstra Women's Basketball team will look to use a mixture of veterans and young players to again be competitive in the challenging Colonial Athletic Association for the 2012-13 season.

Hofstra lost three starters from last's year program that went 19-12 and earned a spot in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. But the Pride brings back senior forwards Shante Evans and Candace Bond to anchor the frontcourt while the coaching staff will see a six-member corps of returning players compete for extended playing time.

Replacing graduating seniors Candice Bellocchio and Nicole Capurso won't be easy, but Hofstra has high expectations for its five-person freshman class that includes three guards. In all, the Pride retains five of their top-10 scorers along with their top-two rebounders.

Evans, who was the team's leading scorer and rebounder en route to being named an Associated Press All-American for the second consecutive year, will lead the way. Bond, who led the conference in steals, will again look to complement Evans after averaging 7.8 points and 5.4 rebounds.

After making the WNIT for the fourth time in program history, the Pride will now aim to make the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

"We're a high-energy team that has to the potential to be explosive in our attack," seventh-year Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey said. "Our athletes are a great fit for our style and we'll be looking to play fast but disciplined."

Here is a position-by-position look at the Pride:

FORWARD

Evans (West Chester, PA) has already compiled one of the best careers in program history with a chance to add to her legacy. The six-foot forward is fifth on Hofstra's all-time points list and second for career rebounds. With her career scoring average of 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounding average, Evans is on pace to shatter both marks.

As the Pride's go-to scorer, Evans was named first-team All-CAA and earned first-team honors on the All-Met Division I squad. Her 19.2 points-per-game average was ranked 31st in the nation. Besides her scoring prowess, Evans hauled in 10.5 rebounds per contest, giving her 18 double-doubles and a selection as an ECAC Division I All-Star.

Her presence on the low blocks garnered national attention. After playing for Team USA in the Pan American Games, Evans was named to both the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top-20 and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists.

Bond (Fort Washington, MD) is also back, making the forward spot a position of strength for Hofstra. As the team's most versatile player, Bond can play multiple positions on the court. Entering her fourth year with the team and her third as a starter, Bond will continue to bring great energy as a two-way player. She has led the conference in steals the last two seasons and recorded a career-high 84 in 2011-12. Bond, an All-CAA Defensive Team selection, saved her best offensive performance for the biggest games as she scored a season-high 18 points in the Pride's WNIT defeat to Harvard. Steveskey called her the catalyst and one of the team's hardest workers. Her play as allowed the Pride to adopt a "steal-then-score" philosophy that perpetuates the team's fast-break approach.

Senior Deven Green (Germantown, MD) will look to provide veteran depth at forward after playing a valuable role in her first season at Hofstra. Green, who transferred from Monroe Community College, played in 29 games as a reserve for the Pride, averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while showing a solid touch near the rim. Green will once again look to provide a lift off the bench, an asset that was epitomized during her 13-point; 10-rebound double-double effort against power-conference member Seton Hall last year.

Junior Anma Onyeuku (Fayetteville, GA) built on her stellar freshman year, serving as important reserve for a second straight season when she appeared in 28 games for the Pride as a sophomore. Onyeuku provided instant offense off the bench, exemplified when she scored a season-high 16 points at Eastern Washington. Onyeuku scored in double figures three times. She trained overseas in the offseason, and the coaching staff said they've already noticed a difference in her confidence.

Sophomore Onyesonam Nolisa (Waterbury, CT) played in 13 games last year and posted a season-high five points at Saint Peter's. Nolisa can serve a swingman role in playing both at forward and guard.

Three freshmen can also fortify the forward position. Ruth Sherrill (Alexandria, VA) was a three-sport standout at Thomas Edison High School and averaged 19.3 points as a senior. A three-time all-district first-team choice, Sherrill was an honorable mention All-Virginia selection.

Dee Thomas-Palmer (Philadelphia, PA) was a third-team All-Pennsylvania Class AA selection after averaging 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior for William Penn Charter. The first-year six-footer will look to adjust to the speed of the Division I game and contribute immediately but has already showed signs of being a good post player with solid range.

Just one inch shy of six feet, Sydni Epps (Cheltenham, PA) can be a versatile weapon in the Pride's arsenal. Epps, who won two AAU national championships as a prep player, can potentially play at the four, three and two-spots on the court, giving Hofstra a valuable swingman in the rotation.

CENTER

Red-shirt sophomore McKenzie Kudron (New Boston, MI) can help give Hofstra a taller lineup on the court. After sitting out last season after transferring from Vermont, Kudron will get the chance to fortify Hofstra's frontcourt. At six-foot-three, Kudron is the tallest player on the Hofstra roster by three inches. In her only season with the Catamounts, she totaled 16 points and 13 rebounds, including a season-high eight points against Kent State.

GUARD

Hofstra will look to play an up-tempo style that starts with the backcourt driving the transition game. Sophomore Andreana Thomas (West Haven, CT) immediately showed her potential when she poured in 18 points in her collegiate debut at Gonzaga last season. Now, Thomas will be asked to set the offensive tone after averaging 4.2 points as a freshman. Regarded as one of the team's best defenders, Thomas will also look to fill the leadership void created with Capurso and Bellocchio both graduating.

Junior Annie Payton (Camden, NJ) has made great strides in practice so far and will be counted on to provide significant minutes in the backcourt. After appearing in 16 games as a reserve, Payton will see if her offseason work will translate into more responsibility in initiating the offense.

A group of athletic freshmen will also allow Hofstra to feature different looks and create matchup problems for the opposition. Asia Jackson (Peekskill, NY) averaged more than 14 points per game in her last two seasons in high school. Both Jackson and Alexis Carter (Woodbridge, VA) have looked impressive in early-season drills, according to the coaching staff, and have been praised for their competitive spirits. Carter averaged 19.4 points for Osbourn Park as a senior.

SCHEDULE

A challenging slate awaits the Pride from start-to-finish, as the new season's schedule will feature 12 teams that made the postseason. Kilburn-Steveskey's squad will oppose five teams that made the NCAA Tournament, including a road game against a St. John's squad that advanced to the Sweet 16 and a home-and-home with CAA rival Delaware, which was a three-seed.

This year's schedule features teams from some of the nation's top conferences including the Big 12 (Texas), Big East (St. John's), Southeastern (Auburn and Mississippi) and the Big 10 (Northwestern).

Hofstra opens the campaign on the road with the WBI Tip-Off in Daytona Beach, Fla. Hofstra will face Stetson to open the season on Nov. 9 before taking on one of the nation's most recognized athletic programs, the Texas Longhorns, the next day.

The Pride will play two of their final three games in November on the road, starting with the contest against the Red Storm. Following the Thanksgiving break, Hofstra will head to Poughkeepsie to take on Marist on November 28. One of three wins Hofstra had over NCAA Tournament teams a season ago; Hofstra defeated Marist, 71-69, in the title game of the New York Life Holiday Invitational.  

The lone home game during that stretch will be Hofstra's home opener, as the Pride will host Saint Joseph's (PA) on Nov. 25. The Hawks advanced to the second round of the WNIT a season ago.

December opens with the Pride's second home game of the season as Harvard visits the Mack Sports Complex on December 1. Hofstra will face a school from the Ivy League in consecutive games, as the Pride will make the short trip to face Princeton on Dec. 5. Following that contest, Hofstra will take its last road trip of the 2012-13 non-conference season as the Pride travels to Auburn on Dec. 9.

The second annual Holiday Invitational will take place December 21-23 at the Mack Sports Complex and will once again feature a stellar field.  Northwestern and Mississippi will join the Pride and will take part in the three-day round-robin tournament. Hofstra will close the non-conference part of the schedule on Jan. 3 when it hosts Norfolk State.

The always-difficult CAA schedule commences Jan. 6 when the Pride hosts William & Mary. Hofstra will play Delaware on Feb. 3 and will conclude the home-and-home series against the Blue Hens on Feb. 28. The Pride will conclude the regular season March 6 at Northeastern. The CAA Championship will once again be held in the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.