The Rollins women's basketball team, preseason favorite in the Sunshine State Conference and, when at full-strength, one of the nation's top teams, will be tested early, opening the 2011-12 season at the Tampa Spartan Challenge, Nov. 11 and 12.

Rollins, who earned a 28^th-best 103 votes in the preseason WBCA rankings, can make its presence in the national spotlight known this weekend with a pair of wins at the UT Tournament. Glenn Wilkes Jr.'s squad faces defending NCAA Division II National Champion and preseason No. 1 ranked Clayton State in the first game, tipping off at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. They then face 16^th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside to close the event at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The Tars are coming off a 21-8 season a year ago that started off promising, but due to injuries in key positions, faltered down the stretch. Rollins rolled off 12-straight wins to begin the year, winning in dominating fashion. Floor general Tera McDaniel went down at the beginning of January and was followed by a rash of injuries the next two months that saw Rollins drop five of seven to end the season.

The 2011-12 edition of the Tars, however, are healthy, hungry and strengthened with new talent.

Leading scorer and rebounder, senior Kristina Mingos is back to lead Wilkes' offense this season. She put up 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds a night, while shooting 40 percent (65-166) from the three-point line. Her 50 steals was also a team best and ranked sixth best in the SSC. Fellow veteran Kourtnie Berry is coming off a 9.3 points per game season and is one of the top free throw shooters in Tars history, hitting 79 percent (56-71) last season.

Shooting guard Jasmine Bradley was in the midst of a fantastic junior campaign, averaging 9.2 points a game, but was limited to just 20 appearances due to an injury. Sophomore Sarah Blackburn answered the call to fill in for the Tars in her first year last season, seeing action in all 29 games and putting up 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds an outing. She will be a big factor in the Tars success during the 2011-12 season.

McDaniel is widely regarded as one of the best point guards to ever play at Rollins and runs the show for Wilkes. She dished out 4.5 assists, while adding 8.1 points, a game in limited action a year ago.

Paris Moore is back for her fourth year and is coming off a standout junior season. She took over the point guard role and started the final 15 games of the season, averaging 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists a night.

Returners Julie Gorman, who started 13 games last season, Jasmine Cohen and Tonya Aaron will also be keys to the Tars success throughout the year.

Wilkes' secret weapon for the 2011-12 season is Mississippi State transfer Ashley Jones. The Lake Howell High School product is a former Florida Miss Basketball honoree and Florida Gatorade Player of the Year recipient. She played 31 games for the Bulldogs as a freshman a year ago, scoring 33 points.

Five freshmen add to what is possibly the deepest team Wilkes has ever assembled. Guards Ashley Losch, Sarah Taylor, and Emmalee Schill, along with forwards Kathleen Browne and Shannon Williams, should all see significant time this season.

Fans can follow the Rollins women's basketball team all season long on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM, WPRK. The Tars home on the web also features links to Facebook, Twitter, live stats and for home games, live streaming video.