AUSTIN, Texas – The defending Lone Star Conference Champion Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M open up their 2018-19 basketball season on Sunday, October 28^th as they head to the Texas Capital to face off with the University of Texas Longhorns in exhibition action.
 
The contest will begin at 1 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin announced by the University of Texas Athletic Department and the Longhorn Network on Thursday afternoon. Admission to the game will be free.
 
The Lady Buffs return four of their top five leading scorers from a South Central Regional Finalist squad including WBCA Honorable Mention All-American Lexy Hightower who averaged a team-high 14.4 points per contest during her sophomore campaign. Depth will be a strength once again for the Lady Buffs as All-LSC honorees Tiana Parker and Deleyah Harris return to the starting lineup along with LSC Tournament Most Valuable Player Megan Gamble.
 
WT is coming off of the program's 24^th overall and fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Postseason with a run to the South Central Regional Title Game as they finished the 2017-18 season with an overall record of 29-5. WT claimed the Lone Star Conference Regular Season and Tournament Titles with a mark of 16-4 in league action. The 2017-18 campaign marked the sixth straight season of at least 20 victories for the Lady Buffs.

Kristen Mattio enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Lady Buffs, registering an overall record of 83-19 (.814) with three NCAA Tournament appearances including a spot in the Regional Finals each of the three seasons and a South Central Regional Championship in 2016-17.