TERRE HAUTE, Ind.  – The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women's basketball team will kick off the 2017-18 season on Friday November 17 against Finlandia University in the opening game of the Hope College Tip Off Tournament.  Rose-Hulman will play a second game against either Heidelberg or nationally-ranked Hope College on Saturday November 18.

Tip off against Finlandia on Friday is set for 5:30 p.m.

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Rose-Hulman News & Notes:

• Rose-Hulman has posted an overall record of 47-8 over the past two seasons with two Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championships, one HCAC Tournament title and one trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
• RHIT is receiving votes in both the D3Hoops.com and WBCA Preseason Top 25 polls.  Rose-Hulman has received a school record 11 votes in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll. 
• Rose returns seven of its top nine scorers from last year's team.  All-HCAC performers Alyzia Dilworth (8.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Abby Bromenschenkel (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg), and Ally Bromenschenkel (13.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg) all return to lead Rose-Hulman. 
• Head Coach Jon Prevo enters his 12^th season at the helm of the RHIT women's basketball program.  He owns a career record of 146-142 (.507). 
• Rose-Hulman played an exhibition game at Division I Eastern Illinois on Monday November 6.  RHIT led the Panthers 34-31 at halftime before falling 73-58.  Rose-Hulman outrebounded EIU 39-26 in the game and had 19 offensive rebounds compared to the Panthers' 18 defensive rebounds. 

Friday Night's Opponent: Finlandia University Lions (0-1) 

• The Lions went 8-15 a year ago.  Fin U. dropped their season opener at Lakeland College 78-59 on Wednesday Novermber 15.  
• Head Coach John Motherwell enters his first season at the helm of the Finlandia women's basketball program.  Motherwell comes to Finlandia after serving as an assistant coach at Division I Valparaiso. 
• Julia Daavettila (15.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Kelsie Richards (14.2 ppg) and 8.1 rpg) return for their senior seasons to lead the Lions.

Saturday's Potential Opponents: Heidelberg University Knights OR Hope College Flying Dutch

• Heidelberg and Hope College square off against one another on Friday November 17 following Rose-Hulman's contest with Finlandia.
• Heidelberg posted an overall record of 8-17 last season.
• Hope College went 24-5 in 2016-17 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament sectional semifinals. 
• The Flying Dutch enter the season ranked tied for 10^th in the WBCA Preseason Top 25 poll.  HC is ranked #13 in the D3Hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll.