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The University of Regina's women's basketball team opens up the Canada West schedule at home on Thursday night with a game against provincial rival Saskatchewan. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

Thursday's game will support the Shoot for the Cure campaign, an initiative by the CIS Women's Basketball Association which has raised over a half million dollars to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and other related charities. T-shirts stylized with a pink Cougar logo will be sold, while the U of R's alternate pink uniform set will be up for auction.

The Cougars return four starters from last year's team and, for the third time in the last three seasons, they were picked first in the conference preseason coaches' poll. They were also ranked as one of the top teams in the nation in the first CIS Top Ten poll of the season on Tuesday, opening the season at No. 2.

Gone is first-team All-Canadian and Canada West MVP Joanna Zalesiak, but the Cougars return two-time Canada West all-star Lindsay Ledingham, 2010 conference all-star Brittany Read, last season's leading scorer Michelle Clark, and fifth-year guard Danielle Schmidt to the starting lineup.

Clark, who was used as a shooting guard last season, is expected to run the point with Zalesiak off pursuing a professional career in Europe.

Third-year post Jennilea Coppola, who has led the team in blocks in both of her seasons at the U of R, has been used in a starting role by seventh-year head coach Dave Taylor through the non-conference schedule. Providing depth on the bench for the Cougars is fourth-year forward Megan Chamberlin, Weber State transfer Kehlsie Crone, second-year guard Madi Docherty, and rookies Charlotte Kot and Katie Polischuk.

Second-year post Alyssia Kajati is expected to fill a significant role but has battled illness through the non-conference schedule. Brandon transfer Nicisha Johnson and third-year guard Taylor Pelletier round out the U of R roster.

Saskatchewan, which finished fifth in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll, was ranked No. 6 on Tuesday in the first CIS Top Ten of the season. Leading the group of returners is last year's Canada West Rookie of the Year, post Dalyce Emmerson. Also returning to the starting lineup is Kabree Howard and Kiera Lyons for Saskatchewan, which is coached by first-year bench boss Jill Humbert.

The two teams will also play on Saturday night in Saskatoon.