GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team begins its 2018-19 season on Tuesday with a trip to SEC member Auburn. Tip-off at Auburn Arena is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
Grambling State, which went 19-14 overall and 13-5 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play last season, was chosen as the top team in the conference this season. Last season, Grambling State defeated Alcorn State, Texas Southern and Southern to capture its first SWAC Tournament championship since 1999. GSU advanced to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, falling in the opening round to second-seeded Baylor.
 
GSU returns five players – Shaklya Hill, Justice Coleman, Tekerra Parsons, Ariel Williams and Jazmin Boyd – off last season's team, with Hill (first team) and Boyd (second team) being named to the all-conference teams. Hannah Henderson, who was on the team last season, returns after having a medical red-shirt.
 
Hill, a SWAC Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 16.8 points, 7.5 boards, 5.6 assists and 4.8 steals per game last season. In addition, Hill, who earned the SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, made national recognition last season by becoming the fourth-ever NCAA women's basketball player to record a quadruple double.
 
Boyd, who will enter the 2018-19 season just five points shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career, earned an All-SWAC Second Team honor. She played in 27 games, including starting in 18 last season. The senior native of Hattiesburg, Miss. averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game. In addition, she shot 83.5 percent (91-of-109) from the free-throw line.
 
The five returns will look to gel with four junior college transfers and three freshman.
 
This will be the third-ever meeting between Grambling State and Auburn as AU leads the series, 2-0. The last time these two teams met was in 2014 with Auburn picked up a 92-42 victory.
 
After the road trip to Auburn, Grambling State will have its 2018 home opener on Friday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center against McNeese State.
 
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