2018–19 Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team
{{short description|Intercollegiate basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|mode=Women's Basketball
|year=2018–19
|prev_year=2017–18
|next_year=2019–20
|team=Western Kentucky Lady Toppers
|image=WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
|image_size=150
|conference=Conference USA
|division=
|short_conf=C-USA
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=20–15
|conf_record=11–5
|head_coach=Greg Collins
|hc_year = 1st
|asst_coach1=Jocelyn Wyatt
|asst_coach2=Tiffany Porter-Talbert
|asst_coach3=Jhasmin Bowen
|stadium=E. A. Diddle Arena
|champion=
|bowl=WNIT
|bowl_result=third round
}}
{{2018–19 Conference USA women's basketball standings}}
The 2018–19 Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Lady Toppers were led by first-year head coach Greg Collins and played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as members of Conference USA (C-USA). They finished the season 20–15, 11–5 in C-USA play, to finish in a tie for third place.{{Cite web |title=2018-19 Women's Basketball Standings |url=https://conferenceusa.com/standings.aspx?standings=68 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=conferenceusa.com}} They advanced to the semifinals of the C-USA women's tournament, where they lost to Rice.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-15 |title=WKU Falls to No. 24/NR Rice in C-USA Semifinals, 64-57 |url=https://wkusports.com/news/2019/3/15/womens-basketball-wku-falls-to-no-24-nr-rice-in-c-usa-semifinals-64-57 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Western Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}} They received an at-large bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated Miami (OH) and Morehead State in the first{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=WKU Erases Double-Digit Deficit, Defeats Miami (Ohio) in WNIT First Round |url=https://wkusports.com/news/2019/3/21/womens-basketball-wku-erases-double-digit-deficit-defeats-miami-ohio-in-wnit-first-round |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Western Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}} and second rounds,{{Cite web |date=2019-03-24 |title=Lady Toppers Rally Past Morehead State in 68-65 WNIT Victory Sunday Afternoon |url=https://wkusports.com/news/2019/3/24/womens-basketball-lady-toppers-rally-past-morehead-state-in-68-65-wnit-victory-sunday-afternoon |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Western Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}} respectively, before losing to Ohio in the third round.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-28 |title=WKU Falls 68-60 at Ohio in WNIT Round of 16 |url=https://wkusports.com/news/2019/3/28/womens-basketball-wku-falls-68-60-at-ohio-in-wnit-round-of-16 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Western Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|sex=w|year=2018|team=WKU Lady Toppers|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Arame|last=Niang|link=n|num=1|pos=F|ft=6|in=3|class=SO|rs=y|home=Rufisque, Senegal|high_school= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Sidnee|last=Bopp|link=n|num=3|pos=G|ft=5|in=6|class=SR|home=Marmaduke, AR|high_school=Marmaduke HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Dee|last=Givens|link=n|num=4|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|class=JR|rs=y|home=Lexington, KY|high_school=Lafayette HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Whitney|last=Creech|link=n|num=5|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=JR|home=Jenkins, KY|high_school=Jenkins HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Alexis|last=Brewer|link=n|num=11|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|class=JR|rs=y|home=Buffalo, KY|high_school=Bardstown HS
West Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Jae'Lisa|last=Allen|link=n|num=13|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=SR|home=Pine Bluff, AR|high_school=White Hall HS
Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Raneem|last=Elgedawy|link=n|num=15|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|class=SO|home=Alexandria, Egypt|high_school= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Terri|last=Smith|link=n|num=20|pos=G|ft=5|in=7|class=SO|home=Harvest, AL|high_school=Sparkman}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Sherry|last=Porter|link=n|num=22|pos=G|ft=5|in=7|class=SO|home=Baton Rouge, LA|high_school=Madison Prep Academy}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Sandra|last=Skinner|link=n|num=23|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|class=SR|home=Winchester, KY|high_school=George Rogers Clark HS
VCU|cur_rs=yes}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Myriah|last=Noodel-Haywood|link=n|num=24|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|class=FR|home=Edwardsville, IL|high_school=Edwardsville HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kayla|last=Smith|link=n|num=32|pos=G/F|ft=5|in=11|class=SR|home=Fayetteville, GA|high_school=Fayette County HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kallie|last=Searcy|link=n|num=34|pos=C|ft=6|in=3|class=FR|home=Brentwood, TN|high_school=Brentwood Academy}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Meral|last=Abdelgawad|link=n|num=44|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|class=FR|home=Cairo, Egypt|high_school= }}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Greg Collins ({{college|Louisville}})
|asst_coach=
- Jocelyn Wyatt ({{college|Appalachian State}})
- Tiffany Porter-Talbert ({{college|WKU}})
- Jhasmin Bowen ({{college|Arkansas}})
|roster_url=https://wkusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2018-19
|accessdate=February 25, 2025
}}
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2018|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|WKU Lady Toppers}}| Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 1, 2018
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = West Virginia State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 854
| tv =
| score = 104–74
| overtime =
| record =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|WKU Lady Toppers}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 6, 2018
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisville
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,476
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 80–102
| overtime =
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 9, 2018
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Oklahoma
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Lloyd Noble Center
| site_cityst = Norman, OK
| gamename =
| attend = 2,907
| tv = FSOK
| score = 83–90
| overtime =
| record = 0–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 13, 2018
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,301
| score = 67–104
| overtime =
| record = 0–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 17, 2018
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Central Michigan
| opprank =
| site_stadium = McGuirk Arena
| site_cityst = Mount Pleasant, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 1,696
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 90–108
| overtime =
| record = 0–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 20, 2018
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,792
| tv =
| score = 83–76
| overtime =
| record = 1–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 22, 2018
| time = 10:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Oregon State
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Vancouver Convention Centre
| site_cityst = Vancouver, BC
| gamename = Vancouver Showcase quarterfinals
| attend = 296
| tv =
| score = 60–74
| overtime =
| record = 1–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 23, 2018
| time = 4:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Vancouver Convention Centre
| site_cityst = Vancouver, BC
| gamename = Vancouver Showcase consolation 2nd round
| attend = 1,022
| tv =
| score = 82–68
| overtime =
| record = 2–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 24, 2018
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Gonzaga
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Vancouver Convention Centre
| site_cityst = Vancouver, BC
| gamename = Vancouver Showcase 5th-place game
| attend = 722
| tv =
| score = 55–76
| overtime =
| record = 2–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 28, 2018
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Morgan State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,056
| tv =
| score = 90–43
| overtime =
| record = 3–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1, 2018
| time = 5:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Little Rock
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jack Stephens Center
| site_cityst = Little Rock, AR
| gamename =
| attend = 1,777
| tv =
| score = 68–56
| overtime =
| record = 4–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 8, 2018
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Bellarmine
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,204
| tv =
| score = 68–56
| overtime =
| record = 5–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16, 2018
| time = 5:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Ball State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 715
| tv = ESPN3/WKYU
| score = 83–86
| overtime =
| record = 5–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 19, 2018
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Edmund P. Joyce Center
| site_cityst = South Bend, IN
| gamename =
| attend = 7,502
| tv = ACCNE
| score = 53–94
| overtime =
| record = 5–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29, 2018
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Union (TN)
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,214
| tv =
| score = 77–65
| overtime =
| record = 6–8
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|WKU Lady Toppers}}| Conference USA regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 3, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Charlotte
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 892
| tv = ESPN3/WKYU
| score = 76–58
| overtime =
| record = 7–8
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 5, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Old Dominion
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,236
| tv =
| score = 75–60
| overtime =
| record = 8–8
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 12, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Marshall
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,391
| tv = ESPN3/WKYU
| score = 85–55
| overtime =
| record = 9–8
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 17, 2019
| time = 10:00 a.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Ocean Bank Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,383
| tv = beIN
| score = 94–82
| overtime =
| record = 10–8
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 19, 2019
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| opprank =
| site_stadium = FAU Arena
| site_cityst = Boca Raton, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 368
| tv =
| score = 81–50
| overtime =
| record = 11–8
| conference = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 24, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Miss
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,187
| tv =
| score = 56–69
| overtime =
| record = 11–9
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 26, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisiana Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 2,759
| tv = ESPN3/WKYU
| score = 81–76
| overtime =
| record = 12–9
| conference = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 31, 2019
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UTSA
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Convocation Center
| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX
| gamename =
| attend = 1,200
| tv =
| score = 81–62
| overtime =
| record = 13–9
| conference = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 2, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UTEP
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Don Haskins Center
| site_cityst = El Paso, TX
| gamename =
| attend = 429
| tv =
| score = 64–61
| overtime =
| record = 14–9
| conference = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 7, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Rice
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,347
| tv =
| score = 46–68
| overtime =
| record = 14–10
| conference = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 9, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,363
| tv =
| score = 67–76
| overtime =
| record = 14–11
| conference = 8–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 14, 2019
| time = 6:30 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Murphy Center
| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 3,922
| tv =
| score = 69–81
| overtime =
| record = 14–12
| conference = 8–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 16, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UAB
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 634
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 63–70
| overtime =
| record = 14–13
| conference = 8–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 23, 2019
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Marshall
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cam Henderson Center
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename =
| attend = 1,182
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–66
| overtime = OT
| record = 15–13
| conference = 9–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 2, 2019
| time = 3:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = The Super Pit
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| gamename =
| attend = 658
| tv =
| score = 71–66
| overtime =
| record = 16–13
| conference = 10–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 7, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 1,823
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 67–56
| overtime =
| record = 17–13
| conference = 11–5
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|WKU Lady Toppers}}| 2019 Conference USA women's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 14, 2019
| time = 11:30 a.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 4
| opponent = Old Dominion
| opprank =
| oppseed = 5
| site_stadium = The Ford Center at The Star
| site_cityst = Frisco, TX
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| attend =
| tv = Stadium
| score = 74–60
| overtime =
| record = 18–13
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 15, 2019
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 4
| opponent = Rice
| opprank = 24
| oppseed = 1
| site_stadium = The Ford Center at The Star
| site_cityst = Frisco, TX
| gamename = Semifinals
| attend =
| tv = Stadium
| score = 57–64
| overtime =
| record = 18–14
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|WKU Lady Toppers}}| 2019 Women's National Invitation Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 21, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Miami (OH)
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Millett Hall
| site_cityst = Oxford, OH
| gamename = First round
| attend = 338
| tv =
| score = 67–63
| overtime =
| record = 19–14
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 24, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Morehead State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = Second round
| attend = 1,206
| tv =
| score = 68–65
| overtime =
| record = 20–14
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 28, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Ohio
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Athens, OH
| gamename = Third round
| attend = 1,491
| tv =
| score = 60–68
| overtime =
| record = 20–15
}}
Rankings
{{main|2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings}}
| class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;font-size:90%" |
| + Regular-season polls
!Poll !! Pre- |
| style="text-align:center;"
! AP | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | N/A |
| style="text-align:center;"
! Coaches | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | N/A | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | | style="background:#FFF;" | |
| style="border:1px solid black;"
|+ Legend | style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px;" | | | Increase in ranking |
| style="background:#FFE6E6; width:20px;" |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| style="background:#FFFFE6; width:20px;" |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| (RV)
| | Received votes |
| (NR)
| | Not ranked |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{WKU Lady Toppers basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2018-19 Western Kentucky Lady Hilltoppers basketball team}}