The University of Montana women’s basketball team will hold its annual Maroon and Silver scrimmage Tuesday night at Dahlberg Arena. The women’s scrimmage will be part of a doubleheader with the men’s scrimmage.

The Grizzlies will scrimmage at 6 p.m. The women’s scrimmage is expected to start between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m.

The scrimmage will be Montana’s first public outing of the 2009-10 season. The Lady Griz will play Northwest Sports in an exhibition game Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m., then open the regular season on the road at Colorado State and Wyoming, Nov. 13 and 15.

Of the 14 players on this year’s team, six will be either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen.

Senior Lauren Beck and junior Sarah Ena are the only two returning starters from last season’s 28-5 team that made the program’s 18th NCAA tournament appearance.

Beck, who played over 24 minutes per game last winter at the three, averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Ena, who plays the four, averaged 10.7 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds per game to earn honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference honors as a sophomore.

Other returning letterwinners include seniors Shaunte Nance-Johnson and Shadra Robison, juniors Jessa Loman Linford and Stephanie Stender and sophomores Misty Atkinson and Tianna Ware.

Ashley Ferda and Alexandra Hurley are both redshirt freshmen and entering their second year in the program.

True freshmen include Katie Baker from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Kenzie De Boer from Lynden, Wash., Kelsey Hildal from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Alyssa Smith from Monroe, Wash.

“There are a lot of things up in the air this year, with a lot of roles that still need to be established,” 32nd-year Lady Griz coach Robin Selvig said. “It’s going to be a work in progress.

“I don’t know that there have been any surprises (through the opening week and a half of practice). As I anticipated, there is a lot of battling going on for positions.

“Some of the returners are playing very well because of their experience, and I’m excited about the freshmen, though as usually happens after a week, they’re not as confident in what they’re doing yet.

“This is the first time we’re out in public, and we only have the one exhibition game (against Northwest Sports) this year, so that adds to the value of Tuesday’s scrimmage being an important measuring stick for us when we’re evaluating the progress of each player.

“For the fans it’s a chance to see the new kids, all of which we are excited about, and see how we’re shaping up after a pretty good run with a senior-laden team last year. There is definitely going to be a new look about us and a different personality to this team.

“I think the fun of it for fans will be watching the team grow.”