Photo by Hunter Wilson/Daily News Western Kentucky junior Kenzie Rich (left) dribbles as sophomore Amy McNear defends Friday.

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It’s a dawn of a new era for the Western Kentucky women’s basketball team.

With only three upperclassmen and five freshmen, the Lady Toppers will have to do a lot of learning on the fly in preparation for the upcoming season. Several of the returning players need to take a more vocal role on the floor.

The players and coaches are pleased with what they’ve seen so far.

“It’s been great,” junior forward Jessica Magley said. “We’ve been pushing each other. We’ve been working really hard - realizing the work we put in today is going to pay off further down the line.”

Coach Mary Taylor Cowles said she likes what she’s seen from the freshmen.

“It is another unique situation with so many new faces, but with that comes a whole lot of positive,” Cowles said. “You bring in a ton of energy and excitement. These five young freshmen have come in and added so much to our program in such a quick amount of time. They are such a great addition.”

Junior guard Kenzie Rich is also excited about the freshmen class.

“The five freshmen we have this year are totally different from the ones we had last year,” Rich said. “It’s going to take awhile because there is a lot of stuff thrown at them at once, but they’re going to get it. We’re going to help them as much as we can.”

While there is excitement about the new faces, there is also a bit of adjustment overcoming the losses of Crystal Kelly and Charlotte Marshall, both on the court and off.

“It’s totally different not having Crystal and Charlotte here,” Rich said. “They were both great leaders. You could always here them talking. It’s really different, but we’ve got to get over that.”

Rich added she has taken it upon herself to step into that leadership role - a role that has increased with lone senior Dominique Duck sidelined until early November with a knee injury.

“At the end of the year last year, coach Cowles told me and Dominique that we were the captains,” Rich said. “Then Dominique got hurt and she can’t be out on the floor. Until she can get back out there, I’m trying to be the vocal leader. I used to get in trouble for not talking, so I’m really trying to work on that.”

According to Cowles, Magley - who sat out last year as a transfer from Rhode Island - has also embraced the idea of being a vocal leader.

“Jessica is a natural born leader,” Cowles said. “She leads by example. She communicates well. And Jessica is the biggest cheerleader for her teammates. I think she has all the ability from a basketball standpoint as well as a leadership standpoint. Even though she is new as far as being in uniform and playing for us, we are going to rely on her a whole lot.”

And while Duck isn’t participating in practice, she is still making her presence known.

“That was part of what was so good about practice today - Dominique was out on the floor helping coach, helping teach,” Cowles said. “Dominique is still very much a part of our leadership and her leadership role is critical to us.”

Magley said it’s part of a team approach to help the new faces prepare for the upcoming season.

“The thing is on our team every one is encouraged to speak up and hold every one accountable,” Magley said. “No matter what year you are or how long you’ve played, you’re encouraged to speak up and tell somebody where they need to be so we’re all kept in check.”

The Lady Toppers won’t take the floor until Nov. 9 when they face DT3. The regular season opener is five days later against Murray State - giving WKU the next three weeks to concentrate on the fundamentals.

“This is the most important part of the season,” Rich said.

And with a schedule that includes Vanderbilt, George Washington and Duke in the first month of the season, it only emphasizes the importance of the next 20 days.

“We’ve got a lot of teaching to do - plain and simple,” Cowles said. “We’ve got a lot of teaching to do and they have a lot of learning to do.”