Whenever a basketball team has a strength, they’ll usually exploit it.

Whether it’s perimeter shooting or a strong inside game, a team can be thankful if they have a dominant force in either.

This season’s Lady Toppers can exploit both.

Senior guard Tiffany Porter-Talbert and sophomore forward Crystal Kelly both return to this year’s team showered in preseason accolades.

Each were named Preseason All-Americans by Street and Smith’s magazine.

Porter-Talbert was also named the SBC’s Preseason Player of the Year. She brings her multi-talented offense to a team that ranked third nationally in scoring last season with 78.2 points per game.

“I’m proud of those individual honors,” she said. “I just try to play the best I can. But I focus on what’s good for the team.”

Her 18.1 points per game last season was good enough for third in the conference.

Kelly, the conference Freshman of the Year last season, brings big numbers back as well.

She led the team in scoring with 19.0 points per game and rebounding with 10.3 per game last season.

With Talbert on the outside and Kelly manning the post, coach Mary Taylor Cowles said she knows she has a prominent one-two punch.

“They’re both so good at their position,” Cowles said. “It’s obvious they have to perform for us this year.”

The tandem accounted for 47 percent of the Lady Toppers’ scoring and 45 percent of its rebounds last season.

“Us together is such a good combination,” Kelly said. “I’m glad she’s on my team, because I wouldn’t want to play against her.”

Kelly stands eight inches taller than Talbert, but the duo said they battle for rebounds in practice. Talbert was second on the team last year with 7.3 rebounds per game.

“Crystal is a great post player, probably the best we have,” Talbert said. “Having her in the post helps open us up and vice versa.”

Joining Kelly on the inside this year are junior center Sarah Shouse and sophomore forward Cacie Pope.

Cowles said that although Talbert and Kelly provide a bulk of the offense, they’re not expected to carry the entire load.

Reach Jake Mitchell
at sports@wkuherald.com.