It almost seems like a new tradition.

For the second consecutive season, the Lady Toppers open their regular season at Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Western won last season’s meeting 80-59 in Diddle Arena.

“We’re just excited about getting our season started,” coach Mary Taylor Cowles said. “Right out of the gate, it’s a tough test. (Louisiana Tech) has some of the same returning starters as well as adding some freshmen and three JuCos that really bring some athleticism and size on the perimeter.”

The Lady Toppers traveled to Ruston during the 2004-2005 season, though they didn’t open the season, and lost, 73-60.

Louisiana Tech advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season and lost in the first round to Florida State, 81-70.

One of the Lady Toppers’ biggest challenges will be the arena they will play in.

The Thompson Assembly Center has proven itself as one of the toughest venues for opponents in women’s college basketball.

Louisiana Tech has posted a 340-20 home record in the arena during its 24-year history, second among active arenas.

They enter the season with a 21-game home winning streak.

The hostile environment will be a task for the newer group in the Lady Tops. Junior forward Crystal Kelly and senior point guard Tifany Zaragoza were the only players on the roster who saw playing time in the game at Ruston two seasons ago.

“A lot of the times, you can’t let the crowd dictate what’s going to happen in the game,” sophomore forward Dominique Duck said. “You just have to step out there and play. They have the home-court advantage and the crowd behind them. We just have to go out there and just play our game.”

The Lady Techsters enter the season after losing their top two scorers: Aarica Ray-Boyd (14 points per game) and Tasha Williams (13 points per game) to graduation from their 26-5 team.

They return two double-figure scorers in senior forward Ty Moore and senior guard Shan Moore who both averaged 11 points per game.

The Lady Techsters were selected to win the Western Athletic Conference in both the coaches and media polls.

Ty Moore and Shan Moore were selected as preseason all-WAC performers and split the preseason conference player of the year honors.

“Ty and Shan Moore are both just exceptional athletes,” Cowles said. “Shan was, I thought, a really good leader for them last year, as well as Ty. But they’ve also got (senior forward Tamika Kursh) as well in the post. They’re not overly big inside, however they’re extremely athletic.”

The Lady Toppers will attempt to combat the inside-outside Moore duo with Kelly and Zaragoza, as well as Duck, and perimeter threat junior guard Charlotte Marshall.

Kelly posted then-career highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds in the loss at Louisiana Tech in 2004.

“Coach Cowles has talked about it a lot,” Kelly said. “And I’ve also been there. It’s a really difficult place to play, but I think right now were mentally prepared for it and we’ll be ready.”

Reach David Harten at sports@wkuherald.com.