Forget traditional time with family and the chilly Kentucky weather. The Lady Toppers will head to a more exotic locale for the Thanksgiving holidays.

Western (3-0) leaves today for Cancun, Mexico, where the team will compete in the Caribbean Challenge on Thursday and Friday.

Head Coach Mary Taylor Cowles said an irregular holiday schedule is a way of life for a basketball player or a coach.

Cowles recalled last year’s Thanksgiving celebration, when she hosted 47 people at her house for dinner as the team prepared for a game the next day.

“I think it’s a situation where our ladies understand that it’s basketball season,” Cowles said. “And this group this year is such a close-knit group that I think they are looking forward to being together over the holiday.”

Senior forward Arnika Brown said that it is important for the Lady Toppers to enjoy their time together over the break, but that their main objective is to compete.

“It’s going to be fun, but we have to remember to play good ball as well, and have fun afterwards,” Brown said. “I feel like everyone has the right mentality. We just want to get out there together and play hard.”

Western will see some stiff competition in Cancun, playing Duke and Arkansas on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Duke, ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, was 2-1 heading into last night’s game with UNC Charlotte. The Lady Blue Devils advanced to the second round of last season’s NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed.

Western lost to the Lady Blue Devils 59-56 last season in Diddle Arena, and Brown said the matchup will prove a challenging test once again.

“They’re going to push the ball and crash the boards,” Brown said. “And you know they’re going to have some size. They’re Duke. They’re going to have some size.”

Cowles said scouting for Duke began on the trip back from an 81-74 win at South Dakota State on Sunday, but this trip will be an important time for the team to look inward as well.

“We also have to focus on ourselves and figure out what we’re doing well and what we need to continue to work on,” Cowles said.

In addition to the potential for two big wins, senior forward Dominique Duck said the trip will provide a chance for invaluable experience against top competition.

“It’s a great road trip and more time for us to bond,” Duck said. “Playing these big-time teams and having a great non-conference schedule heading into the conference schedule, I think these games are really going to help us.”

All Thanksgiving festivities will not be lost in Mexico, however.

Cowles said the coaching staff will make sure players “get something good to eat and get their bellies full.”

Junior guard Amy McNear said the team itself is very much like a family.

“I’m glad we plan trips like these, because we bond as a team, and we have fun on and off the court,” McNear said. “We’ll have fun going to the beaches, and we’ll have fun playing Duke and Arkansas, so it will be a good trip.”