The Iowa women’s basketball team held its first practice of the 2011-12 season on Monday.

The Hawkeyes took the courts in the newly named Howard Family Pavilion at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa players have been working out since classes began in August, but coach Lisa Bluder said real practices bring an excitement to the game that individual workouts can’t replicate.

"It was great to get on the court for the first official practice of the year," she said in a release. "It’s always exciting when the season actually begins. Everyone was anxious to get going this morning, and practice went very well."

Bluder’s squad has four starters returning to a team that went 22-9 last year, 10-6 in the Big Ten: guards Kamille Wahlin and Jaime Printy, forward Kelly Krei, and center Morgan Johnson.

Iowa adds five freshmen to its roster this season. The new players — highlighted by Top-10 recruit Samantha Logic — make up the No. 11 recruiting class in the nation, according to ESPN HoopGurlz.

Iowa’s first game of the season will be an exhibition against Division-II Winona State on Nov. 6 in Carver-Hawkeye. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

— by Matt Cozzi