A busy week rolled on for the University of Wisconsin women's basketball team Friday.

Coach Lisa Stone's contract was not extended past its current end date of May 31, 2011 by the UW Athletic Board. Stone seemed well aware that her bosses were expecting more Thursday when she announced the hiring of assistant Kathi Bennett.

"It's time to climb, and we're ready to do it," Stone said. "I've got a very thirsty team. I've got a very eager staff."

Stone then filled out her staff Friday with the hiring of assistant Oties Epps.

Epps (whose first name is pronounced o-teece) was an assistant at Cleveland State under former UW assistant Kate Peterson Abiad for the past four seasons.

Before that, Epps was an assistant men's coach at UW-Stout. He played at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, which shut down in 2002.

Epps will work with UW's guards, and assist in recruiting, scouting and player development.

Epps' hiring was pretty much done Thursday, but the completion of paperwork caused the one-day delay.