Western Kentucky University's women's basketball team opens its preseason schedule next week - and it won't have the distraction of senior forward Arnika Brown's legal troubles to worry about anymore.

The counterfeit case against Brown ended Monday with the 22-year-old agreeing to a plea deal in Christian Circuit Court. She plead guilty to five misdemeanor charges of theft by unlawful deception and 11 charges of criminal possession of a forged instrument third degree.

The 11 criminal possession counts were amended from first degree to third degree because Brown helped police with their investigation.

According to the terms of the deal, Brown will serve two years' probation. While under probation she can't use alcohol or other controlled substances, can't commit any new crimes, must complete her college degree and must participate in three public speaking events directed at youth to let them know about the consequences of making poor choices.

She'll also have to perform 50 hours of community service and pay $400 in restitution to the restaurants where she used the counterfeit bills in the summer of 2008.

She won't, however, serve any suspension from the Lady Topper basketball team. In a statement released by the school, head coach Mary Taylor Cowles said, "We are so happy for Arnika that this is over. I have believed in Arnika from the beginning, and now that our judicial system has ended this case, she can continue to concentrate her efforts on school and basketball."

Brown and her Lady Topper teammates now focus on the 2009-10 season, which begins with the team's first preseason game Nov. 2nd against Lindsey Wilson.