WOMEN'S BASKETBALL THIS WEEK: The Evergreen State College officially tips off its 2016-17 season this weekend when it plays two games at the Adidas Northwest Classic hosted by Northwest University in Kirkland. The Geoducks face Montana State-Northern at 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a game against Great Falls at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

FOLLOW THE GEODUCKS:
Video stream at Northwest - http://backlighttv.com/northwest-university/
Live stats at Northwest - http://nueagles.com/sports/2013/9/19/WVB_0919131949.aspx

ABOUT THE GEODUCKS: With a pair of exhibition games behind them, the Geoducks are one of four Cascade Collegiate Conference teams yet to play a counting contest this season. The nine-player roster features two returnees from the 2015-16 squad that finished with a 6-19 overall record, but both of those returnees were starters. Senior post Gabi Fenumiai (Juneau, Alaska/Juneau-Douglas HS/Peninsula College) finished among the conference leaders with averages of 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and with 56 percent accuracy from the field. Senior forward Autumn Moorcroft (Mossyrock, Wash./Mossyrock HS/Lower Columbia CC) was one of two Geoducks to start all 25 last season and she averaged 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The top newcomers in the backcourt are frosh guards Nesija Selava (Vancouver, Wash./Heritage HS) and Zaria Jones (Seattle, Wash./Kentwood HS) and junior guard Corina Tacardon (Sacramento, Calif./CK McClatchy HS/Sacramento City College), junior forward Asiyah Davis (Federal Way, Wash./Cleveland HS/Edmonds CC) and frosh post Imani Dunn (Seattle, Wash./Rainier Beach HS). Welcome additions to the team are two student-athletes who made a mark on Evergreen fall sports teams. Junior guard Kylie Gorton (Moscow, Idaho/Moscow HS/Walla Walla CC) was an honorable mention all-conference midfielder for the women's soccer team, and frosh post Chloee Hunt (Astoria, Ore./Astoria HS) was a standout outside hitter for the volleyball program.

ABOUT MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN: The Skylights come into the tournament with a 4-0 record with all four games coming in their home gym in Havre, Mont. Natalee Faupel, a 5-10 senior guard, is the team's leader with 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and she is shooting 75 percent (24-for-32) from the field. Jacy Thompson, a 5-6 junior guard, averages 10.5 points per game. Montana State-Northern is a NAIA Division I member (Evergreen, by comparison, is NAIA Division II) and has participated in three consecutive NAIA Division I national tournaments.

ABOUT GREAT FALLS: The Argos, like Montana State-Northern, are NAIA Division I members and have reached the Elite Eight at the last two national tournaments. UGF is already 5-0 for the season with three wins at home and two more recent on the road. Stephanie McDonagh, a 5-9 junior guard, averages team highs of 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while 5-10 senior forward Nneka Nnadi chips in 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest.

EXHIBITION RESULTS: Evergreen has played two exhibition games to date, losing 76-53 at home to NCAA Division II Saint Martin's on Nov. 1 and 75-46 on the road to NCAA Division I Seattle University on Nov. 5. Zaria Jones has averaged 15.0 points during those two games, scoring 16 against Saint Martin's and 14 versus Seattle U. Autumn Moorcroft had a good game against Seattle U with 14 points and eight rebounds.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Evergreen has been picked ninth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference preseason coaches' poll. The Geoducks picked up 31 total points in the balloting. Defending conference champion and NAIA Division II national runner-up Southern Oregon picked up eight first-place votes and 116 total points to top the poll, followed by Eastern Oregon with two first-place votes and 107 points, and then Oregon Tech with one first-place vote and 100 points.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Geoducks play their first official home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 19, when non-conference foe Lewis & Clark College comes to Costantino Recreation Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.