Warriors announce basketball schedule

Season kicks off Friday night

10-26-05

Lewiston, ID- This Friday marks the season opener for both Warrior basketball teams, as the University College of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada, pay a four game visit over the weekend.  Friday night’s tip-off begins at 6:00 p.m. for the women, followed up by the men at 8 p.m.  Clarkston high school is host to this weekends games due to the 1-A state volleyball championships played at the L-C campus Activity Center.  Saturday’s contests will begin in the afternoon, set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., again at Clarkston high’s Kramer gym.    

The Fraser Valley women enter this weekend’s competition with an overall record of 2-6 on the year.  This marks the third straight year Fraser Valley has traveled to Lewiston, where the Warriors lead the series 4-0.  The Warriors have beaten the Cascades over the past two seasons by an average of 31 points a game. 

Following the UCFV match up, the Warrior women travel to Pullman on November 11 to play Washington State University. The following weekend they host the Staples Classic on November 18-19th, which includes Corban College, Cascade College, and Westminster College inside the Activity Center. They head back on the road from November 25 through December 3 as they take on Azusa Pacific, Western Washington, Seattle Pacific, and Westmont, all who did not face the Warriors during the 04-05 season. Other non-conference opponents during the month of December include, Warner Pacific, Johnson-Wales University, and Thompson-River University.

January introduces the beginning of conference play for LCSC. Last season the Warrior women posted a 10-4 record against Frontier Conference opponents, and this year might be just as, if not more, successful. January 5, their first conference game, could be one of the most important games of the regular season, as they travel to Helena, Montana to face the 04-05 Frontier leaders Carroll College. Altogether, the months of January and February host all 14 of the Warriors conference games, and success during these months will determine conference tournament positioning and national rankings.  The Conference tournament will be held in Butte, Montana on March 1-4, and the NAIA National Tournament marks the conclusion of the 2005-06 season, held in Jackson, Tennessee on March 15-21. 

On the men’s side, Fraser Valley enters this weekend’s contests with an overall record of 1-6.  Like the women, this also marks the third consecutive year the Cascade men have faced the Warriors.  L-C has won all four contests by an average of 28 points.  “It seems like we’ve been waiting forever for opening night, and were excited it’s finally here.”  Stated head coach Tim Walker.  “We hope to see carry over from practice to the game setting, and the fundamental things we’ve worked hard on over the last six weeks will show at a high level.” 

Following this weekend the Warrior men travel to Spokane to face Gonzaga University on November 5, and just a week and a half later, November 15, they travel to Pullman to play another NCAA powerhouse in Washington State University. Other November opponents include Cascade College, Corban College, and Puget Sound Christian. The Humboldt State Tournament, in Arcata, CA on Dec. 1-2, the Corban College Tourney, in Salem, Oregon on Dec. 9-10, and two home games verses Johnson & Wales make up the month of December, and close out the Warriors pre-conference schedule.

The Warriors, who were 28-11 overall and 10-4 in conference play last season, begin conference play by traveling to Carroll College (12-2 conference record last year) on January 5. All fourteen-conference games are played during January and February. A home stand on February 23 and 25 against Montana Tech and Western Montana brings a close to the regular season. Butte, Montana hosts the Frontier Conference tournament that is set to begin March 1, and Kansas City, Missouri is the location of the 2005-2006 NAIA National Tournament (March 15-21).

Season outlook and prospectus included in attachments.  Also, women’s basketball 2004-05 all-conference first team selection Ashley Baker action photo.  For the men, 2004-05 Frontier Conference defensive player of the year Spencer Bishop action photo.