ARCATA — After defeating Cal State East Bay in its lone exhibition game of the season, the Humboldt State women's basketball team looks forward to opening its 2008-09 season with three consecutive tournaments. The Jacks travel to Belmont to participate in the Notre Dame de Namur Tournament, Saturday and Sunday. HSU opens play Saturday at 5 p.m. against host Notre Dame de Namur and concludes the tournament with a 3 p.m. tip-off Sunday against the University of Mary.

Live Stats: Follow the Humboldt State women's basketball games this weekend by going to the Notre Dame de Namur's athletics homepage at http://www.ndnu.edu/athletics. There will be a link for livestats and live video activated the day of the game.
 
Lumberjacks Notes: Successful shooting and dominant defense paved the way for a triumphant exhibition game Sunday. “Our goal is to make our opponents uncomfortable on offense and we did a good job of that against CSU East Bay,” said Humboldt State head women's basketball coach Joddie Gleason. When asked about weaknesses that need to be addressed, Gleason said, “I think our posts need to make it tougher for our opponents' post players to score without us fouling.” …At the beginning of last year the Jacks'  coaching staff was a little uncertain of whom to start and who would work best on the court together. This year, veteran returners and solid depth is one major difference in making those decisions.  …The Jacks enter the season with all but one healthy player. Freshman guard Kayla Williams has been out after suffering from a nose injury that she sustained in a preseason scrimmage, and will find out later this week when she can return to practice.

Opponent's Notes: Notre Dame de Namur finished last season second in the Pac West with a 13-13 overall record and a 13-5 conference mark. Returner Jennifer Dreessen earned Pac West Second-Team All-Conference honors after averaging 9.0 points per game and shooting 53.4 percent from the field. …  Under new coach Mike Rudder, who took over the reigns in August, the Argonauts were picked to finish fifth in the Pac West's preseason poll. Rudder is also the head women's tennis coach and was an assistant for the men's basketball team last year. “We've played NDNU every year I've been here, but this year they have a new coach so there is an unknown element coming into this tournament,” Gleason said. “They've improved every year we played them and last year they gave us a run for our money.” …In the Argonauts lone exhibition game of the season, they defeated UC Santa Cruz 78-52. …Britni Rathke recorded team-highs with double-double figures of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Tanaia Keyes contributed 15 points and Rachel Brunson added 10. …During its first year of Division II postseason eligibility last year, the University of Mary made it to the semi-finals of the Northern Sun Tournament with an overall 17-11 and 11-7 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference records. Mary ended the season in the final regional poll at No. 10 and third in the NSIC. …Seniors Kayla Rogers and Anna Skala and sophomore Abby Reiter are the Marauders' three returning starters. Rogers, a third-team All-NSIC honoree, averaged 10.9 points and 3.5 assists per game. Skala is the team's leading returner in rebounds as she averaged 4.8 per game, while Reiter is the leading returner with 27 steals.

Head-to-Head: The Lumberjacks hold a 24-0 all-time record against Notre Dame de Namur after taking both games from the Argonauts, 90-70 and 77-50, last season. …HSU and the University of Mary enters this tournament with a clean slate as it will be the first meeting between these two teams.
 
Gleason's Comments: On the Jacks' exhibition game against CSU East Bay - “I think we moved really well and were able to find the open players and made our shots.” … “Paige (Peterson) ran the point position well, while distributing the ball and was able to find the open players.”