ARCATA – After a successful exhibition schedule in which they went 2-1, the Humboldt State women's basketball team opens its 2009-10 campaign in Seattle, Wash. at the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic this weekend.  On Friday HSU opens the tournament with a 1 p.m. tipoff against the Central Washington University Wildcats.  The next night, the Jacks play host Seattle Pacific at 5 p.m.

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Head-to-Head:  Central Washington leads the all time series 14-2.  This game marks the first meeting between these two schools as non-conference opponents.  From 1998-99 to 2000-01 both were members of the Pacific West Conference and met six times with CWU taking sweeping the series.  In 2001-02 both joined the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).  The Wildcats took the next six meetings before the Jacks broke through in 2004-05 with a 66-49 win at home.  Including the 2004-05 win, the two teams have split their last four meetings. … Seattle Pacific has won the last 18 times its faced HSU and holds a 24-3 advantage in the all time series. The last Jacks' win was in 1996-97, a 78-65 victory in Arcata, and the last meeting between the two was in last year's NCAA West Region Championship semi-final.  The Falcons won 74-56.

Gleason's Comments:  “When we were in the GNAC, Central Washington applied high-pressure defense, were really good in the passing lanes and tried to get you on your heels defensively.  They attack in transition and run on offense.  We haven't played them in a couple of years, but that has been their style.  They are usually physical and strong.  Against them we have to take care of the ball and not allow their pressure to get us out of what we want to do.  If we rebound on the defensive end it will allow us to get out and run, so taking care of the ball and rebounding will be key for us.” … “Seattle Pacific lost a couple of starters, but they seem to reload every year.  We expect them to be ready to go.  In (Daesha) Henderson they have a great guard and in general have good guard play every year.  We are not sure who will be playing the post this season, but they are always physical, large and execute their offense really well and force you to defend.  We will have to defend with some urgency and get some stops and not give them anything easy if possible.”

Lumberjack Notes:  The Jacks finished last season 24-8 overall, 16-4 in the CCAA and were eliminated by Seattle Pacific in the West Region Semi-Final. … The Jacks return four starters from last season, led by Division II Bulletin Preseason All-American Brittney Taylor. … Humboldt State lost its exhibition opener 83-73 at UC Davis before defeating Pacific 96-84 and Menlo College 90-54. Four players averaged double figure scoring in those games, Taylor (20.6), Paige Peterson (13.3), Andrea Bobic (12.3) and Bree Halsey (11.0).  Halsey also averaged 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists.  Taylor added 8.7 rebounds per game, of which 6.0 were on the offensive glass. … Joddie Gleason is entering her sixth season as head coach of the Lumberjacks.  Her 86-56 record and .606 winning percentage are the best in school history and she has led the Jacks to a berth in the NCAA West Region Championships in two of the last three years. … This is the third year in a row that HSU has started the season on the road.  During Gleason's tenure the Jacks have begun the season on the road four times and have a 3-1 record in those games. 

Central Washington Notes:  The Wildcats enter the 2009-10 season returning just two starters from a squad that went 7-20 overall, 4-12 and a seventh place finish in the GNAC last season. … Shiana Afoa leads the Wildcats' returners in rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists (32), blocks (33), steals (23) and field goal percentage (.458) while averaging 25.7 minutes and 7.9 points per game.  Jenn Jacobs is CWU's top returning scorer.  In 12 games she averaged 10.3 points while shooting .429 from 3-point distance. … CWU played one exhibition game, a 101-49 defeat against Eastern Washington.  Amanda Murdoch , a senior out of Bozeman, Mont., led the Wildcats with 13 points.  Afoa had five rebounds. … Jeff Whitney is in his 13th season as the head coach of his alma mater.  He has compiled a 186-134 record.

Seattle Pacific Notes:  The 2009 GNAC champions finished last season 14-2 in conference, 23-5 overall and with a No. 7 national ranking.  They fell to Alaska-Anchorage in the West Region Final after defeating HSU the round before. … The Falcons lose two of their three top scorers from last season, Kelsey Burns (12.3 ppg) and Kelsey Hill (10.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg).  Senior guard Daesha Henderson (11.0 ppg) was a first-team All-GNAC honoree and the only player to average double figures coming back this season.  2009 GNAC Freshman of the Year Jordan Harazin (4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg) also returns. … SPU played two exhibition games, a 69-61 loss to the Washington Huskies and a 62-55 win against George Fox. Henderson had 26 points against Washington, including 5-for-6 from behind the 3-point line.  Against George Fox, Megan Hoisington led the Falcons with 17 points, Henderson added 15. … Seattle Pacific head coach Julie van Beek is entering her fifth season with a 96-21 record at the school.  In 13 seasons as a head coach her overall record is 258-140.