FRESNO, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team is set to officially open the 2017-18 this weekend, hosting Western Washington and Seattle Pacific in the West Region Crossover Classic.
 
QUOTABLE
"The decision to play in this yearly crossover was made because we wanted a high caliber of competition early on, and these two teams will give us exactly that. They are perennial powerhouses in Division II basketball, and it will give us a great gauge on where we are headed. Both teams will pose large challenges, and we see that as an opportunity to improve. We will use this weekend and our next few games to prepare for a difficult conference season. It's an exciting time for us, and we are looking forward to the early challenge." – head coach Tim Beauregard
 
SCHEDULE
Game 1
vs. Western Washington
Friday, November 10 • 7:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Special Events Center
Live Stats
 
Game 2
vs. Seattle Pacific
Saturday, November 11 • 7:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Special Events Center
Live Stats
 
ABOUT FRESNO PACIFIC
The Sunbirds return eight players from last season, led by redshirt junior guard Bree Alvarez. An All-PacWest Third Team selection, Alvarez finished sixth in the league in scoring and first in three-point percentage. Fresno Pacific's leading rebounder is also back, as Viviana Vasquez hauled in 135 rebounds during her junior season.
 
Sophomores Cassie Pisik and Ashley Cross look to improve upon a solid freshman season, as the two combined for 15.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Megan Lee gave the Sunbirds a spark off the bench as a junior, appearing in all 28 games and averaging 10 points per night.
 
FPU has added depth and athleticism to the roster, signing three freshmen and two junior college transfers in the offseason. The freshman class consists of former CIF All-State guard Jessica Malazarte (Bishop Montgomery HS), three-time All-Valley guard Rachel Berry (Clovis HS), and 6'0 forward Ayla Faber (Mettmann, Germany).

Barbara Keomany, a transfer from Sierra College, is a former Army Athlete of the Year, while former First Team All-League selection Julia LoCastro comes to FPU after two years at Fresno City College. Additionally, the Sunbirds look forward to the debut of forward Caylee Bock, who sat out last season with a medical redshirt.
 
ABOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON
The Vikings went 26-6 overall (18-2 GNAC) last year, placing 2nd in the conference and reaching the GNAC Championships final before advancing to the NCAA II West Regional semifinal with a team featuring five senior starters and three All-GNAC selections. WWU received 76 points in the preseason poll with just nine points separating places 3rd through 6th.
 
WWU returns one starter and five letter winners from last season. Senior forward/center Hannah Stipanovich (St. Louis, Mo./MSU Denver) is WWU's returning starter, starting 16 games and appearing in all 32 games last season. She is one of two Preseason All-GNAC selections for the Vikings, joined by sophomore guard Lexie Bland (Ellensburg, Wash).
 
ABOUT SEATTLE PACIFIC
For the second consecutive year, Courtney Hollander and Jordan McPhee of the Falcons are on the GNAC's Preseason All-Conference team. McPhee, a 5-foot-10 guard, was a unanimous selection among the conference's 11 coaches. Of the 15 players named to the squad, she was one of the seven on all 11 ballots. She averaged 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, No. 2 on the team in both categories as she started all 30 games. She earned GNAC honorable mention for the second year in a row.
 
Hollander, a 6-footer who can play either guard or forward, returns as Seattle Pacific's leading scorer (11.8) and rebounder (7.0), and was named to the All-GNAC 2nd team. Hollander logged five double-doubles. She set a career rebounding high with 14 in a 17-point win against then-No. 17 UC San Diego, and poured in a career-high 23 points as SPU opened GNAC play with a 68-59 win at Western Oregon last Dec. 1.
 
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