The 2018 Northwest Conference basketball season tips off Friday night beginning with the women's contest at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8. Opening the conference calendar at home, Linfield takes on Pacific Lutheran from inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium. On Saturday, Linfield travels to Lewis & Clark starting with the women's game at 4 p.m.
 
Friday night is being billed as a "Dutch Bros. Doubleheader" and features a Dutch Bros portable concession operating at Wilson Gym.
 
COVERAGE
Joe Stuart and Graeme Fineman are set to provide live play-by-play action on the Linfield Sports Network. Friday against Pacific Lutheran, LSN presents live video of both games. On Saturday, Stuart and Fineman will team for a Linfield-centered audio broadcast from courtside at the Lewis & Clark's Pamplin Sports Center.
 
MEN'S BREAKDOWN
Linfield returns home after spending the weekend before Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz, California, at the UCSC Classic. The Wildcats enter the conference season 3-1 overall with their lone loss coming against Cal Lutheran, 85-81. In four games this season, Linfield is averaging 93 points while allowing just 73. High-flying, fast-paced and extremely efficient, the Wildcats are sure to impress in 2018-19.
 
SOPHOMORE SURGE
Reigning West Region Rookie of the Year and NWC Freshman of the Year Dempsey Roggenbuck is off to a red-hot start, leading the team in scoring with a 21 points-per-game average. He recently set a new career-high in scoring with 35 points during a 112-78 win over La Verne.
 
ASSIST LEADERS
Linfield has been arguably the most efficient team in the NWC through the slate of non-conference games. The 'Cats average fewer than 10 turnovers per game while distributing an average of 21.5 assists a night, both tops in the conference. Liam O'Reilly leads the team, averaging four assists, while Riley Bruil, Eric Daul and newcomer Will Burghardt all average 3.5 per contest.
 
ABOUT THE LUTES
After Linfield, Pacific Lutheran (2-1, 1-0 NWC) has been the second-best team in the NWC when it comes to not turning the ball over. The Lutes average 14 giveaways per night while averaging 37 rebounds and scoring 84 points. The Lutes' only loss of the season came at the hands of Old Westbury, 82-74. PLU knocked off its rival Puget Sound on Tuesday night, 84-75.
 
Leading the club in scoring is junior forward Leighton Kingma, who averages 22 points per game with more than six rebounds. Kelton Williams leads the team with five assists and scores 6.7 points.
 
Linfield has won its last three head-to-head matchups with the Lutes dating back to the 2016-17 season.
 
 
AT THE PIONEERS
Lewis & Clark (0-4) heads into the weekend without a win on the season. The Pioneers meet George Fox on Friday night in Portland. Averaging 71 points per night, the Pios have struggled with more than 17 turnovers per game while notching just six assists a night. Defensively, Lewis & Clark allows an average of 87 points per outing.
 
Senior guard Kyle Owens leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.3 points. Keep an eye out for Zeke Crawford, who is averaging more than six rebounds through four games.
 
Linfield has swept Lewis & Clark each of the past two seasons and holds a four-game win streak over the Pios.
 
WOMEN'S UPDATE
The Linfield women (2-4) are coming off back-to-back wins over Walla Walla and Northwest. The 'Cats scored more than 75 points in both games after falling short of that mark through their first four. Back on track, Linfield hopes to continue its run against the Lutes and the Pios this weekend.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLED
Molly Danielson leads the club with four double-doubles this season. The junior center is leading the NWC in scoring at 22.7 points per game while hauling in 10.5 rebounds (third-best NWC). Kory Oleson ranks second among NWC scorers, averaging 18.7 points a night with one double-double through six games.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
Linfield has been the best in the NWC at getting to the line so far this season. The 'Cats have attempted 144 free throws with the next closest team, George Fox, having only attempted 90. Linfield shoots 71 percent as a team from the stripe.
 
ABOUT PLU
PLU has played in just three games and sits at 1-2, 0-1 in the NWC. The Lutes fell narrowly to Puget Sound 63-60 on Tuesday night. PLU fell to Trinity Texas, in its season opener and knocked off Warner Pacific 78-65 for its lone win.
 
Madison Salisbury leads the club in point production, averaging 15 points per game. Her matchup with Molly Danielson is pivotal in determining the game's outcome.
 
The Lutes average 65 points per game and yield 19 turnovers a night.
 
LEWIS & CLARK IN PORTLAND
The Pios enter the weekend at 1-3 having played some of the top teams nationally, including St. Thomas. Lewis & Clark, under first-year coach Kristina Williams, won its home opener 78-69 over Evergreen State. The Pios host George Fox on Saturday night at the Pamplin Sports Center.
 
Alyx Crager is leading the Pioneers in scoring at 13.3 points per game. She is paired with Delsie Johnson, who pulls down 9.3 rebounds per game.