Looking to take the next step in the Northwest Conference, both Linfield basketball teams begin conference play this weekend. Friday at Pacific, the Wildcats women and the Boxers women tip off at 6 p.m., with the men's game following at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday evening, the women host George Fox for a 4 p.m. tipoff. Linfield's men battle George Fox afterward in a 6 p.m. start.
 
COVERAGE
The Linfield Sports Network will provide coverage of all four games this weekend, with an audio-only broadcast on Friday night and video webcast on Saturday. Graeme Fineman and Joe Stuart will be on the call throughout the basketball season.
 
YOUNG CATS CLUB
Saturday's women's basketball game between the Bruins and the Wildcats is the Young Cats Club night for Linfield. All boys and girls under the age of 17 will receive free T-shirts and have the opportunity to get postgame autographs with select Wildcats.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE MEN
Linfield comes into the weekend having lost its last two contests – both at home – against 11th-ranked St. John's and Louisiana College. The Wildcats own the third-most productive offense in Division III, according to Synergy Sports, averaging 1.05 points per possession. Linfield is 6-3 under seventh-year coach Shanan Rosenberg.
 
Dempsey Roggenbuck, last week's NWC Student-Athlete of the Week, leads the way for the 'Cats. His 16.3 points per game rank eighth among NWC scorers. Austin Hilton leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, while Will Burghardt is the top passer, averaging 3.7 assists per game.
 
Finishing third in the NWC's regular season a year ago, the Wildcats are picked to finish second in this season's preseason NWC coaches' poll.
 
A LOOK AT THE WOMEN
The Wildcats have won their last two contests, including a 58-40 win over Corban on Monday night. The Wildcats are 6-3 to start the season, the program's best start under fifth-year coach Casey Bunn-Wilson. Linfield has the second-highest scoring offense in the NWC, averaging 73.1 points per outing.
 
Linfield fields one of the best one-two punches in the Northwest Conference. Center Molly Danielson ranks second in the NWC in scoring with an average of 18 points per game while forward Kory Oleson is third at 16.8 points per game. Danielson stands second in the NWC in rebounding, grabbing 11.1 rebounds. The 5-foot-11 senior has already been chosen NWC Student-Athlete of the Week twice this season. Freshman Delaney Ragan has scored 10 or more points in seven of the Wildcats' nine games.
 
Qualifying for the postseason for the first time in 12 years last winter, the 'Cats are expected to return to the four-team NWC Tournament this season. The 'Cats are picked fourth in the preseason NWC coaches' poll.
 
SCOUTING THE BOXERS
The Pacific men's team is 3-6 on the season but is coming off a 98-93 non-conference win over Mary Washington. Playing a fast-paced style of basketball, the Boxers lead the NWC in scoring with an average of 102.9 points per game under second-year coach Justin Lunt.
 
Marcus Wallace is the Boxers' lead scorer. His 20.6 points per game rank fourth in the NWC. Defensively, the Boxers allow 112.9 points per game, which is the most in the conference.
 
Finishing 10-15 in 2018-19, the Boxers have been picked to place seventh by the NWC coaches.
 
The Pacific women's team is also 6-3 to start the conference slate, Against common opponents, the Boxers went 3-0 while Linfield, having played the College of Idaho twice, was 2-2. The Boxers, under second-year coach Alecia Parker, allow the second-fewest points in the conference at 57.7 points per game.
 
Guard Camy Aguinaldo runs an efficient Pacific attack. Last week's NWC Student-Athlete of the Week sits third in the NWC in assists with 4.2 per game and 10th in scoring with an average of 13.3 points per game
 
After finishing seventh in the NWC last season with a record of 2-14, Pacific is expected to make a significant improvement this winter. The Boxer share fifth place in the NWC preseason coaches' poll.
 
WELCOMING IN THE BRUINS
The George Fox men's team started the season 4-1, but has lost its last four matchups, coming into NWC play with a record of 4-5 under seventh year coach Maco Hamilton. The Bruins stand in the middle of the pack in the NWC in most statistical categories, allowing 84.2 points per game which is sixth, and scoring 78.6, which is fifth.
 
The team leader in points is Ryan Lacey, who is sixth in the conference with 16.4 points per game. Fellow Bruin Wesley Reynolds is averaging 5.3 rebounds per game, which is ranks in the top-15 among NWC student-athletes.
 
With a record of 7-9 in conference play a year ago, the Bruins finished one game behind Puget Sound for the final spot in the NWC Tournament. The Bruins are picked to claim fifth place once again, according to the NWC preseason coaches' poll.
 
Advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19, the Bruins' women have begun the 2019-20 campaign with a 6-1 record. GFU is ranked No. 9 in the latest D3Hoops.com poll. Under first-year coach Mike Coppolino, George Fox surrenders the fewest points in the conference, with an average of 56.1, and scores the third-most, averaging 72.1.
 
Using a score-by-committee approach, the Bruins have four players who average between 10.2 and 9.7 points per game. Emily Holder leads the way in rebounding, averaging 5.7, which is ninth in the conference.
 
The Bruins are among the favorites to win the NWC once again, having been slotted third in the preseason coaches' poll.