SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth women's basketball team heads into 2006 with a record of 6-4 after compiling a 6-2 record against the non-conference opponents on its schedule. The Pirates hope to improve on an 0-2 Northwest Conference start when Willamette University and Lewis & Clark College visit the Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday in a pair of NWC doubleheaders (men and women).

The Bucs have won three games in a row.

Ridings leads the Pirates in scoring, assists and steals.

The Pirates: Whitworth finished 2-0 at the Quality Inn Whit Classic just before the New Year. The Bucs dominated UC Santa Cruz (74-49) and Cal State East Bay (91-59) behind the stellar play of Holly Ridings (So., G, Spokane, Wash. - Shadle Park HS). Ridings scored 20 points in the two games to earn tournament MVP, as well as Northwest Conference Player of the Week honors. She leads the Pirates in scoring at 14.3 points per game.

Emily Hendrickson (So., F, Valleyford, Wash. - Freeman HS) adds 11.1 points per game and leads the Bucs in rebounding (6.8 per contest). She was named to the Quality Inn All-Tournament team as well.

As a team the Pirates have been deadly from the free throw line. Whitworth leads the Northwest Conference in team free throw percentage, making 77.5% from the charity line. The Bucs have also been strong from three point range, sinking 33.5% from beyond the arc this year.

Bower Out: Unfortunately for the Pirates, one of their few players with collegiate experience, Alida Bower (So., F, Onalaska, Wash. - St. Martin's Univ.) is out for the season with a knee injury, suffered during the team's trip to Montana at the end of finals. She was averaging 11.0 points per game and had started all eight contests. The injury came early in the second half of the win at Great Falls.

The Bearcats: Willamette comes into Friday night's game on a four game winning streak. The Bearcats (5-5 overall, 0-2 NWC) climbed back to .500 on Tuesday night with a 72-64 overtime win over Cascade College. Sophomore Laura Payne leads Willamette by averaging 10.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Last season the Pirates came back from double digit deficits twice to beat the Bearcats. Whitworth won 72-59 in Salem and 77-73 in Spokane. The Bucs currently hold an eight game winning streak in the series.

The Pioneers: Lewis & Clark is the most improved team in the NWC this season. The Pioneers, who finished 6-20 overall and 1-15 in the NWC last winter, are currently 6-4 and 2-0, surpassing their win total in both categories from last season. Sarah Moon averages 12.6 points per game to lead the team in scoring. The Pirates won both meetings last year, 70-42 in Spokane and 69-50 in Portland. Whitworth has an eight game winning streak in the series.

NEW START TIME: The Northwest Conference has allowed for earlier start times for games involving Whitworth and Whitman that occur on Saturdays. This allows for an earlier return home. Therefore, the Lewis & Clark double header on Saturday will begin with a women's game at 4:00 p.m, followed by the men's game at 6:00 p.m.

Back on the Air: For the fourth year in a row, all the rest of Whitworth's ROAD games will be head live on KSBN 1230 am. Bob Castle will call all the plays. The games can also be heard over the internet at www.ksbn.net.