SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth Whitworth University Pirates open the 2007-08 women's basketball season this weekend at the University of Chicago Midway Classic. Whitworth will take on Baruch (N.Y.) on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. In the classic's other game, Chicago will play Concordia-Moorhead at 4:00 p.m. Sunday's consolation game is at 11:00 a.m. and the championship is at 3:00 p.m. All times are CST.

The Pirates: Whitworth returns four starters and eight letterwinners from 2006-07 when the Bucs finished 14-11 overall and 8-8 in the Northwest Conference. Junior forward Alida Bower was a Second Team All-NWC selection and sophomore forward Natalie Orrell added 10.4 points and made 60.4% of her three point tries. Seniors Cassie Snyder and Teresa Zeitler return as the starting guards.

The last time the Pirates had so many returning starters and were so deep on the bench, the team went 22-3 in 2004-05

Heading Midwest : The last time the Pirates headed to the midwest was also 2004-05 when Whitworth competed at the University of Wilmington (OH) season opening tournament. The Pirates defeated Defiance (OH) and Kalamazoo (MI) to win the tournament.

The Opponents: Baruch finished 21-9 last season and won the regular season title of the CUNYAC before losing in the conference title game. The Bearcats are led by 5-11 senior post Dominique McClendon, who averaged 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Chicago (18-7 in 2006-07) and Concordia (18-9) round out the other half of the bracket. The host Maroons are led by senior guard Nofi Mojidi who averaged 16.4 points last winter. The Cobbers welcome the return of All-MIAC post Melanie Hageman (Sr.), who averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds last season.

The Coach: Helen Higgs begins her 14th season at Whitworth College as the winningest women's basketball coach in school history. She has a record of 201-148 during her tenure as the Pirate head coach. Her current winning percentage of .611 is also the best all-time among Pirate head coaches. She has been named Northwest Conference Coach of the Year three times.