SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna University men's and women's basketball teams will open their 2005-06 seasons this weekend in the 17th annual Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament at O.W. Houts Gymnasium.

The men will hit the court first with games on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, while the women take to the floor for games on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Admission to the tournament is $3 for adults and $1 for students per session.

In the men's tournament, Scranton will square off with New Jersey City in Friday's opener at 6 p.m. while the Crusaders will battle Chestnut Hill in the nightcap at 8 p.m. Saturday's consolation game will be at 1 p.m. with the championship game at 3 p.m.

The host Crusaders have won six tournament titles and have played in the championship game in each of the last five years. Susquehanna returns just one starter and five letterwinners from last year's squad which finished 3-21 overall and 0-14 in the Commonwealth Conference.

Chestnut Hill (15-12) finished second in the North Eastern Athletic Conference with a 12-2 league mark last season, and faced six Middle Atlantic Conference schools among its non-conference opposition. The Griffins return their top two scorers from last season in junior guards Isaac Greer (22.8 points per game) and Shawn Bolling (13.2 points, 4.6 assists per game).

Scranton (20-7) lost leading scorer Brian O'Donnell to graduation but the Royals return four starters including junior guard Darren Cannon (12.0 points per game), sophomore guard Randy Arnold (11.5 points per game) and junior swingman Mike McGowan (10.0 points per game).

New Jersey City (18-10) qualified for the 2005 NCAA Division III tournament after playing an independent schedule. Senior swingman Mark Washington led the Gothic Knights in scoring (18.3 points per game), rebounding (7.2 per game) and steals (55) while junior Devin Davis averaged 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game.

The women's tournament tips off on Saturday evening with the Crusaders facing Manhattanville at 6 p.m. and DeSales battling SUNY Cortland at 8 p.m. Sunday's action starts with the consolation game at 1 p.m. and the championship at 3 p.m.

Susquehanna returns nine letterwinners and three starters for the debut of new head coach Jim Reed, and will be seeking its 15 th consecutive season-opening victory against Manhattanville. The Crusaders, who finished 12-13 overall and 7-7 in the Commonwealth Conference last season, have won nine tournament championships.

Manhattanville (12-14) has made the Skyline Conference playoffs in each of the last three seasons and returns four starters from last year's team, including junior forward Sarah Kinsley (12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds per game) and senior forward Kait Herman who was the Valiants' leading rebounder at 6.3 boards per game.

DeSales (23-7) will look to rebuild after losing four senior starters to graduation from a team that won the ECAC South championship for the second straight year. Junior forward Kirby Lutz is the leading returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season.

SUNY Cortland (19-7) fell short of qualifying for the SUNYAC finals for the seventh straight season but returns its top four scorers from last season including sophomore forward Sara Cavanaugh (13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1,7 blocks per game) along with senior guard Dani Maye, who drilled 50 three-pointers en route to averaging 12.8 points per contest.