SELINSGROVE, Pa. - O.W. Houts Gymnasium will be the site of the Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament as the Susquehanna University men's and women's basketball teams begin their 2000-2001 seasons during the weekend of November 17-19.
The Crusader men host a difficult field that includes 2000 Freedom Conference champion Scranton and 1999 NCAA Division III tournament qualifiers New Jersey City and Goucher. The women's team will entertain Gallaudet, Alvernia and John Carroll.
Action tips off on Friday, November 17 when New Jersey City and Scranton meet at 6 p.m., followed by Susquehanna and Goucher at 8 p.m. Saturday's slate opens with John Carroll and Alvernia meeting at 1 p.m. and Susquehanna taking on Gallaudet at 3 p.m. That evening, the consolation and championship games of the tournament will take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. The Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament winds down on Sunday as the women's consolation game begins at 1 p.m. with the championship to follow at 3 p.m.
Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students for each doubleheader of the tournament.
Both the Crusader men's and women's teams are coming off disappointing 13-11 seasons in 1999-2000 in which both squads were eliminated from the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs on the season's final day.
The men are led by junior forward Corey Green, who averaged 11.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season, and senior guard Mike Witcoskie, who drilled a team-high 49 three-pointers in his role as sixth man last winter.
On the women's side, the return of senior center and preseason All-American Karyn Kern combined with a deep and talented roster has Crusaders fans dreaming of a big season. Kern averaged over 26 points per game in five starts last fall before injuring her knee and missing the remainder of the season. However, she was granted a medical redshirt and awarded a fifth year of eligibility, and will team up with senior Leslie Clementoni and junior Amy Harrington to form one of the most potent frontcourts in the conference.
