Coming off of a blowout victory at Colgate, the Binghamton University women’s basketball team is looking to open the Events Center the right way today with a win over Portland State of the Big Sky Conference.

The Bearcats and Vikings share a short yet very exciting history. In a game played last season at Portland State that featured seven lead changes, then-Vikings freshman Kelli Valentine hit a basket with 50 seconds left to secure the 62-60 victory for Portland State. Valentine then went on to win the Big Sky Outstanding Freshman award.

Picked sixth in the preseason America East poll, the Bearcats (1-1) are led by senior center Laura Franceski and junior guards Erica Carter and Muffy Sadler. The team also features five freshmen, two of which, Andrea Holmes and Viive Rebane, round out the starting lineup for the Bearcats at the point guard and forward spot, respectively.

Binghamton looks prepared for the home opener after a decisive 66-41 victory at Colgate to secure Nicole Scholl her first victory as the Bearcats’ head coach. In that game, Sadler scored a career-high 18 points, all 12 Bearcats that suited up got into the game and Binghamton dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Colgate, 15-4, on the offensive rebounds.

Unlike the men’s home opener, which featured Division II Mansfield, Portland State (1-0) poses a serious threat for the Bearcats. Picked to finish second place in the Big Sky preseason poll after a 22-9 season last year, the Vikings are primed for a postseason tournament led by All-American Honorable Mention, junior Claire Faucher, who was first in all of Division I last season with 8.84 assists per game. Senior forward Kelsey Kahle will give Binghamton all they can handle as well, being named first-team All-Big Sky twice in her career.

Key matchups:

Andrea Holmes vs. Claire Faucher

In her first two games Holmes has performed well at the starting point guard position, dishing out six assists while only allowing one turnover and three steals. Faucher is Portland State’s most dangerous player; she can score almost as well as she distributes the ball, but she also led the team last season with 139 turnovers. If the Bearcats expect to win, Holmes needs to keep up the strong play and force Faucher into making bad decisions with the ball.

Laura Franceski vs. Portland State Forwards

Franceski is an excellent shot blocker and at 6 feet 2 inches, she is at least three inches taller than any Portland State starter. Franceski needs her skills and size advantage to keep Portland State out of the paint, especially Kahle and Valentine, who recorded double-doubles against Brigham Young University on Nov. 14.

The game is being held at the Events Center and begins at 7 p.m. All BU undergrads will receive free entry with a school ID.