ASHLAND–  The Southern Oregon University Women’s Basketball team are off to a fast start.

Starting off 10-1, averaging 93 points a game and holding opponents to 61.5 points a game defensively, and being name Cascade Colliegate Conference Team of the Week has the Raiders feeling pretty good about their season so far.

” It has been our team chemistry,” said SOU Women’s Head Coach Lynn Kennedy, “even though we have a lot of new players, it really feels like we’ve been playing together for a long time.  We have to keep practicing hard, competing at another level, making everyone better.”

This chemistry has them a top of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, a full game lead over Eastern Oregon in overall, but are tied with Eastern along with rival Oregon Tech and College of Idaho based on conference records at 2-0.

But, with all of this success, Kennedy firmly believes that his team still has some room for improvements, whom is giving his team a few days off to focus on finals at the University.

“We need to continue to work on our defense intensity and our offensive execution- conference games get tougher as we move forward and we need to finish our non-conference season on a positive note.”

As for this weekend’s opponents.  The games will take part Saturday/Sunday instead of the typical Friday/Saturday due to final exams.  But when they do, Southern Oregon will be traveling on the road for the third straight time as they face Simpson University of Redding, California and California Maritime Academy in Valliejo, California.

Simpson University Red Hawks are 3-7 on the season heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Raiders and are 1-5 in their last six games averaging 65.1 points a game on offense.

The Red Hawks are good from the free throw line, shooting 66.9-percent and their defense can rebound and steal, averaging 32.8 rebounds a game and average seven steals a game.

The keys to victory on Saturday for the Raiders is not to turn over the ball.  They are averaging 19.8 a game right now on the turnover catorgory and if they can keep their hands on the ball it’ll favor them.

The second key to victory for the Raiders is to be physical under the hoop.  The Red Hawks have twice got 40 or more rebounds a game, the Raiders need to be connecting on shots and get a hand on the ball if it doesn’t fall through.

Game two on Sunday, the Raiders are facing California Maritime Academy for the second time this season.  Both team’s met up on the season opener on November 2nd that saw Southern Oregon winning in a drastic fashion 101-53.

Since then the Raiders have won nine of their next ten games whereas the Keelhaulers have just won one of their last nine games.

The Keelhaulers have struggled offensively, cracking 60 points just twice all season.

Defensively, the Keelhaulers are very similar.  They are averaging 1.33 rebounds a game, and 4.7 steals a game.  Compare that to the Raiders 50.6 rebounds a game and 11.6 steals a game.

The keys to victory for the Raiders against the Keelhaulers are this; they must play their game and not get complacent.  California Maritime got their first victory on Saturday and, like sharks smelling blood in the water, are thirsty to get more of them from here on out.

With all of these away games is Kennedy worried that his team will be burnt out for the rest of the season?  Maybe not.

“I think it has been good to play on the road.” he said, “We were ready for the challenge.  It prepares us for the conference season in January and February and the push towards a conference championship.”

Tip-off for the Simpson game is slatted for 2p.m. on Saturday and tip-off for the California Maritime Academy game is set for noon on Sunday.

Kennedy has put it best about his team’s fast start to the season.

“We can’t be content with the season so far, it’s the end [of the season] that matters.”