FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State women's basketball team will open the 2016-17 season on Friday and Saturday when they host a MEC/PSAC Challenge at Joe Retton Arena. The Falcons, who were voted as the preseason favorite in the Mountain East Conference Preseason Poll, will open up play against Clarion on Friday at 4 p.m. FSU will then host Lock Haven on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Student Ticket Promotion

Through the 2016-17 season, all secondary and elementary aged students will receive a free general admission ticket to Fairmont State men's and women's basketball games. In addition, all parent or guardians that accompany any secondary or elementary aged children to the game will receive half-price admission when purchasing general admission tickets.

2016 MEC/PSAC Challenge Schedule

Friday, Nov. 11
2 p.m. - Concord vs. Lock Haven | Live Stats
4 p.m. - Fairmont State vs. Clarion | Live Stats | Live Video

Saturday, Nov. 12
1 p.m. - Concord vs. Clarion | Live Stats
5 p.m. - Fairmont State vs. Lock Haven | Live Stats | Live Video

Get twitter updates by following @fsufalcons

Fairmont State Women's Basketball Notebook

- The Fairmont State women's basketball team was selected as the preseason favorite in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll.

- The Falcons were ranked third in the initial D2SIDA regional poll and are receiving votes in the D2SIDA National Media Poll.

- The Falcons return five starters and have six seniors on their 2016-17 roster.

- FSU returned a pair of All-MEC performers this season, including guard Makenzie White and post Amanda Ruffner.

- The Falcons ended the 2015-16 season with a 20-11 overall record, making a run to the MEC Tournament semifinals in March.

- White, a senior guard from Madison, W.Va., has scored 729 points in two seasons at Fairmont State. White's 15.2 career scoring-average at Fairmont State is tied for the sixth-best average in school history.

- Ruffner, a senior post from Proctorville, Ohio, enters her senior season with 717 career points and currently holds the top spot in the school record book with a career field-goal percentage of .576

- Emily Puskarich, a senior guard from Wheeling, W.Va., enters her senior season with 740 career points and is currently fifth in FSU history with 167 made three-point field goals. Puskarich needs 92 threes this season to become the school's all-time leader in career three-pointers.

- Deidra Combs, a senior from Beverly, Ohio, comes into this season with 632 career points and is currently 10th in program history with 90 blocked shots.

Scouting Concord

• Concord wrapped up last season with an overall record of 5-23 and 3-19 mark in Mountain East Conference play.

• The Mountain Lions were selected 12th in the MEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

• Concord has played one exhibition game this season, dropping a 104-48 decision to West Virginia University.

• The Mountain Lions return five of their top six scores from last season and are led by guard Danielle Catron (13.9). Catron also leads the returners, averaging 4.3 rebounds per game.

• Olivia Morgan helped lead the Concord offense last season, averaging 4.6 assists per game.

Scouting Clarion

• Clarion University finished last season with an overall record of 9-19 and a 9-13 mark in PSAC play.

• The Golden Eagles were selected eighth in the PSAC West Preseason Poll.

• Clarion's top returning scorer is Tyra Polite, who finished last season averaging 12.8 points per game and led the team with 61 made three-pointers.

• Delrika Jones-Carey also returns as the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 7.6 rebounds per contest a season ago.

• Jen Straw returns as the team's top free-throw shooter, draining 81.6 percent of her free throws attempts last season (40-of-49).

Scouting Lock Haven

• Lock Haven concluded last season with an overall record of 11-16 and were 8-14 in PSAC play.

• The Bald Eagles were selected sixth in the PSAC East Preseason Poll.

• Lock Haven has played an exhibition game this season, dropping a 99-41 contest to Toledo (Ohio).

• The Bald Eagles finished in the top-25 nationally last season in rebound margin (8.8), offensive rebounds per game (16.0) and rebounds per game (44.2).

• The top returning scorer for LHU is Mackenzie Livingston, who averaged 10.5 points per contest last season and led the team with 41 steals. Livingston shot 87 percent from the free-throw line a season ago.

• Lysa Mealing returns as the top rebounder after leading the team with 13.7 rebounds per game and a team-high 13 blocks in 2015-16.