Cal Poly Women Open Hoop Season

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team, which finished second nationally in NCAA Division II last season, opens its 1987-88 season with an exhibition against the New Zealand national team at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Poly Pavilion.

Over the last six years, Pomona has won three Division II titles and finished second twice. Coach Darlene May has eight freshmen on a squad of 13.

May, with a 341-81 record in 13 years with the Broncos, has three starters returning: 6-2 sophomore center Niki Bracken, 6-0 junior forward Marcine Edmonds and 5-8 guard Paula Tezak, the team’s only senior.

Bracken averaged 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds last year, Tezak 8.1 points and 8 rebounds and Edmonds 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds. Other key players figure to be 5-5 point guard Cathy Gooden, a top reserve last season, and 5-9 forward Susan Luckinbill, who redshirted last year.