PARAMUS, NJ - The Northampton women's basketball team and Head Coach Tara Belfield will open the 2016-17 campaign tonight when they travel to Hernandez Hall on the campus of Bergen Community College to face the Bulldogs at 6pm. 

Northampton is coming off a 20-5 season which saw them advance to the Region XIX semi-finals, where they lost to eventual regional champion Ocean County College, 62-60.  Head Coach Tara Belfield, the 2015-16 EPAC Coach of the Year, begins her second season with a number of question marks, as the Spartans graduated a majority of their scoring and rebounding.  "While we definitely lost a lot in terms of production the court," remarked Belfield, "the biggest loss right now has been in the leadership category.  We had some tremendous sophomore leaders last year and right now we need someone to step up and want to take charge of this team.  I think we are talented enough to compete for the Regional title, but the question remains if we are tough enough."

Bergen finished last season 10-15, but historically has been a Region XIX playoff team.  "You never know what to expect early in the season," said Belfield, "it is very difficult to scout or get a gauge on any of the teams you play in November ... things can change quickly at this level from year to year."

After tonight, the Spartans will head to Utica, NY this weekend to compete in the Mohawk Valley Invitational.