Eagan vs. East Ridge
7:15 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29

Eagan tangled with East Ridge in last year's opener and will kick off the 2016-17 season by facing each other once again.

All-state honorable mention selection Noelle Tomes (17.1 ppg) and Mariah Sexe (14.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg) were key to East Ridge finishing 22-7 overall a year ago, and the duo's return is one reason why the No. 6-4A Raptors are in the hunt for the program's first state tournament appearance.

They begin the season against an Eagan still searching for an identity.

The Wildcats struggled to find consistency last season, especially in the competitive South Suburban Conference. They had three winning streaks of three or more games but also lost back-to-back games four different times, leading to a 16-12 overall record.

Graduation has left some gaps in Eagan's squad, including on the offensive end. Four of last season's top five scorers have moved on, most notably Tamira McLemore, who averaged 14.5 points per game.

All is not lost, however, as players such as Lauren Boike, the top returning scorer at 6.5 ppg, have the opportunity to prove themselves against top competition.