By Ray Hamill — College of the Redwoods will tip off the basketball season with its men’s and women’s alumni games on Friday night.

The women’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the men’s to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Both teams have been practicing since the start of the month as they prepare for their competitive openers in two weeks, and each will be glad to see some other competition at this stage.

“We’re trying to get some of the freshmen up to pace, and I think playing the alumni they’ll get to see how competitive its’ going to be,” CR women’s head coach Jain Tuey said. “I think it will be a good test.”

This year, Tuey has a roster of 10 players, but three of them — Jayden Johnson (soccer), Alondra Ledezma (volleyball) and Ashlynn Maddeaux (volleyball) — are dual sport athletes and won’t be available for the alumni game.

Among the alumni players expected to be on hand are a pair of Tuey’s former teammates at CR back in 2011/12, Allie Wipf and Lili Herrera.

Two of last season’s sophomores, Alexis Regan and Braelyn Rose, will both also be on hand.

This year’s CR team features a pair of returning players, Bobbie Purify and Adriana Catana.

The CR women travel to the Las Positas tournament on Nov. 10 and 11.

This year’s men’s team, meanwhile, features eight freshmen on a roster of 11.