LA VERNE (Interstat) — Wheaton (Ill.) and La Verne will meet Friday in a women’s NCAA Division III basketball game at Frantz Athletic Court in La Verne, Calif. The Thunder are the visiting team, and the Leopards are the home team. Both programs enter the game with current records of 0-0. The contest is the first scheduled game of the season for each program and is a nonconference matchup.

Wheaton begins the season after a 78-65 loss at Carroll (Wisc.). La Verne’s most recent result was a 65-56 home loss to Pomona-Pitzer. The Thunder will look to establish early rhythm on the road, while the Leopards will seek a strong start at home in their opener. Both teams are opening their schedules with this game at Frantz Athletic Court. Wheaton will make the trip from Illinois, while La Verne will stay at home for the opener. The game will mark the start of a busy stretch for both programs, with several nonconference and regional contests ahead.

Wheaton’s early schedule includes a mix of road and home games, with trips to Pomona-Pitzer, Alma, Dubuque and Carthage and home contests against Olivet, Maryville (Tenn.), Ripon, North Central (Ill.), Carroll (Wisc.) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh. La Verne’s early schedule includes home games against Pacific (Ore.), Whitworth, Westcliff, Pomona-Pitzer and UC Santa Cruz, a game against Lewis & Clark at Thousand Oaks, Calif., a trip to Redlands, neutral-site games against East Texas Baptist and Mount Union at Daytona Beach, Fla., and a road game at Azusa Pacific.

The game is an early-season contest for both programs as they begin the new campaign. The Thunder and Leopards both will look to build momentum before their schedules expand. The matchup gives Wheaton a chance to open with a road victory and La Verne an opportunity to defend its home court early in the season. The Thunder carry recent experience from the loss at Carroll, and the Leopards return to action after the home setback to Pomona-Pitzer. Frantz Athletic Court will host the opener, and both teams will continue their schedules with multiple games in the coming weeks. Friday’s game is set for Frantz Athletic Court in La Verne, Calif.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Wheaton (Ill.) 52, La Verne 51.