Mary Washington basketball teams are headed into the final seven-game stretch of the regular season preparing for two showdowns for first place -- beginning Saturday against York.

The Eagles sit atop the standings in both men's and women's basketball.  The men's hoop team shares first place with York, both at 8-2 in CAC play.  The third-ranked UMW women's team, with a 10-0 conference record, is on top of the pack, one game ahead of Marymount.

Mary Washington will host both challengers for the regular-season title in the next few weeks. 

Saturday, York visits Fredericksburg with first place on the line in the men's standings.  The opening game of Saturday's twinbill will also feature the third-place York women's team taking a shot at knocking off the top team.

Two weeks later (2/16), the second-place Marymount women's team will visit UMW looking to even the season series.  The Eagles took sole possession of first place in the women's standings with a 68-56 win over the Saints in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 16.

 Two other men's teams streak into February's home stretch.  Hood, which was in first place a week ago after winning four-straight games and eight of nine, is on a three-game slide heading into Saturday's home contest against Gallaudet, which is riding its first two-game win streak of the campaign.

On the women's side, Wesley (5-4), St. Mary's (5-5) and Salisbury (4-5) are all within a game of each other in the battle for the final first-round home playoff berth.  Salisbury, which had a bye Wednesday (1/30), plays at St. Mary's Saturday while Wesley visits Villa Julie.