ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Two in-season tournaments, including a date with national power Maryland and 17 home games highlights the 2008-09 UNC Asheville women's basketball schedule. The 29-game schedule was released today by Bulldog head coach Betsy Blose.
“This year's schedule will be very challenging for our young team,” commented Blose. “However, we're looking forward to competing against the teams that we have on it this season.
“We're pleased to be playing so many home games and to be hosting another tournament early in the year,” added Blose. “We have some good home games with Charlotte and Western Carolina coming to Justice Center in December.”
UNC Asheville plays one exhibition game against area foe Mars Hill on Nov. 6 at Justice Center. The Bulldogs open the regular season by hosting their own tournament on Nov. 14-15. The other teams in the tourney are Fairfield, Morgan State and William & Mary.
Asheville hits the road for games against Southern Conference schools Furman (Nov. 18) and Georgia Southern (Nov. 22) before returning home for five straight games. The Bulldogs entertain Montreat (Nov. 24), South Carolina State (Nov. 29), Western Carolina (Dec. 2), Charlotte (Dec. 6) and Johnson C. Smith (Dec. 13). The Bulldogs finish up their pre-Christmas schedule with a road date at Campbell (Dec. 18).
Blose's team heads to the University of Maryland on Dec. 29-30 for a tournament at College Park, Md. The Bulldogs have drawn the 2006 national champion Maryland Terrapins in the first round on Dec. 29. The other teams in the tourney are Marshall and North Carolina A&T.
“Maryland should be one on the top teams in the country when the season starts so we will have a big challenge but our team is excited about playing a school like Maryland,” stated Blose.
Asheville opens Big South Conference play on the South Carolina coast against Coastal Carolina (Jan. 3) and Charleston Southern (Jan. 5). The Bulldogs are then home for five consecutive games. Blose's club is at Justice Center for games against Carson-Newman (Jan. 7), Gardner-Webb (Jan. 10), Presbyterian (Jan. 12), Radford (Jan. 17 and Liberty (Jan. 19).
Asheville travels to High Point (Jan. 26) before coming for three more home games against Winthrop (Jan. 31), Charleston Southern (Feb. 7) and Coastal Carolina (Feb. 9).
The Bulldogs complete the regular season by being on the road for most of the way as they'll play five of their last six games away from Asheville. The lone home game in that stretch is a game against High Point (Feb. 21).
The 2009 Big South Conference Tournament will be held at High Point University from March 13-15.
For more information on the UNC Asheville women's basketball team or other information on Bulldogs athletics, contact www.uncabulldogs.com.
