Panthers Announce 2008-09 Women's Basketball Schedule
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Sept. 11, 2008) - The Kay Yow Invitational and WNIT Champion Marquette highlight the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team's 2008-09 schedule released today by head coach Sandy Botham. The Panthers could play up to six teams that competed in post-season tournaments last season and four squads that won at least 20 games during their tough non-league slate. "I'm excited for the start of this season," Botham said. "Coming off the year we had last year, as well as our trip to Europe where we got more experience together, I'm just excited to get started. The non-conference is our opportunity to challenge ourselves and compete with the best teams out there. It gives us an opportunity to grow and improve before the league season starts." The season gets underway with exhibition games against Michigan Tech Nov. 6 and the University of Dubuque Nov. 9. UWM then opens the regular season with the Kay Yow Invitational, hosted by North Carolina State in Raleigh, Nov. 15-16. UWM will be joined at the tourney by the host Wolfpack, Charlotte and USC. NC State advanced to the WNIT Semifinals last season and the 49ers were another WNIT squad. "Last season we got on board with the WBCA's Pink Zone to raise breast cancer awareness," Botham said. "We will play another `pink' game, but take it one step further and open the season with two good games at the Kay Yow Challenge. Kay has been a key figure in this cause and has been through so much. It will be great for our players to meet her. She transcends the court, who she is and what she represents." Milwaukee travels across town to play Marquette in its non-league finale, Dec. 31 at the Al McGuire Center. The Golden Eagles went 21-14 last season and won the WNIT. The two teams will renew a rivalry that saw them play annually before a one-year hiatus in 2007-08. "We're glad to have our two rivalry games back in tact this season," Botham said of the Panthers' games with Marquette and Wisconsin. "It's great to have every Division I team in the state play each other. Our players are really looking forward to that."
UWM's non-league slate also includes the return portion of a home-and-home with Air Force Nov. 22 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Panthers and Falcons faced off at the Klotsche Center during the 2006-07 season. The home opener this season will be Nov. 26 against new Division I team SIU-Edwardsville. The Cougars went 17-11 last season in their final season as a Division II program. They will compete as an Division I Independent this season and in the future will join the Ohio Valley Conference. Road games against Northern Illinois (Nov. 29), Wisconsin (Dec. 2) and Washington State (Dec. 7) await the Panthers before they play on their home floor again. They play their annual game with the Badgers Dec. 2 at the Kohl Center in Madison. Wisconsin was another team that saw the post-season in 2007-08, playing into the WNIT Second Round. A three-game homestand leads Milwaukee into its showdown with Marquette, getting underway with Illinois Dec. 10. The Illini won 20 games last season and advanced to the WNIT Third Round. UWM also receives a return game with Central Michigan Dec. 20 after the two teams squared off last season in Michigan. Finally, Evansville comes to the Klotsche Center Dec. 22. The Purple Aces went 21-12 last season and made it to the WNIT Second Round. The Panthers' 2008-09 Horizon League schedule begins and ends with contests against in-state rival Green Bay. UWM and GB meet Jan. 4 in the league opener at the Klotsche Center and will play in the regular season finale, March 7 in Green Bay. The Phoenix went 26-6 last season, won the league's regular season title and ended its season in the WNIT. "To open the league season with the defending league regular season champions will show the importance of a good non-conference schedule. We are going to need to be ready," Botham said. "And, how the seasons usually play out, the top few spots in the league will have just one or two games separating them, so it makes for some exciting scenarios (for that regular season finale)." Milwaukee then alternates away and home weekends throughout much of the season, heading to Northeast Ohio to take on Youngstown State and Cleveland State before returning home to host Wright State and Detroit. The first half of the league slate comes to an end with a two-game swing through Chicago and home games with Valparaiso and Butler. The second half of the season opens at home and, with the exception of Green Bay, goes in the same weekend-by-weekend order as the first half. The Panthers do, however, end the regular season with three-straight road contests at Butler and Valpo before taking on the Phoenix. UWM is looking to continue its reign near the top of the Horizon League, as they finished second-or-better in 2008-09 for the eighth time in nine seasons. The Panthers return three starters and 12 letterwinners from their 17-14 squad, including Horizon League Player of the Year Traci Edwards. |
