July 21, 2008

2008-09 Women's Basketball Schedule

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina head women's basketball coach Kellie Harper today announced the 2008-09 schedule which includes the club's first-ever invitation to the Preseason WNIT facing North Carolina, a trip to Knoxville to play the 2008 NCAA National Champion Tennessee Lady Vols and a 13-game home slate highlighted by a visit from the Clemson Tigers.

"Once again, we are challenging our players with a tough schedule," Harper said. "Our players want to play the best and our mentality will be to go out and win every basketball game we play."

The Lady Catamounts continue their precedent-setting standards by opening the season in Chapel Hill on November 14 facing North Carolina in the first round of the Preseason WNIT. The WNIT will be played in the format introduced in 2007, where each team is guaranteed to play three games in the MTE format. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 21-23. The eight teams who lose their first games will be re-grouped into "Consolation bracket quads," which are two four-team pools. One team in each pool will be selected to host the other three teams. Each team will play two games for a total of three in the tournament. These are called Consolation Rounds 1 and 2 and there is a possibility of games in Cullowhee.

The eight Round One winners will continue on in traditional bracket play, with half of them hosting the other half in separate host sites.  The winning teams will continue on, with separate host sites throughout the semifinals and championship.  The two teams in the championship game will play four games in the tournament.

After a run in the WNIT, Harper will take a trip home of sorts as she and her Lady Cats travel to Big Orange country on November 25 to take on the Lady Vols. Harper of course was a stand-out point guard for Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt winning three consecutive national titles in her time as a Lady Vol. This will be the second meeting between Harper and Summitt as the Lady Vols and Lady Catamounts clashed in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament when Harper was a first-year head coach at Western Carolina. All-time Tennessee and Western Carolina are tied, winning nine games a piece, however, Tennessee has won the last three meetings.

"Having a chance to play in Knoxville is a real treat for our players," Harper admits. "Tennessee is the best atmosphere to play a women's basketball game and our players deserve to experience that."

Western Carolina will then travel to Bozeman, Montana to face Montana State on November 26 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. It is the second of a three-game road swing for the Lady Catamounts as the club travels to in-state rival UNC Asheville December 2.

"Our trip to Montana State will allow our team to get an early test on the road," Harper said. "They will also be able to experience a new place and bonding over the Thanksgiving break."

The Lady Catamounts finally return home on December 7 to host a familiar opponent from the 2007-08 season, as the Blue Raiders from Middle Tennessee come calling. Western Carolina played Middle Tennessee twice last season, with the Lady Cats winning the regular season contest and the Blue Raiders claiming a victory in the first round of the WNIT.

"You can always expect emotional and tough games with local rival UNC Asheville," Harper said. "Non-conference home games versus Middle Tennessee, UNC Wilmington, and Clemson will also give our fans a chance to see some quality teams in the Ramsey Center"

The remaining five games in December begins at Davidson on December 16 in the first Southern Conference game of the season and will also travel to Wofford on December 19. Home games in December include contests with College of Charleston, Georgia Southern and non-conference foe UNC Wilmington.

Western Carolina has four road games and three home games in the month of January. The Lady Cats open the new year with back-to-back road games at Appalachian State and Furman before returning home to tip-off a three-game home stand beginning with new Southern Conference member Samford and defending Southern Conference Champions Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro. WCU will close out the month with a trip to Elon, host Davidson and travel to College of Charleston.

"We always hope that our non-conference games prepare our team to face our SoCon opponents," Harper said. "Because they start earlier this year, we have to be prepared sooner for our conference games, which are the meat of our season."

The final month of conference play is favorable to Western Carolina with five home games: hosting non-conference Clemson and conference members Appalachian State, Furman, Elon and Wofford. The Lady Cats have three road games with trips to UNC Greensboro, Chattanooga and Samford.

The 2009 Southern Conference tournament begins March 5 and will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The tournament runs until March 9.

Western Carolina returns three senior starters in forward Kendra Eaton, center Brooke Johnson and guard Lauren Powell. The Lady Catamounts also welcome back juniors Heather Swayne and Kristen Feemster as well as sophomores Emily Clarke and Kendra Carroll. Junior Jessica Jackson will also see her first action in a Lady Catamount uniform after having to sit out the 2007-08 season after transferring from South Florida. The club also welcomes five freshmen into the program this season.

Practice for the 2008-09 season can officially begin at 7:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 17.

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