Aug. 27, 2009

2009-10 USF Women's Basketball Schedule in PDF Format

(San Francisco) - USF head women's basketball coach Tanya Haave has announced the 2009-10 schedule, with a marquee match-up against national powerhouse Tennessee at War Memorial Gym. The contest against the Lady Vols on December 22 will be one of up-to nine games against opponents that participated in the postseason a year ago.

"I am extremely excited to host Tennessee at home this season," commented Haave, who enters her fourth year with the Dons. "I am thrilled to play a team of that caliber and tradition on the Hilltop. Last year we had the opportunity to go back to my alma mater and play, but this season I am excited about getting a chance for our fans, and basketball fans in the Bay Area, to come support the Dons against a perennial national power."

The Dons will open the 2009 campaign with a pair of exhibition contests on the Hilltop. USF will host Vanguard November 2 at 5 p.m. before welcoming Sonoma State November 11 at 7 p.m.

"Our non-conference schedule this year will be a good lead into WCC play for our team," added Haave. "We are facing a lot of talented teams and have the opportunity to travel to some great locations, including Hawaii and Philadelphia."

USF will open the season on the road at UC Davis (Tuesday, November 17, 7 p.m.) before opening the home slate of the schedule with two games on the Hilltop. The Dons first home game in the newly renovated War Memorial Gym will feature Cal State Fullerton (Friday, November 20, 7 p.m.) prior to hosting Utah State in a matinee contest (Sunday, November 22, 2 p.m.). USF will then hit the road, playing eight straight contests away from the friendly confines of the Hilltop.

After a game at San Jose State (Tuesday, November 24, 7 p.m.), USF will play five of its next six games as part of tournament action. The Dons will travel to Lubbock, Texas November 28-29 to face Texas Tech, Prairie View A&M and Texas-Arlington as part of the Basketball Travelers Tip-off Tournament. In 2008, Prairie View A&M advanced to the NCAA Tournament after claiming the Southwestern Athletic Conference automatic bid. Texas-Arlington also participated in postseason action, competing in the WNIT postseason tournament after earning the Southland Conference regular season title.

San Francisco will then take a short break before opening the month of December in Hawaii. USF will face Hawaii in Honolulu (Thursday, December 3, 9 p.m.), before playing in the Hukilau Tournament. The Dons will open the three-team tournament against BYU (Friday, December 4, 3 p.m.) before taking on host BYU-Hawaii (Saturday, December 5, 6 p.m.).

"In both Lubbock and Hawaii, our team is going to be forced to play three games in the same number of days," Haave said. "Its going to give our younger players a lot of experience playing in short periods of time, and will provide to be beneficial come the conference season."

The Green and Gold will play one final road contest, before finally returning to War Memorial after nearly a month hiatus. USF will travel to Stockton to face Pacific (Thursday, December 10, 7 p.m.) before finally returning to the Hilltop to host Cal Poly (Sunday, December 13, 2 p.m.).

Following a trip to Kennewick, Wash. for a neutral site game against Washington State (Saturday, December 19, TBA), San Francisco will return to The City to host Tennessee on Tuesday, December 22 at 7 p.m. The game will mark the Lady Vols' first appearance on the Hilltop in program history. Last season, USF opened the 2008 campaign in Knoxville, marking the return of two of the Dons' coaches - Haave and assistant coach Abby Conklin - to their alma mater.

After taking a short break for the holidays, the Dons will travel across the country to play in the Villanova Tournament from December 28-29. The pairings for the event have yet to be released, but features Villanova, Drexel and Loyola of Maryland, in addition to USF. Both Villanova and Drexel competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2008. The Wildcats have see postseason action in nine of the past 10 seasons, including five entries to the Field of 64 during the span. Last season, the Dragons made their first ever NCAA appearance, after claiming the Colonial Athletic Association Championship.

USF will then return to War Memorial Gym for a final non-conference tune-up against Sacramento State (Tuesday, January 5, 7 p.m.) before opening West Coast Conference action on the road.

The Dons will start the WCC season at Saint Mary's (Friday, January 8, 7 p.m.), before heading south to face San Diego (Sunday, January 10, 2 p.m.). USF will open the home slate of the conference schedule the next week, hosting Loyola Marymount (Thursday, January 14, 7 p.m.) and Pepperdine (Saturday, January 16, 2 p.m.).

San Francisco will then take the short trip to Santa Clara (Saturday, January 23, 2 p.m.) before taking a tough trip to the Pacific Northwest to face Portland (Thursday, January 28, 7 p.m.) and Gonzaga (Saturday, January 30, 2 p.m.). Both the Pilots and Zags advanced to the postseason last year. Portland earned an at-large bid to the WNIT , while Gonzaga earned the WCC's automatic bid to the big dance, advancing to the second round of the Tournament.

USF will close out the regular season playing, five of the final seven WCC games at home. The Dons will host to the Toreros (Thursday, February 4, 7 p.m.) and Gaels (Saturday, February 6, 2p.m.), before traveling to face Los Angeles to face the Waves (Thursday, February 11, 7 p.m.) and Lions (Saturday, February 12, 2 p.m.). February 20, San Francisco will host rival Santa Clara at 2 p.m. before closing out the regular season against Portland (Thursday, February 25, 7 p.m.) and Gonzaga (Saturday, February 27, 2 p.m).

Again this season, the West Coast Conference Tournament will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The First Round of the event will be held Friday, March 5 with the quarterfinals taking place March 6. The final two rounds will be held Sunday, March 7, with the Championship occurring live on ESPNU, Monday, March 8.