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The defending MVC champions will be challenged by a 2009-10 schedule which includes the likes of Purdue and Villanova in non-conference play.
Challenging Schedule Awaits UE Women's Basketball Team In 2009-10
9/18/2009 12:03:03 PM
• 2009-10 UE Women's Basketball Schedule (PDF)
University of Evansville women’s basketball coach Misty Murphy announced a challenging 2009-10 schedule today which could include seven non-conference games against teams which advanced to post-season play last year, including match-ups with Big Ten Conference power Purdue and Big East Conference stalwart Villanova.
Overall, eight of UE’s 11 non-conference games will be played against teams which posted winning records last season. The non-conference slate currently includes six post-season teams from a year ago, including four NCAA Tournament squads and two Postseason WNIT teams. That number could grow to seven post-season teams though, should Evansville face the host Chattanooga Lady Mocs (WNIT) in the second round of the Chattanooga Classic over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
“We are excited to play such a challenging schedule,” said Murphy, who guided the Purple Aces to the NCAA Tournament last year in her first season as head coach. “As our program grows, the strength of our competition increases. There is no question that night in and night out, we will be faced with some of the best mid-majors in college basketball, as well as a couple of top 20-caliber teams, this season. But, as we’ve stated before, in order to be the best, you have to play the best, and our schedule certainly reflects that philosophy this year.”
The 2009-10 season will begin at home for UE, as the Purple Aces will host nearby Division II rival Oakland City at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 in UE’s lone exhibition game of the season. Evansville will then welcome the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers, who advanced to the finals of the Horizon League Tournament last year, to Roberts Stadium on Friday, November 13 to open the 2009-10 regular-season. The Purple Aces will also host Samford, one of possibly seven 20-win non-conference opponents from a year ago, on Sunday, November 15 to conclude the opening weekend of the regular-season.
Evansville will then embark on a four-game road trip which includes trips to 2009 Postseason WNIT participants Murray State (Saturday, November 21) and Butler (Wednesday, December 2) sandwiched around the Chattanooga Classic over the Thanksgiving weekend. UE’s first-round opponent at the Chattanooga Classic is Big East Conference member Villanova, a team which advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season and has made post-season play in nine out of the last 10 seasons under legendary women’s basketball coach Harry Perretta. UE’s second-round opponent will either be Kennesaw State or 2009 Postseason WNIT participant Chattanooga.
UE will return home briefly to renew acquaintances with former Midwestern Collegiate Conference rival Saint Louis University on Sunday, December 6, before traveling to Nashville, Tennessee to battle Lipscomb on Tuesday, December 8. The Purple Aces will then conclude non-conference play with a rugged stretch of three-straight games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams, including home games against Wisconsin-Green Bay (Saturday, December 12) and Ball State (Tuesday, December 22) and a road trip to West Lafayette, Indiana to battle NCAA Tournament Elite Eight member Purdue on Saturday, December 19.
The Missouri Valley Conference portion of the schedule will begin on the road for UE, as the Purple Aces will play their first three conference games away from home. The conference home slate begins with a rematch of the 2009 State Farm MVC Tournament final, as the Creighton Bluejays will visit Roberts Stadium on Thursday, January 14 for an 11:00 a.m. tip-off as part of the Future Purple Aces Fast B.R.E.A.K. (basketball reinforcing education to area kids) program.
After hosting Drake two days later and taking the annual Indiana State-Illinois State road swing a week later, the Purple Aces will open a season-long four-game homestand on Thursday, January 28 by hosting Wichita State. Missouri State (Saturday, January 30), Bradley (Friday, February 5) and Northern Iowa (Sunday, February 7) will round out the homestand.
Evansville will welcome to two ISUs to Roberts Stadium on Thursday, February 18 (Illinois State) and Saturday, February 20 (Indiana State), before wrapping up the 2010 regular-season at home against Southern Illinois on Thursday, March 4. It will mark the first time in which UE has finished the regular-season at home since the 1997-98 season.
“Our young team will be tested from beginning to end this year, and we will be forced to mature in a hurry,” said Murphy. “At the same time though, what a fun environment to be a part of for our coaches, players, and fans. Every game will present a new challenge to our team, and it will be interesting to see how this young team will face these challenges. We played a lot of close games last year, especially in non-conference play where we had three overtime contests. I’m sure there will be tight battles once again this year.”
Evansville will return six letterwinners, including returning starters Amy Gallagher (Neligh, Neb./Neligh-Oakdale; 10.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Stephanie Bamberger (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont; 5.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg), from last year’s State Farm MVC Tournament championship team which advanced on to the NCAA Tournament. Those six letterwinners will be joined by six true freshmen this year for head coach Misty Murphy, who became just the second coach in UE history to lead their team to the NCAA Tournament in their first year as head coach last season.
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