Sept. 8, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. -
The Fresno State women's basketball team has never shied away from tough competition. For the upcoming 2009-10 season, coach Adrian Wiggins has set a schedule that will not only help his team prepare for the rigors of the WAC conference but also a schedule that will prepare for another run to the NCAA tournament as they will play non conference games against teams from eight different conferences.
This year Fresno State plays six teams that played in last years' NCAA or WNIT tournament and they play six teams that finished last year with an RPI less than 100.
This years' schedule is highlighted by a December 30 home game at the Save Mart Center against nationally ranked Stanford, a team that has advanced to two straight Final Four's and finished with an RPI of five.
"We have a great schedule that will test us early," Wiggins said. "This is a schedule that will challenge us as we prepare to defend our WAC championship. We want to grow and play the kind of competition that will give us a chance to get better. This year's schedule does just that."
Also visiting the Save Mart Center for nonconference action is Saint Mary's (Nov. 22), Sacramento State (Dec. 8), UNLV (Dec. 12), Pacific (Dec. 22) and Cal State Bakersfield (Jan. 2).
Fresno State plays an exciting nonconference road schedule as they open the regular season at UCSB on November 13, a team that won the Big West Conference and earned a berth in last years' NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs then play at USC on November 15 and at TCU on November 18.
For the second straight year Fresno State is set to spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Dallas, Texas as it plays in the SMU Tournament. The Bulldogs open the tournament playing Boston College on Friday the 27th and then plays either SMU or Hampton on the 28th.
Following the Thanksgiving holiday, Fresno State makes another trek to Southern California where it will play at UC Irvine on December 3 and Loyola Marymount on December 5. On December 19, coach Wiggins will take his team back East to play at Big East foe West Virginia. The Mountaineers played in the WNIT tournament last season.
Fresno State then begins defense of its 2008-09 conference championship on January 6 against the University of Hawai'i. This years' conference games will be played on Wednesday and Saturday. The WAC Tournament will be held in Reno, Nev., for the second straight year.
2009-10 Schedule
Nov. 13 at UCSB
Nov. 15 at USC
Nov 18 at TCU
Nov. 22 vs. Saint Mary's
Nov. 27 vs. Boston College (SMU Tournament)
Nov. 28 vs. SMU or Hampton (SMU Tournament)
Dec. 3 at UC Irvine
Dec. 5 at Loyola Marymount
Dec. 8 vs. Sacramento State
Dec. 12 vs. UNLV
Dec. 19 at West Virginia
Dec. 22 vs. Pacific
Dec. 30 vs. Stanford
Jan. 2 vs. Cal State Bakersfield
Jan. 6 vs. Hawai'i
Jan. 9 at Idaho
Jan. 13 at New Mexico State
Jan. 16 Utah State
Jan. 20 at Nevada
Jan. 23 vs. Louisiana Tech
Jan 27 vs. Boise State
Jan. 30 at San Jose State
Feb. 6 at Hawai'i
Feb. 10 vs. Idaho
Feb. 13 vs. New Mexico State
Feb. 17 at Utah State
Feb. 20 vs. Nevada
Feb. 24 at Louisiana Tech
Feb. 27 at Boise State
Mar. 3 vs. San Jose State
March 9-13 WAC Tournament at Reno, Nevada
"We Are Your Team" -
The Bulldogs hit the road for the first time in 2009 as they travel to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers Saturday, September 12th at 9am. The game can be seen on ESPN. The Bulldogs will return home on Friday, September 18th as they host Boise State at 6pm on ESPN. Be sure to wear white to the game and purchase your official "white" game day t-shirt from the Bulldog Shop. These t-shirts are just $12. Game tickets can be purchased at the Bulldog Ticket Office, by calling 278-DOGS or online at GoBulldogs.com.
