Senior Mercedes Robinson is one of three starters returning after leading the Wildcats to a 19-11 record last year.
Wildcat Women's Basketball Releases 2008-09 Schedule
9/10/2008 5:47:15 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
2008-09 Schedule
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- With the return of seven letterwinners from last year's 19-win squad, the Davidson women's basketball team is seeking to make it six straight winning campaigns under head coach Annette Watts with the release of the 2008-09 schedule today.
This year's schedule is highlighted by two in-season tournaments, trips to South Carolina, Xavier and Cincinnati as well as a 20-game Southern Conference slate. Davidson, which is 13-12 when playing at in-season tournaments during Watts' seven years, will play at tournaments hosted by Winthrop and Vanderbilt this season.
“Our staff has assembled another tough schedule,” said Watts, who last year became the all-time winningest coach in Davidson women's basketball history and has a 118-88 career record. “We are excited to take Mercedes home to Baltimore where we will take on Towson University. The challenge increases as we travel to Mandy's (Halbersleben) home in Ohio, as we will not only face the University of Cincinnati but turn right around and face Xavier, who has one of the best players in the nation in 6-5 Amber Harris. Finally, the SoCon will be tough from top to bottom and we will need to be ready each and every night.”
Davidson is no stranger to playing a tough non-conference schedule to prepare itself for SoCon play. During Watts' seven-year tenure, the Wildcats have played the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Missouri, Gonzaga, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Montana, Virginia and Auburn.
Davidson will be tested early as its first six games are on the road. To get things rolling for the 2008-09 season, Davidson first heads to Rock Hill, S.C., to participate in the Winthrop Tournament, Nov. 15-16. The Wildcats will face Winthrop in the first game and then either North Carolina A&T or Mississippi in their second game. Davidson looks to extend its winning streak against the Eagles, having won the past eight meetings including last year's 68-63 victory at home.
Following the tournament, Davidson stays on the road to play at Towson and South Carolina, Nov. 22 and 24. Towson is coming off a 22-10 year, while the Gamecocks finished an even 16-16 and advanced to the second round of the Women's NIT. It will be the first time since 1975 the Wildcats have battled the Gamecocks.
Finishing up the month of November will be Davidson's final in-season tournament, the Vanderbilt Tournament. The 'Cats face off against a Commodores team that brings back all five starters from last season's squad that advanced to the Spokane Regional Semifinals and went 25-9 overall, while winning a school-record 11 Southeastern Conference games. Davidson will also either face St. Joseph's (17-14 record last year) or Virginia Tech in its second game of the tournament.
The month of December sees the Wildcats jump right into their slate of conference games with four contests, starting with a home date on Dec. 2 against Furman. They will also face Appalachian State, Western Carolina and Wofford throughout the month, hosting three of its first four league games at home. In the past three years, Davidson has gone 28-8 overall in the friendly confines of Belk Arena. Western Carolina will be one of the teams challenging for top honors in the SoCon after finishing second last year in league play at 15-3 and returning three of its five starters.
In between its conference contests in December, Davidson finishes up its non-conference schedule with a game against cross-county rival Charlotte (Dec. 9), and then a trip before Christmas to Ohio for games against Xavier (Dec. 19) and Cincinnati (Dec. 21), both of which the 'Cats have never faced in program history. Charlotte, which has a 10-10 all-time record against Davidson, advanced to the WNIT last year with its 18-13 mark, while Xavier rattled off 24 wins, defended its Atlantic-10 championship title and made the NCAA Tournament.
Once the new year arrives, the Wildcats will be in the thick of SoCon play, starting with a game against Elon on Jan. 3 and ending with a Feb. 28 date at Furman. Davidson will get its first look at the newest member of the SoCon, Samford, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 19. The Bulldogs enter their first year in the league after spending five seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference. They went 23-9 last season and advanced to the semifinals of the OVC Tournament.
Should the regular-season crown come down to the final games, Davidson will have to fight its way through on the road as six of its last nine contests are away from Belk Arena, including the final three games.
The SoCon Tournament, Mar. 4-9, will be held this year at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn. Davidson has gone 10-15 in its 15 appearances at the tournament since joining the SoCon in 1993-94.
Coming off a 19-11 year, which was the second-most wins in school history, the Wildcats can be expected to challenge for the SoCon title once again after finishing tied for third last year with a 13-5 mark. Leading the way for the 'Cats will be the return of three starters, including All-SoCon First Team member Mercedes Robinson (Baltimore, Md.). The senior forward had a breakout junior campaign that saw her record a league-high 14 double doubles, while pacing the team with a 12.7 scoring average and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Davidson will once again do live video streaming and audio broadcasting for all 12 of its home games at Belk Arena. To register for the live video, click on the All-Access Page on the top-right corner of the Davidson women's basketball page. The live broadcasting will once again be done through teamline with Derek Smith handling all the play-by-play.
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- With the return of seven letterwinners from last year's 19-win squad, the Davidson women's basketball team is seeking to make it six straight winning campaigns under head coach Annette Watts with the release of the 2008-09 schedule today.
This year's schedule is highlighted by two in-season tournaments, trips to South Carolina, Xavier and Cincinnati as well as a 20-game Southern Conference slate. Davidson, which is 13-12 when playing at in-season tournaments during Watts' seven years, will play at tournaments hosted by Winthrop and Vanderbilt this season.
“Our staff has assembled another tough schedule,” said Watts, who last year became the all-time winningest coach in Davidson women's basketball history and has a 118-88 career record. “We are excited to take Mercedes home to Baltimore where we will take on Towson University. The challenge increases as we travel to Mandy's (Halbersleben) home in Ohio, as we will not only face the University of Cincinnati but turn right around and face Xavier, who has one of the best players in the nation in 6-5 Amber Harris. Finally, the SoCon will be tough from top to bottom and we will need to be ready each and every night.”
Davidson is no stranger to playing a tough non-conference schedule to prepare itself for SoCon play. During Watts' seven-year tenure, the Wildcats have played the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Missouri, Gonzaga, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Montana, Virginia and Auburn.
Davidson will be tested early as its first six games are on the road. To get things rolling for the 2008-09 season, Davidson first heads to Rock Hill, S.C., to participate in the Winthrop Tournament, Nov. 15-16. The Wildcats will face Winthrop in the first game and then either North Carolina A&T or Mississippi in their second game. Davidson looks to extend its winning streak against the Eagles, having won the past eight meetings including last year's 68-63 victory at home.
Following the tournament, Davidson stays on the road to play at Towson and South Carolina, Nov. 22 and 24. Towson is coming off a 22-10 year, while the Gamecocks finished an even 16-16 and advanced to the second round of the Women's NIT. It will be the first time since 1975 the Wildcats have battled the Gamecocks.
Finishing up the month of November will be Davidson's final in-season tournament, the Vanderbilt Tournament. The 'Cats face off against a Commodores team that brings back all five starters from last season's squad that advanced to the Spokane Regional Semifinals and went 25-9 overall, while winning a school-record 11 Southeastern Conference games. Davidson will also either face St. Joseph's (17-14 record last year) or Virginia Tech in its second game of the tournament.
The month of December sees the Wildcats jump right into their slate of conference games with four contests, starting with a home date on Dec. 2 against Furman. They will also face Appalachian State, Western Carolina and Wofford throughout the month, hosting three of its first four league games at home. In the past three years, Davidson has gone 28-8 overall in the friendly confines of Belk Arena. Western Carolina will be one of the teams challenging for top honors in the SoCon after finishing second last year in league play at 15-3 and returning three of its five starters.
In between its conference contests in December, Davidson finishes up its non-conference schedule with a game against cross-county rival Charlotte (Dec. 9), and then a trip before Christmas to Ohio for games against Xavier (Dec. 19) and Cincinnati (Dec. 21), both of which the 'Cats have never faced in program history. Charlotte, which has a 10-10 all-time record against Davidson, advanced to the WNIT last year with its 18-13 mark, while Xavier rattled off 24 wins, defended its Atlantic-10 championship title and made the NCAA Tournament.
Once the new year arrives, the Wildcats will be in the thick of SoCon play, starting with a game against Elon on Jan. 3 and ending with a Feb. 28 date at Furman. Davidson will get its first look at the newest member of the SoCon, Samford, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 19. The Bulldogs enter their first year in the league after spending five seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference. They went 23-9 last season and advanced to the semifinals of the OVC Tournament.
Should the regular-season crown come down to the final games, Davidson will have to fight its way through on the road as six of its last nine contests are away from Belk Arena, including the final three games.
The SoCon Tournament, Mar. 4-9, will be held this year at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn. Davidson has gone 10-15 in its 15 appearances at the tournament since joining the SoCon in 1993-94.
Coming off a 19-11 year, which was the second-most wins in school history, the Wildcats can be expected to challenge for the SoCon title once again after finishing tied for third last year with a 13-5 mark. Leading the way for the 'Cats will be the return of three starters, including All-SoCon First Team member Mercedes Robinson (Baltimore, Md.). The senior forward had a breakout junior campaign that saw her record a league-high 14 double doubles, while pacing the team with a 12.7 scoring average and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Davidson will once again do live video streaming and audio broadcasting for all 12 of its home games at Belk Arena. To register for the live video, click on the All-Access Page on the top-right corner of the Davidson women's basketball page. The live broadcasting will once again be done through teamline with Derek Smith handling all the play-by-play.
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