Wildcats Play a Trio of ACC Schools, Host Rutgers as Part of Women’s Basketball 2013-14 Schedule
8/19/2013 3:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
2013-14 Schedule
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson Wildcats will have another formidable women's basketball schedule for the 2013-14 campaign as the 'Cats will take on three teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, while playing traditional powerhouse Rutgers at Belk Arena, announced today by Michele Savage.
Coming off its second straight 22-win season and a trip to the Women's NIT, Davidson will take on ACC schools Clemson, Wake Forest and N.C. State on the road, while hosting Rugters for the first time. The Wildcats will also host cross-county rival Charlotte and Atlantic-10 member Richmond as part of their 11-game non-conference slate. In addition, they will close out their final season in the Southern Conference before moving to the A-10 in 2014-15 with an 18-game schedule.
"I'm very excited about this year's schedule," said Savage. "This year we will have five home games against non-conference opponents in November and December. One of those home contests brings a coaching legend to town – Coach Vivian Stringer and her Rutgers team, which will be on campus for a much-anticipated rematch, Dec. 4, after we played there last year. I know she will bring a gritty, tough-nosed team to Davidson and I look forward to the another good matchup and having the fans come out and support us."
Rutgers is coming off a 16-14 season and has been to the NCAA Tournament 23 times, including 10 straight seasons, which was snapped last year. The two teams met last year for the first time as Davidson gave the Scarlet Knights all they could handle before falling 55-49.
After winning the program's first SoCon regular season title in 2011-12, Davidson followed it up with another outstanding campaign in 2012-13. The Wildcats finished 22-13 overall with a 16-4 record in the league, which was good for second place. They reached the SoCon Tournament Championship game for the second time in program history and earned an automatic bid into the WNIT, the third time the Wildcats had reached the postseason.
Savage's fourth season will start on the road as Davidson opens at Clemson, Nov. 8, before traveling to Maryland to take on Mount St. Mary's for the first matchup ever, Nov. 15. The 'Cats and Clemson Tigers opened the season together two years ago, with the Tigers taking a 72-62 decision.
"Starting the season on the road at Clemson will be a challenge for our young squad, but it will also serve as a good barometer of just where we are as a team," said Savage. "I like our location right in the heart of 'ACC Country' and I am looking forward to playing at Wake Forest and at NC State later in the year."
Davidson's home opener at John M. Belk Arena is set for Nov. 15 against state border rival Winthrop. Belk Arena has been a tough place for the opposition recently as the Wildcats have gone 21-3 the past two years. Over the last seven seasons they have collected 63 wins in 84 games, including a school-record 12 victories in 2011-12.
The next four games will be on the road, highlighted by games at Wake Forest (Nov. 19) and N.C. State (Nov. 26). Davidson faced the Demon Deacons two year's ago, going down to the wire with them until falling 68-66 in the closing seconds. The Wildcats will see a familiar face at N.C. State in new coach Wes Moore, who was previously at Chattanooga. The two teams last faced each other Nov. 20, 2009 in Raleigh. The Wolfpack had a 17-17 mark a year ago and reached the second round of the WNIT in their 31st postseason trip.
Also on the road trip will be games at North Carolina A&T and High Point. Davidson has never faced A&T, while the Wildcats and Panthers met last year at Belk Arena, with the 'Cats prevailing 59-42 in the seventh meeting in the series.
Following the four game road trip, Davidson returns home for a six-game stretch, the longest since 1998-99. It starts Nov. 30 against Gardner-Webb with the Wildcats looking to push their win streak in the series to six straight after taking a 59-56 road win last year. They will also host non-conference foes Rutgers, Charlotte and Richmond. Charlotte and Davidson faced each other twice last year, with the last meeting coming in the second round of the WNIT. The 49ers are coming off a 26-6 campaign a year ago and reached the third round of the WNIT. The 'Cats are seeking to halt a four-game skid in the series.
Richmond also made the WNIT, finishing the 2012-13 season at an even 16-16. The Spiders and Wildcats have not faced each other.
Davidson will also open its final go-around in the SoCon during the homestand with games against Wofford and Furman. The Wildcats have dominated the series against the Terriers, leading 29-13, while they have rattled off four straight wins vs. the Paladins.
The remainder of the schedule features all SoCon opponents, with seven of the 16 games to close out the regular season coming at home. The 'Cats last homestand will have them playing Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and Appalachian State to close out February.
Davidson will be looking to knock off regular season and tournament champion Chattanooga as well as avenge their last-second defeat to the Mocs in the tournament championship game. UTC has won 14 SoCon tournament titles, while taking home 18 regular season titles.
"This is the first time in my three years that we will make the Samford and Chattanooga trip early in the SoCon season, but I know we will be ready for what will undoubtedly be two key contests," said Savage. "Elon and Appalachian State are two programs that on paper lost a lot to graduation, but I expect both teams to be right in the thick of things when March rolls around, along with Chattanooga and Samford."
The SoCon Tournament is in Asheville, N.C., March 7-10. Last season the second-seeded 'Cats reached the final with wins over UNCG in the quarterfinals and Elon in the semis. Their bid for the program's first tournament title came to a heartbreaking end with a defeat to Chattanooga, 68-66, after taking control late in the game and seeing the Mocs comeback for the victory. In its 20 appearances since joining the SoCon in 1993-94, Davidson has gone 14-20, reaching the semifinals nine times and the final twice.
The 'Cats return eight letterwinners, led by two-time All-SoCon First Team member and former SoCon Freshman of the Year Laura Murray. Dakota Dukes also returns after earning a spot on the All-SoCon Freshman Team last year.
Davidson will have to replace arguably one of the best players in program history in Sophia Aleksandravicius. The four-year starter was a two-time SoCon Player and Defender of the Year, and was named the SoCon Female Athlete of the Year last season. She set seven all-time Wildcat records including points (1,878), rebounds (1,143) and blocks (339- SoCon record as well).
Fans can get an early glimpse of the 2013-14 Wildcats in an exhibition at Belk Arena, Oct. 29, against Johnson C. Smith. For 2013-14 ticket information call the Davidson Athletic Ticket office at 1-800-768- CATS (2287) or you can email at wildcattickets@davidson.edu.