Princeton University Athletics
Women's Basketball Releases 2008-09 Schedule
September 03, 2008 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. - Princeton head women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart has announced the 2008-09 women's basketball schedule.
Slated for the Tigers are match-ups with teams from the Big East and Pac-10, including a tournament at California in December. Princeton will play just five non-conference home games before Ivy League play begins in January.
The Tigers won't have an easy road ahead as they will face five teams that were selected to the NCAA Tournament last season, including California, Cornell, George Washington, Rutgers and Syracuse.
“This 2008-09 schedule will certainly challenge us, highlighted by a rigorous home and away preseason schedule before the ever-important Ivy League gauntlet,” Banghart said. “We have great respect for all of our opponents and we will undoubtedly be tested early and often, as many of our battles will be away from the confines of Jadwin Gym. With five newcomers to blend in with our experienced group, we are very excited about the upcoming season.”
The Tigers will open the season at Fordham on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the two squads in more than 20 years. The Rams hold a 4-2 edge in the all-time series and picked up a five-point win in the last game in 1985.
NCAA Elite Eight squad Rutgers will host Princeton on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Princeton has yet to post a win at the intimidating RAC and will be looking to snap the Scarlet Knights nine-game win streak.
The home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 22 with Princeton hosting Stony Brook at 6 p.m. The teams have met just twice with the Seawolves taking both games.
Three days later, on Tuesday, Nov. 25 Princeton will be searching for its fifth straight win over Fairleigh Dickinson. The Tigers are 11-4 in the series and have not lost since the 1995-96 season.
After Thanksgiving, the team will make the short trip to Bethlehem, Pa., to take on Lehigh on Sunday, Nov. 30. Princeton has won the last three meetings including a 12 point win last season, and are 13-8 all-time against the Mountain Hawks.
The Tigers will leave the snow behind in early December as they board a flight to Berkeley, California to participate in the Contra Costa Times Classic at Cal. Princeton will face the host institution on Saturday, Dec. 6, for the second straight season, while St. Louis and Texas Christian battle it out in the other game. The winners and losers of the two games will meet the following day.
Returning home, Princeton will face two opponents in three days at Jadwin Gym. First up is a contest with Monmouth on Friday, Dec. 12. The Tigers will be looking to avenge last season's loss to Monmouth and even up the series at three apiece. On Sunday, Dec. 12, Princeton will be looking for its first win over Sacred Heart, as the Pioneers hold a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series.
Princeton will hit the road for the next four games. Up first is a pair of games in the nation's capital on December 19 and 21, against American and George Washington, respectively. American and Princeton have met just one time, during the 1979-80 season that resulted in an Eagle victory. It has been 10 years since the Tigers and Colonials have squared off and Princeton will be looking to even the series as it stands in GW's favor, 3-2.
The first half of the season will close out at Syracuse on Tuesday, Dec. 30. The teams played in the first meeting last season, which resulted in a narrow three-point SU win.
The Tigers get back at it on Friday, Jan. 2 at Lafayette in Easton, Pa. Princeton holds a 20-17 record over the Leopards and has not lost on Lafayette's court in the last four away games.
Cross-town rival Rider will be at Jadwin Gym on Tuesday, Jan. 6 for a 7 p.m., tip-off. The Tigers hold a 17-8 advantage in the all-time series and will be looking to avenge last season's three-point loss.
The Ivy League season gets underway on Saturday, Jan. 10 when Princeton hosts Penn at 6 p.m. The two teams split the series last season with Princeton earning a 69-57 victory in January before falling 85-78 in the final game of the season in March. Princeton holds a hefty 41-22 edge in the series.
The Tigers will take a much-needed rest for the next 20 days for finals before getting into the thick of the Ivy League slate.
Retuning to the hardwood on January 30-31, Princeton will host Dartmouth and Harvard. The Big Green and the Crimson each took two games last season.
The 2008 Ivy League champion Cornell will host Princeton on Friday, Feb. 6. The Big Red earned two wins last year, including one by a slim three-point differential. Columbia will play host the following day. Princeton is 32-16 against Columbia all-time but will be looking for its first win since the 2006-07 season.
Yale and Brown are next on the docket on February 13-14 at Princeton. Last season, the Tigers and the Bulldogs split the series, which stands in Princeton's favor at 40-29. The Tigers swept the Bears last year and are looking to make it six in a row.
Princeton will be on the road the next two weekends. On February 20 and 21, Princeton will play at Harvard and Dartmouth, respectively, followed by Brown and Yale on February 27 and 28, respectively.
The Tigers will close out the regular season at home facing Columbia on March 6 and Cornell on March 7.
The final regular-season game is slated for Tuesday, March 10 at Penn.