August 08, 2007
Travel abroad and fifteen opponents which advanced to postseason play a year ago highlight the 2007-08 Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball schedule as announced by head coach Gary Blair Wednesday.
For the second year in a row, the Aggies will travel to new locales as they participate in the 2007 Paradise Jam on Nov. 22-24 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There, they will face Wichita State (Nov. 22), Wake Forest (Nov. 23) and Indiana (Nov. 24). A&M will also tour our nation?â„¢s capital with a rematch against 2007 NCAA Tournament Second Round opponent George Washington scheduled for Dec. 20 in Washington, D.C.
A&M will commence its 34th season on the road at former Southwest Conference rival SMU on Nov. 9 in Dallas. The Aggies will then host NCAA Tournament participant Prairie View A&M, led by former U.S. Olympian Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, in the team?â„¢s home opener on Nov. 15. Last season, A&M turned in the best home-court record in the nation going an undefeated 16-0 at Reed Arena. In addition, the Aggies will take on NCAA Tournament participant TCU in a televised matchup on Dec. 2 in Fort Worth.
A&M?â„¢s 16-game home slate will be highlighted by non-conference tilts with Michigan (Nov. 29), NCAA Tournament participant Florida State (Dec. 6), New Orleans (Dec. 9), Southeastern Conference foe Auburn (Dec. 15), NCAA First Round opponent Texas-Arlington (Dec. 28), North Carolina A&T (Dec. 30) and Postseason WNIT participant Stephen F. Austin (Jan. 3).
?When you win a Big 12 Championship in women?â„¢s basketball, scheduling opportunities are presented to you and we believe we have put together our most challenging non-conference schedule ever,? Blair said. ?It (schedule) will prepare us for Big 12 play with a great cross-section of NCAA and WNIT Tournament teams. We will be playing quality opponents from the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Atlantic-10 which will give us the RPI that we?â„¢ll need to be considered again for the NCAA Tournament.?
The Aggies will open Big 12 play at home against Kansas State on Jan. 9. Last year, A&M went a school-best 13-3 against league foes and captured its first-ever regular season conference title. The Aggies will also play host to Oklahoma State (Jan. 19), Missouri (Jan. 29), rival Texas (Feb. 9), Texas Tech (Feb. 17), Iowa State (Feb. 20), Baylor (March 1) and Oklahoma (March 5). Road contests will be played at Baylor (Jan. 12), at Colorado (Jan. 16), at Nebraska (Jan. 23), at Kansas (Jan. 26), at Texas Tech (Feb. 2), at Oklahoma (Feb. 12), at Texas (Feb. 24) and at Oklahoma State (Feb. 27).
As the defending Big 12 Conference regular season champions, Texas A&M returns one of the nation?â„¢s and league?â„¢s most-experienced ballclubs with all five starters returning to the lineup. The Aggies?â„¢ depth includes a trio of All-Big 12 First Team selections in senior point guard A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas), senior combination guard/forward Morenike Atunrase (Shreveport, La.) and junior guard Takia Starks (Houston, Texas). All-Big 12 Second Team pick Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Big 12 All-Defensive Team standout La Toya Micheaux (Missouri City, Texas) round out A&M?â„¢s top returners this season.
Overall, 10 opponents on the 2007-08 schedule advanced to the NCAA Tournament, while five were chosen to participate in the Postseason WNIT. Exhibition games, television dates and game times will be announced at a later date.