Aug. 3, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont women’s basketball team enters its 2009-10 campaign with the mission of returning to the Big Dance for only the second time in program history.  Head Coach Tony Cross has lined up a rigorous slate with non-conference opponents from seven different leagues which will prepare the Bruins in their quest to return to the NCAA Tournament.

The Bruins open the season on their home floor for a second consecutive year, welcoming Central Arkansas to the Curb Event Center on November 13.  The programs have only met once previously, during the 1990-91 season, with Belmont coming away with the win. 

BU will face off against three Ohio Valley Conference teams during the season, battling UT-Martin on November 18 in the road contest.  Bookending final exams in December are Tennessee Tech (December 20), one of Belmont’s longest standing rivalries and intracity Tennessee State (December 30).

“We will have our usual OVC challenges this year, which are a treat for local fans.  TSU is greatly improving as a program and we played Tech in the WNIT a few years ago.  All three should be good games for us,” said Cross.

On November 21, the Bruins host budding rival Alabama to the Curb Event Center.  Two years ago, BU upset the Crimson Tide on their home floor, reigniting a series that dates back to the 1999-2000 season.

“I think our marquee home game this year will be against Alabama,” Cross said.  “It’s turning into a game of conversation for our program, almost a rivalry.  I think it’s great that an SEC team would come to our gym.  The game is the Saturday before Thanksgiving so we are anticipating a good crowd for the game.”

The lone tournament on this year’s schedule sends the Bruins to the far west for the Thanksgiving holiday.  BU will compete in the NAU Holiday Classic, hosted by Northern Arizona.  The Lumberjacks, a first-time opponent for Belmont, made their NCAA Tournament debut four years ago representing the Big Sky Conference.  Also participating in the two-day tournament is Siena, another first-time opponent, hailing from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

“Our trip to Arizona will be good for the team.  It will be a great experience overall, as well as on the court,” Cross said.

December opens with Atlantic Sun action on the road for Belmont with stops at Kennesaw State (December 3) and Mercer (December 5) before returning home to the state of Tennessee.  On December 16, BU hosts Southern Miss, the Bruins’ lone non-conference opponent to enter the season with 20 wins. 

“The Atlantic Sun looks to be better this year than it has in years past,” Cross said.  “Every team is bringing in better players and everyone seems to be on an upswing.  This looks to be a wide open year for our conference.”

The second half of the season will open with a three-game homestand for the Bruins, hosting Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson and USC Upstate during the first week of January before hitting the road.  The hotly contested Battle of the Boulevard series with rival Lipscomb begins at the other end of the boulevard on January 11 before concluding in the Curb Event Center on January 27.  The Bruins split time equally home and away during the month of February but wrap the season at home the weekend of February 25 before moving on to the Atlantic Sun Tournament, hosted by Mercer, March 3-6.