ELON, N.C. ? Elon head women’s basketball coach Karen Barefoot has announced the 2008-09 women’s basketball schedule. This season’s schedule features 14 home games, 20 conference games, and games against five teams that played in the postseason in 2008.
“I'm very excited about our schedule this year,” Barefoot said. “We will be facing some very competitive teams and I'm excited about the challenge! We have seven players returning along with four freshmen for the upcoming season. My goal is that we get better every day and play extremely hard and with a lot of passion.”
Elon will kick off the regular season when it participates in the ISES Cancer Awareness Tipoff Nov. 14-15. During the two-day tournament, Elon will welcome Longwood, UNC Wilmington and Winston-Salem State to Alumni Gym. The Phoenix will be the nightcap both days, playing UNC Wilmington Friday before facing Longwood Saturday. Both games are slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Following the ISES Cancer Awareness Tip-off, the team will begin a four-game road trip that begins Nov. 18 in Raleigh, N.C. where the Phoenix will take on N.C. State, a 2008 WNIT participate. The team will then travel to face NC A&T on Nov. 21 before heading north to participate in the Pittsburg Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 28-29.
The Phoenix will begin conference play when they host UNC Greensboro (Dec. 2), Georgia Southern (Dec. 6) and College of Charleston (Dec. 8) in the friendly confines of Alumni Gym.
Elon returns to the road as they face defending SoCon champion and NCAA tournament participant Chattanooga on Dec. 17. Elon then makes the trip to Birmingham, Ala. to take on the conference’s newest member Samford on Dec. 19.
The team returns to action on Dec. 28, following a break for the holiday season, when they host Austin Peay. The team will then take on Davidson in Davidson, N.C. on Jan. 3.
After a home game against Appalachian State on Jan. 6, Elon will travel to the Palmetto State for games against Wofford and Furman on Jan. 10 and Jan. 12. After a trip to High Point on Jan. 15, the Phoenix return home to face Western Carolina on Jan. 19.
Elon will play at College of Charleston and Georgia Southern on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26, before beginning a four-game home stand. The stint begins with Elon’s final non-conference game against Southern Virginia on Education Day on Jan. 29. The team resumes conference play against Samford (Jan. 31), Chattanooga (Feb. 2) and Davidson (Feb. 7).
The Phoenix will travel to Appalachian State on Feb. 9 and Western Carolina on Feb. 16 before closing the home schedule against Wofford (Feb. 21) and Furman (Feb. 23). The regular season will end Feb. 27 at UNC Greensboro.
The 2009 SoCon Tournament will be hosted by Chattanooga and will begin March 5.
The Phoenix will host MI Express on Nov. 9 in an exhibition game.
“My staff and I are committed to building this Phoenix Women's Basketball Program into a championship team,” added Barefoot. “This year we take our first steps toward achieving that goal.”
Sunday 11/9/08 2:00 PM MI Express (Exhibition) Elon, N.C.
Friday 11/14/08 5:00PM 7:00PM ISES CANCER AWARENESS TIPOFF: Longwood vs. UNC-Wilmington, Elon vs. Winston Salem State Elon, N.C.
Saturday 11/15/08 5:00 PM 7:00 PM ISES TIPOFF: UNC-W vs. WSS, Elon vs. Longwood Elon, N.C.
Tuesday 11/18/08 7:00 PM @ NC State Raleigh, N.C.
Friday 11/21/08 7:00 PM @ North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C.
Friday Saturday 11/28/08 11/29/08 1:00/3:00 1:00/3:00 @ Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Classic Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tuesday 12/2/08 7:00PM UNC Greensboro* Elon, N.C.
Saturday 12/6/08 2:00PM Georgia Southern * Elon, N.C.
Monday 12/8/08 7:00PM College of Charleston* Elon, N.C.
Wednesday 12/17/08 7:00PM @ Chattanooga* Chattanooga, Tenn
Friday 12/19/08 7:00PM @ Samford* Birmingham, AL.
Sunday 12/28/08 2:00 PM Austin Peay University Elon, N.C.
Saturday 1/3/09 TBA @ Davidson* Davidson, N.C.
Tuesday 1/6/09 7:00 PM Appalachian State* Elon, N.C.
Saturday 1/10/09 3:00 PM @ Wofford * Spartanburg, SC
Monday 1/12/09 7:00 PM @ Furman* Greenville, S.C.
Thursday 1/15/09 7:00PM @ High Point High Point, N.C.
Monday 1/19/09 7:00 PM Western Carolina* Elon, N.C.
Saturday 1/24/09 2:00PM @ College of Charleston* Charleston, S.C.
Monday 1/26/09 7:00 PM @ Georgia Southern* Statesboro, Ga.
Thursday 1/29/09 11:45 AM Southern Virginia (Education Day) Elon, N.C.
Saturday 1/31/09 2:00PM Samford* Elon, N.C.
Monday 2/2/09 7:00 PM Chattanooga* Elon, N.C.
Saturday 2/7/09 2:00 PM Davidson * Elon, N.C.
Monday 2/9/09 7:00PM @ Appalachian State* Boone, N.C.
Monday 2/16/09 7:00 PM @ Western Carolina* Cullowhee, N.C.
Saturday 2/21/09 7:00PM Wofford * Elon, N.C.
Monday 2/23/09 7:00 PM Furman * Elon, N.C.
Friday 2/27/09 7:00 PM @ UNC Greensboro* Greensboro, N.C.
Thursday 3/5/-3/9 TBA @SoCon Tournament Chattanooga, Tenn