 Amy Stephens |
Coming off one of the more memorable campaigns in school history, the 2007-08 Drake women’s basketball schedule will feature a formidable 29-game ledger.
The Bulldogs, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Amy Stephens, will be tested by four squads which advanced to postseason play last season, including two which qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
Drake, which earned its 10th NCAA Tournament and 18th overall postseason berth in school history last season, commences its 34th intercollegiate campaign on Nov. 9, when the Blue and White host Green Bay, which advanced to the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, in the Drake Knapp Center.
The 2007-08 slate features 15 games at the Knapp Center, where the Bulldogs have won nearly 70 percent of their games under Stephens (43-19) and have posted a 154-47 (.766) overall mark in 15 seasons.
The Blue and White follow their meeting versus Green Bay with a trip across Interstate 80 to Iowa City, where the Bulldogs meet in-state rival Iowa on Nov. 13. Drake then returns home for first-ever meetings with Sacramento State (Nov. 16) and Weber State (Nov. 18).
A homecoming of sorts then ensues for the Bulldogs as Drake travel to Dallas, Texas, to compete in the SMU Hoops for the Cure Classic. While in the hometown of Drake senior Brandy Dahir, the Bulldogs will be tested by Kansas (Nov. 23) before a meeting with either Western Michigan or the host Mustangs on Nov. 24.
After their return from the Lone Star State, the Bulldogs host Weber State (Dec. 2) before traveling to Macomb, Ill., for a tilt versus Western Illinois (Dec. 5)
Drake comes home on Dec. 9 to host 2007 NCAA Tournament participant and in-state rival Iowa State in a Big Four showdown in the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs return a home-and-home game with Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Dec. 13) before rounding out their non-conference slate at home versus UC Davis (Dec. 30).
Drake opens the Missouri Valley Conference portion of its schedule when it welcomes Missouri State into the Knapp Center on Jan. 5.
Television cameras will shine on the Bulldogs as their contest at 2007 WNIT participant Southern Illinois (Jan. 18) will be the MVC Women’s Basketball Game of the Week. Their home game with Creighton (Feb. 9) will be featured on ESPNU. FOX will carry the Jan. 27 meeting with Northern Iowa locally. Additional Drake games are expected to be televised, with details still forthcoming.
Rounding out Drake’s home conference schedule is Wichita State (Jan. 6), Bradley (Jan. 24), Northern Iowa (Jan. 27), Creighton (Feb. 9), Evansville (Feb. 14), Southern Illinois (Feb. 16), Indiana State (Feb. 29) and 2007 WNIT participant Illinois State (March 2).
The Bulldogs then look to defend their 2007 MVC Tournament crown and earn their 11th NCAA tournament berth at the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Women’s Basketball Championship, hosted by the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. (March 8-11).
The Bulldogs return all five starters from their 2006-07 squad which overcame losing 74 player games to injury to win the State Farm MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament in the Knapp Center it advanced them to the NCAA Tournament, where Drake fell to eventual national champion Tennessee.
For the complete schedule, visit the Drake Athletics Web site.