Sept. 24, 2008

Schedule

RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech head coach Chris Long announced his 2008-09 women's basketball schedule Wednesday which is highlighted by 15 home games and marquee road match-ups with defending national champion Tennessee and Final Four participant LSU.

The 30-game regular season slate begins Nov. 14 at home against Central Arkansas and includes 14 non-conference games and the 16-game Western Athletic Conference schedule which starts January 8 at Nevada.

"Our schedule will be one of the more challenging non-conference schedules in the country," Long said. "We play the national champion in Tennessee and another Final Four participant in LSU. We have quite a non-conference schedule when you throw in games against Mississippi State, Arizona, Western Kentucky, and Virginia to name a few."

Tech's 15-game home slate -- the most home regular season games for a Lady Techster team since 2000-01 -- features games against Arizona, Western Kentucky, Grambling State, UALR, Nicholls State, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas and the eight conference games against Fresno State, Boise State, Nevada, Hawaii, New Mexico State, Utah State, Idaho and San Jose State.

The Lady Techsters will play non-conference road games against Tennessee, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi State, and McNeese State and will compete in the University of Virginia Marriott Cavalier Classic on Dec. 28 and 29 which also includes Rider and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

"The schedule will get us ready for the WAC season," Long said. "I expect it to be a very competitive year in the league. I know we are excited and have high expectations for ourselves."

Tech returns nine letter winners from last year's team that posted a 16-15 mark, including five players who started at some point during the season in Shanavia Dowdell, Adrienne Johnson, Tarkeisha Wysinger, Whitney Jones and Tiawana Pringle.

The Lady Techsters add three newcomers in guards Jasmine Bendolph, Kiara Young and DeAngela Sword.

Long also welcomes a completely new coaching staff this season including associate head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, assistant coaches LaRita Wilcher and Sarah Carter and director of basketball operations Ebony Felder.

Tech opens fall practice Oct. 18.