Sept. 3, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University has announced the 2008-09 women's basketball schedule, as the Lady Eagles will face one of the most challenging slates in school history in only their second season of Division I competition.
"I'm ready for this season," said NCCU head coach Joli Robinson. "We have improved from last year and will be more competitive this season."
The Lady Eagles will play eight home games and 19 contests on the road, visiting eight states (West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Oklahoma, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania) along the way.
Following a pair of home exhibition tune-ups against Livingstone College on Nov. 8 and Barton College on Nov.11, NCCU will face a tough November with six road games and only one home contest.
The NCCU women officially open the season on the road against the Mountaineers of West Virginia University on Nov 14.
The Bears of Morgan State will set foot in McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium as the first home opponent for the Lady Eagles on Nov. 17.
For the rest of the month, NCCU will be on the road. The Lady Eagles visit the Hokies of Virginia Tech on Nov. 20, and then on Nov. 22 will travel to Boiling Springs, N.C. to take on Gardner-Webb.
On Nov. 26, NCCU will face an SEC opponent, the University of Georgia, for the first time in school history, as the Lady Eagles will travel to Athens, Ga. to take on the Bulldogs.
Rounding out the November schedule, the Lady Eagles are participating in the East Carolina University Tournament on Nov. 28-29. NCCU could match-up with the arch-rival Aggies of North Carolina A&T, the University of Buffalo Bulls, or tournament host, the Pirates of East Carolina.
NCCU will play four home games in December. The Lady Eagles begin the month by hosting the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 1. NCCU will fly out to the Midwest as they take part in the U.S. Air Force Academy Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo., from Dec. 5-6. The Lady Eagles will join teams such as Miami-Ohio, Texas Pan-American and the host team Air Force.
On Dec. 16, the Lady Tigers of Tennessee State will make an appearance for the first time to NCCU's McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium. Tennessee State's home court is also named after John B. McLendon, the Hall of Fame coach who worked at NCCU from 1940-1952 and Tennessee State from 1954-59.
The `battle of the birds' showdown will take place on Dec. 19 as the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore swoop into town. The Lady Eagles will travel to Richmond, Va., to face the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth on Dec. 21, before closing out the year with a visit from the Broncos of Western Michigan on Dec. 30.
NCCU has only has three home dates in the second half of the season, compared to 10 road games. The Lady Eagles will host the Bulldogs of South Carolina State on Jan. 2, while the Lancers of Longwood University come to town on Jan. 13. On Jan. 24, the Tigers of Savannah State will be the contestants for NCCU's final home game.
The Lady Eagles will fly to Norman, Okla., to challenge the University of Oklahoma on Jan. 4, and then journey to the Midwest to play Chicago State on Jan. 10.
NCCU squares off against two MEAC schools in Norfolk State on Jan. 15 and Morgan State on Jan. 22.
On Jan. 27, NCCU will travel to Pennsylvania to compete with the Colonials of Robert Morris University.
The Lady Eagles will take on a pair of ACC opponents down tobacco road, facing the Tar Heels of North Carolina on Feb. 1 and the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest on Feb. 5.
NCCU wraps up with former CIAA foe Winston-Salem State on Feb. 11, a rematch on the road against Savannah State on Valentine's Day, followed by a season-ending meeting with the Longwood on Feb. 20.
