Women's Basketball Releases Schedule
August 25, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 25, 2001
Louisville, Ky. - Road games against Vanderbilt and a possible rematch with Xavier, two Sweet 16 participants, highlight the University of Louisville women's basketball schedule released today by head coach Martin Clapp.
The 27-game regular-season schedule includes 16 games against teams that participated in the 2001 postseason, including a showdown with NIT champion Ohio State in the Women's Sports Foundation Tournament. The slate also featues 14 games with teams that finished the 2000-01 season ranked in the top100 RPI and 21 teams ranked in the top 150.
"I think this is a very competitive schedule from top to bottom," said Clapp. "It is the toughest schedule we have played in my 12 seasons at Louisville. Once again we will be tested early with our tough nonconference schedule.
"We will also continue our in-state rivalry series with Kentucky and Western Kentucky which are always exciting. With the addition of East Carolina and Texas Christian to the conference slate, there are six teams with a legitimate chance to win the conference."
Three games will be nationally televised with ESPN2 airing the Tulane game on Feb. 3 in New Orleans. Conference USA Television Network will feature the Cards' Jan. 27 matchup with UAB in Freedom Hall and the regular season finale on Feb. 24 at Cincinnati.
After two exhibition games against Athletes in Action and the Ohio Legends, Louisville will tip off the regular season at home on Nov. 20 against Evansville at 7:00 p.m. They will then travel to Malibu, Calif. to participate in the Pepperdine Thanksgiving Classic. The Cards will face SEC opponent Alabama in the first round.
The Cardinals will also participate in the Women's Sports Foundation Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Louisville faces host Ohio State in the opening round on Dec. 14 at 8:00 p.m. In the second round the Cardinals could face Colorado State or a rematch from the 2001 NCAA Tournament with Xavier.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers visit Freedom Hall on Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m. The Cards will travel to Kentucky on Dec. 19 for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff. On Jan. 4 the Cincinnati Bearcats visit Freedom Hall to open up the Conference USA slate.
This season with the addition of East Carolina and Texas Christian, the league slate drops from 16 games to 14 and from two divisions to one. DePaul will host the Conference USA Tournament on March 1-4. The tournament has a new format with only the top 12 teams competing.
