Tulsa Announces 2008-09 Women's Basketball Schedule
9/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 15, 2008
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa Head Women's Basketball Coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson announced today the 2008-09 schedule, which features eight 2008 postseason teams, 14 home contests, including the Holiday Inn Select Holiday Classic, a 16-game conference slate and state schools Oklahoma and Oral Roberts.
The eight 2008 postseason teams include Arkansas-Little Rock (WNIT), Marist (NCAA), Oklahoma (NCAA), Oral Roberts (NCAA), SMU (NCAA), Southern Miss (WNIT), Texas-San Antonio (NCAA) and UTEP (NCAA).
TU will open the season at home against McNeese State on Nov. 16 in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. TU has not faced the Cowgirls in 11 years, but MSU came away with a win in both previous meetings.
Three days later, the Golden Hurricane will host Missouri State on Nov. 19. TU and the Bears faced off last season in Springfield, with MSU earning a 72-61 victory to take a 7-5 advantage in the overall series.
Tulsa will take on cross-town rival Oral Roberts on Nov. 22 at ORU before the first true road game against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 24. The Golden Eagles, which captured a 48-33 victory over TU last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, return all five starters to the lineup. The Golden Hurricane registered a win over SFA last season to tie the all-time series, 3-3.
Marist comes to Tulsa for the first meeting between the two schools on Nov. 28. The Red Foxes posted a 32-3 mark last season and advanced to the NCAA Championship before falling to Final Four team LSU in the second round.
TU will make a quick trip up north to take on UMKC on Dec. 3. The Golden Hurricane has won the previous five meetings with the Kangaroos, including a 59-46 victory at home in 2005.
Tulsa will return home to host Central Arkansas on Dec. 6 for the first meeting between the two schools before facing tough road challenges against Arkansas-Little Rock on Dec. 9 and Oklahoma on Dec. 21. UALR won the Sun Belt regular season championship and made its first-ever appearance in the WNIT in 2008, tallying a 23-9 overall mark, while OU had a similar 22-9 mark and finished third in the Big 12.
After an eight-day break, Tulsa returns to the Reynolds Center to host the Holiday Inn Select Holiday Classic featuring Texas-Arlington and Texas Southern. TU and UTA will take to the court on Dec. 29, UTA and TSU will battle on Dec. 30 and the Golden Hurricane will face the Tigers on Dec. 31.
Tulsa will kick off the Conference USA season against SMU on Jan. 3 in Dallas, Texas. The Golden Hurricane and the Mustangs met on the court three times last season, with TU winning both regular season contests, while SMU recorded a victory in the C-USA Championship quarterfinals en route to the tournament title. Tulsa has won six of the last eight meetings with the Mustangs.
The Golden Hurricane will conclude the non-conference schedule against Texas-San Antonio on Jan. 5 in San Antonio, Texas. TU tallied a 78-56 victory over the Roadrunners last year, and has a 5-1 advantage in the series.
Tulsa will host three league games spanning 10 days, including East Carolina on Jan. 8, Marshall on Jan. 10 and SMU on Jan. 18. TU dropped a game to both the Pirates and the Thundering Herd last season, and will look to have an advantage on its home court.
The Golden Hurricane will make the trip to UTEP and Tulane on Jan. 22 and 24, respectively, before closing out the month with a pair of home games against Rice on Jan. 29 and Houston on Jan. 31. The Miners won the C-USA regular season championship last year, as they posted a perfect 16-0 regular season conference mark. The Green Wave and Golden Hurricane split decisions last year, with both teams earning wins on their home court. The Owls walked away with a victory in both meetings last year, while TU an UH split, again with each earning a home win.
On Feb. 5 Tulsa will battle UCF and then travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. to take on Southern Miss on Feb. 7. TU captured a win over both teams last season, including a 65-59 win over the Knights and a narrow 63-62 victory over the Golden Eagles. The Golden Hurricane has a 2-1 advantage over UCF and has won all five meeting with Southern Miss.
TU will face UAB on Feb. 12 before hosting Memphis on Feb. 15. The Blazers earned a double-overtime victory over Tulsa last year, while the Golden Hurricane and the Tigers went 1-1 on the year. Memphis claimed the regular season victory, while TU's win came in the first round of the league tournament.
The Golden Hurricane will travel to Houston for a pair of games, including Rice on Feb. 20 and Houston on Feb. 22, before closing out the regular season at home against UTEP and Tulane on Feb. 26 and 28, respectively.
The Conference USA Championship will be held in New Orleans, La. on March 5-8, 2009.
Fans can call the TU athletic ticket office at 918.631.GoTU (4688) to purchase season tickets.
