Bama 2003-04 Women's Basketball Schedule Full of Challenges
10/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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TUSCALOOSA - The University of Alabama women's basketball team, who is looking to rebound after a disappointing 13-15 mark a year ago, will play one of the most competitive and challenging schedules in the country this season.
Thirteen of the teams on the Crimson Tide slate appeared in the postseason last year including nine teams in the NCAA Tournament and four in the WNIT. Four opponents reached the NCAA Sweet 16 with another pair making the WNIT Final Four. Alabama will visit NCAA Runner-up Tennessee and Sweet 16 team Georgia. The Tide plays host to Elite 8 squad LSU on Feb. 5 and will face Sweet 16 team Boston College in the opening round of a tournament in Fort Collins, Colorado.
UA could face WNIT Final Four participant Colorado State at CSU's tournament and meets WNIT Champion Auburn twice this year including a home game with their in-state rivals on Feb. 26.
"We made a commitment to toughen up our schedule this year," said UA head coach Rick Moody, who is in his 15th season at the helm of the Tide program. "The SEC is always a challenge and this year could be the most competitive in my career. In addition, we are going to play some really good teams. We raised the level of our opponents in order to increase our RPI. Being able to play and beat the level of competition on our pre-conference schedule will not only prepare us for the SEC, but will also help strengthen our case at the end of the season."
Alabama opens the season at Big Ten foe Michigan on Nov. 24 followed by a trip to Fort Collins, Colo., to participate in the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational hosted by Colorado State. The Tide opens December with four consecutive home games against Jacksonville State (Dec. 2), UT-San Antonio (Dec. 5), NCAA Tournament team Virginia Tech (Dec. 7) and Tennessee Tech (Dec. 15). Bama will close out the 2003 portion of its schedule with a trio of games in Florida (Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman, Florida International) and road contest at Santa Clara.
The New Year finds the Tide hosting Houston on Jan. 3 followed by a game at Middle Tennessee (Jan.8) to conclude the non-conference portion of their schedule. Alabama opens SEC play on Jan. 11 against NCAA participant South Carolina in Tuscaloosa. Other home SEC tilts include games versus LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss (Jan. 15), Mississippi State (Jan. 25), and Vanderbilt (Feb. 8). Bama's Feb. 15 match-up with Arkansas in Tuscaloosa will be televised live by Fox Sports Net. The SEC Championship Tournament will be held on Mar. 4-7 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn.
"I am very excited about our schedule this year," said Moody. "We have some awesome home games for our fans especially our non-conference ones in December. I believe that our team is going to be fun to watch and I'm looking forward to having a lot of our Alabama supporters in the stands for these tremendous games."
In addition to the regular season schedule, Alabama fans can get an early look at the Crimson Tide in a pair of exhibition games on Nov. 9 (Berry College) and Nov. 18 (Premier Players). The women's basketball team will also be a part of the "Coca-Cola Kickoff on the Quad" festivities prior to the Oct. 25 Tennessee football game when they will be signing autographs at the Mayfield Dairy Tent.
Tickets for Alabama's home basketball games may be purchased online as the season gets closer through the Crimson Tide's official website, www.rolltide.com or by calling the UA Athletic Ticket Office at 205-348-BAMA (2262).
