Thirteen Home Games Highlight Inaugural Big South Season
July 18, 2008 | Women's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head women's basketball coach Rick Reeves, in conjunction with the Gardner-Webb athletics department, has announced the schedule for the upcoming 2008-09 season.
The schedule features 13 home dates, including eight contests against teams from the Big South Conference.
"We have a real tough schedule, Reeves said. "It is a lot more difficult than it was last year."
The Bulldogs open the season on the road for the fourth time in five years under Reeves. This year, GWU wastes no time, taking on the Houston Cougars of Conference USA in Houston, Texas on Nov. 15. It is the first of two Conference USA schools the team will take on during the 2008-09 season.
After the season opener, the Bulldogs return home for four consecutive home games beginning Nov. 17 against UVA-Wise at 7 p.m. The Red and Black will then host North Carolina Central (Nov. 22), South Carolina State (Nov. 25) and Tennessee Temple (Nov. 29) before hitting the road again.
Reeves' team will be playing away from the friendly confines of Paul Porter Arena the entire month of December. After playing at nearby Wofford on Dec. 2, the Bulldogs will make the trek to Winston-Salem, N.C., to square off against Winston-Salem State on Dec. 4.
After taking a break for finals, GWU returns to action at Conference USA school East Carolina on Dec. 16. From there, the Bulldogs play a return game at BIG EAST foe Georgetown on Dec. 19. A year ago, the Hoyas came to Boiling Springs and held off an extremely young Bulldogs' squad by a 73-62 score.
GWU will then take a couple of days off for the holidays before getting back on the court Dec. 28 as one of the four teams competing in the Dayton Classic. The Bulldogs will take on Bowling Green that afternoon and will play either Dayton or Lipscomb the following day.
Reeves' team opens the 2009 calendar year by hosting Montreat at 7 p.m. in Paul Porter Arena. The stay at home is brief, as the team hits the road for four consecutive games.
On Jan. 3, the Bulldogs square off against Reeves' former school, Liberty, in Lynchburg, Va., at 7 p.m., in the school's first-ever Big South women's basketball game. Two days later GWU will play at Radford. The Bulldogs play at UNC Asheville Jan. 10 before heading to High Point, N.C., to take on the Panthers Jan. 12.
Bulldog fans will get their first taste of home Big South action on Jan. 17 as Charleston Southern comes to town. On Saturday, Jan. 24, GWU will host Winthrop. Fellow Big South newcomer Presbyterian rolls into Paul Porter Arena on Monday, Jan. 26 for a 7 p.m., contest.
GWU steps out of conference to tangle with the Mountaineers of Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., Jan. 28. The squad stays on the road for a Big South showdown at Coastal Carolina Jan. 31.
The Bulldogs will then welcome Radford (Feb. 7) and Liberty (Feb. 9) to town. On Feb. 14, GWU will host High Point. The Red and Black then host UNC Asheville on Feb. 16 to complete its second four-game home stand of the season.
GWU hits the road for a three-game stretch starting Saturday, Feb. 21 at Presbyterian. From there, the Bulldogs will play at Winthrop (Feb. 23) and at Charleston Southern (Feb. 28) before returning home for the regular-season finale against Coastal Carolina on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m.
Reeves' team will then have a few days to prepare for the Big South Tournament, which will take place March 11-14 at High Point University.
The 2008-09 GWU team is comprised of five juniors (two redshirt-juniors), five sophomores and two freshmen.
For a look at the full schedule, click here.
