Sept. 4, 2008

Six Doubleheaders, Six MAC Foes Await on 2008-09 Women's Hoops Schedule

    Youngstown -- Four opponents coming off 20-win seasons and six doubleheaders on the new Dom Rosselli Court highlight the 2008-09 Youngstown State women's basketball schedule, first-year head coach Cindy Martin announced.
    The docket also features four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament or Women's National Invitational Tournament last season and six opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
    The Penguins open the season on the road against Kent State on Nov. 15 just four days prior to the home opener against Buffalo on Nov. 19. The first Horizon League game is set for Jan. 3 at Valparaiso.
    "We are excited that we are going to be tested with our non-conference schedule," Martin said. "Something we have stressed to our ladies is that almost every team in the country will drop a few non-conference games. That being said, we will always play a tough non-conference schedule to prepare for our conference opponents."
    The team will have a three-game road stretch three different times while being home for three straight only once. YSU will also play four road games during the fall semester, but none are overnight trips that will result in missed classes.
    "Our focus will always remain on our 'Three C’s' - classroom, community and court," Martin said. "With our game schedule, we made an academic commitment to our student-athletes in making sure they will not miss a day of class in the fall semester. It’s not only important that our ladies are challenged on the court, it's also important that they strive to be their best in the classroom."
    After the contests against the Golden Flashes and Bulls, the Penguins will play their first home doubleheader on Nov. 22 against Niagara. They will then play in Youngstown just twice over the next 46 days with eight of their next 10 contests on the road. Two of those will come at Pittsburgh in a four-team tournament over Thanksgiving, and another will be at four-time defending MAC champion Bowling Green on Dec. 6.
    The Penguins play at Valpo and Butler on Jan. 3 and Jan. 5 before playing five of their next seven league games at Beeghly Center. Four of those contests will be doubleheaders before the end of the month.
    YSU will then play three straight conference road games to start February, including a four-day trip to Wisconsin. Four of the final six regular season contests will be in Youngstown, including senior night on March 7 against Valparaiso.
    The opening round off the Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship will be March 9. Tournament games will be played on alternating days in leading up to the championship on March 15.
    The Penguins will hold their first practice on Oct. 17.