DENTON, Tex. (8/7/07) - It’s a common thought that to be the best you have to play the best. For North Texas women’s basketball this season, that won’t be a problem. The Mean Green faces seven teams that played in the post-season last year, including four teams that went to the NCAA Tournament in the 2007-08 schedule announced today.
The North Texas schedule includes three teams that were in the top 50 in the RPI and eight in the top 100. While the schedule is challenging North Texas will get to do it from the comforts of home. The Mean Green plays 15 home games this season, which ties the school record for most in a single season.
Not since the 1983-84 season has the Mean Green played 15 games at the Super Pit. North Texas has been a phenomenal 79-27 over the past nine seasons at home.
“I am excited about the challenge of such a competitive schedule for the upcoming season. The schedule will prepare our team for the high level of basketball we will face in the Sun Belt Conference,” said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. “The schedule is very versatile and has a lot of home and away games that our fans can see. Playing regional teams such as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Rice, and SMU is very exciting and something we always try and do”.
Big 12 power and NCAA participant Oklahoma State along with metroplex rival SMU visit the Super Pit this season. SMU arrives in Denton on December 1 while Oklahoma State will be at the Super Pit on December 19. North Texas also faces Marshall for the first time in school history when the Mean Green will host the Thundering Herd on December 4.
North Texas begins the season at the Winthrop Tournament on November 9 where they will face Winthrop, Rice, and Navy over three days. After a road game at Sam Houston State the Mean Green’s home opener is on November 18 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. North Texas visits Oklahoma on November 27 and Valparaiso on December 8.
The Sun Belt Conference schedule begins on December 22 at Denver. NCAA participant Louisiana-Lafayette is in Denton on January 12. North Texas visits defending Sun Belt Conference champion Middle Tennessee on January 26. The month of February features five home games for North Texas that include Western Kentucky and Arkansas State.
The first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament is on March 5 and the SBC Tournament begins on March 8 in Mobile, Ala.
