Keitha Adams Announces UTEP Women's Basketball 2007-08 Non-Conference Schedule
July 9, 2007 On the heels of the most successful season in school history, UTEP women's basketball head coach Keitha Adams has assembled arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the 33-year history of the program. Adams released the non-conference portion of the 2007-08 slate on Friday, with contests against three NCAA Tournament teams and a trio of WNIT participants on the docket.
"This is an excellent non-conference schedule for our program," Adams said. "We have several home games that will be great for our fans. We've added some elite teams to help prepare us for league play."
After facing the Houston Jaguars in an exhibition tilt on Nov. 3, the Miners officially tip off the season at Big-12 member Nebraska on Nov. 9. The Cornhuskers went 22-10 a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
UTEP is back home on Nov. 12 for its second exhibition contest, but the competition will be fierce. The Chinese Olympic Team will be in town to battle the Miners. The squad will be in the midst of a six-game trip across the country in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In addition to facing UTEP, the team will take on Arizona State, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rutgers and Texas A&M.
The Miners' official home opener is set for Nov. 15 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals last year.
A trio of teams will be in town the weekend of Nov. 23 for the first-ever UTEP Thanksgiving Tournament. The field will be comprised of Cal-State Fullerton, Nevada, Stephen F. Austin and UTEP. Nevada and SFA both qualified for the 2007 WNIT, while the Titans surged to an appearance in Big West Tournament Semifinals.
"It will be exciting to have our first Thanksgiving Tournament here at UTEP," Adams said. "We are eager to continue the excitement this year that we generated in El Paso last season. We definitely are pumped to get our season started."
The first of two contests against I-10 rival New Mexico State is tabbed for Nov. 28 in Las Cruces. The Miners- who swept the season series against the Aggies last year- will welcome NMSU to the Don Haskins Center on Dec. 8.
In between those games will be a trip to Manhattan, Kan., where UTEP will participate in a tournament hosted by Kansas State. Joining the Miners in the field with be Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Lipscomb and the homestanding Wildcats. KSU made an incredible run in the 2007 WNIT, advancing to the semifinals before being knocked out by eventual champion Wyoming in a thrilling triple-overtime contest.
UTEP will take on Savannah State University on Dec. 16 before squaring off against Prairie View A&M, which was a 2007 NCAA Tournament participant, on Dec. 18.
The Miners will travel to the Buckeye State to battle perennial Mid-American Conference power Toledo on Dec. 21. UTEP wraps up non-conference play against New Mexico on Dec. 30 in El Paso. The Lobos are coming off an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
UTEP returns four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's record-setting team, in addition to welcoming a quintet of newcomers.
Season tickets, which can be purchased for only $50, are on sale now by calling (915) 747- 6150.
2007-08 UTEP WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
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