Nov. 9, 2012
The Atlantic 10 will open its 2012-13 Women's Basketball season this weekend with a full slate of non-conference games. All 16 teams are in action during opening weekend, including five home games for the eight teams competing tonight.
ON TAP FOR FRIDAY
The Dukes will play host to Liberty at 7:00 p.m. in the A.J. Palumbo Center. Meanwhile, Richmond hosts Longwood in the Robins Center and Dayton takes on Mississippi Valley State in the Maggie Dixon Classic in Chicago. Rookie head coach Jonathan Tsipis will make his debut as the Colonials host Texas-Arlington, while Temple welcomes Montana to Philadelphia. Saint Louis and first-year head coach Lisa Stone travel to Missouri and Fordham is on the road at in-state rival Albany.
NEW A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
At the conclusion of the regular season on March 3, the top 12 league teams will advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship in Philadelphia. First round action of the event begins on Friday, March 8 at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena on the campus of Saint Joseph's University, with the top four teams earning a bye. Quarterfinal play continues on Saturday, March 9 in Philadelphia, while the semifinals will air live on CBS Sports Network at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. The championship game, which will be held on Saturday, March 16, will be played at 7:00 p.m. at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The A-10's championship finale will mark the first women's collegiate game at the new-state-of-the art arena.
A-10 PRESEASON POLL
After capturing its first Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball title and making the program's third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, Dayton has been tabbed as the team to beat this season, according to a vote of the league's 16 head coaches. Richmond and 2009 champion Charlotte rounded out the top three, respectively.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
For the first time in program history, St. Bonaventure is receiving votes in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The Bonnies begin the season with the 37th most points of any team in the land with six. The Bonnies went 31-4 last season and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. SBU finished last season at No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll, No. 23 in the Coaches Poll and were positioned as high as No. 16 in the nation during the week of March 5.
QUICK LOOK BACK Last year, A-10 Champion Dayton and nationally-ranked St. Bonaventure were among the 64 teams selected to the 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, while Charlotte, Duquesne, Richmond, Saint Joseph's and Temple received invites to the 64-team Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). Additionally, the A-10 closed out the 2011-12 campaign ranked ninth among the 31 Division I Conferences in the final RPI Report, while six league teams finished among the top 100 RPI teams in the country, including St. Bonaventure (14), Dayton (37), Richmond (46), Temple (52), Saint Joseph's (66) and Duquesne (91).
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Dayton at MVSU (Maggie Dixon Classic)
Chicago, IL | 4:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Audio
After one exhibition game under its belt the University of Dayton women's basketball team will officially kick off the 2012-13 season this Friday in DePaul University's Maggie Dixon Classic at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Chicago. The Flyers open the tournament against Mississippi Valley State at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9. All of the Flyer games at the Classic will be available via a free audio stream on DaytonFlyers.com with Shane White on the call.
Longwood at Richmond
Richmond, VA | 4:00 p.m.
Watch Live | Live Stats
Richmond hosts Longwood in its season opener Friday at 4 p.m. at the Robins Center.
Central Connecticut at Rhode Island
Kingston, RI | 5:00 p.m.
Watch Live | Live Stats
Rhody opens the 2012-13 season against Central Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 9. Tip-off at the Ryan Center is set for 5:00 p.m. Rhode Island is 14-5 in the all-time series vs. CCSU, winning seven of the last nine meetings between the teams. The last time the Rams met the Blue Devils (12/7/11), Central Connecticut posted a 50-45 win in New Britain, Conn.
Liberty at Duquesne (Preseason WNIT)
Pittsburgh, PA | 7:00 p.m.
Game Tracker | Audio Stream
In July, it was announced that Duquesne was selected as one of 16 teams to participate in the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Preseason WNIT kicks off the 2012-13 women's college basketball season and will be played Nov. 9-18 in a 3-game guarantee championship format.
UT Arlington at George Washington
Washington, DC | 7:00 p.m.
Watch Live | Game Tracker
George Washington begins its 38th season of women's basketball and its first under head coach Jonathan Tsipis on Friday evening when UT Arlington visits the Charles E. Smith Center at 7:00 p.m. Friday marks the second-ever meeting between GW and UT Arlington following the Colonials' 63-41 season-opening win over the Mavericks in Texas. Sara Mostafa finished with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds, while Tara Booker posted 13 points and seven boards.
Montana at Temple
Philadelphia, PA | 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch Live
In its first game of the 2012-13 season, Temple women's basketball will play at home against Montana on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The contest will follow the Senior Night volleyball game against La Salle, set for 5:00 p.m.
Saint Louis at Missouri
Columbia, MO | 8:00 p.m.
Watch Live | Live Stats
Saint Louis women's basketball begins its 38th season of competition Friday, Nov. 9, against the Missouri Tigers. Tip time at Mizzou Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
Fordham at Albany
Albany, NY | 8:30 p.m.
Live Stats
For the third time in the last four seasons, the Fordham women's basketball team will open its regular season against the Albany Great Danes. This will be Fordham's second ever trip to the SEFCU Arena. The game will feature two of the best team defenses in country from a year ago. Albany ranked 19th in the nation in scoring defense last season at 53.4 points per game, while Fordham was 30th in the country in that same category at 54.4.
