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NORFOLK, VA. - The Old Dominion University women's basketball schedule for the 2000-01 season will feature games against all of last year's NCAA "Final Four" teams, including home dates with national runner-up Tennessee, and Final Four competitor Rutgers along with UCLA and Virginia Tech, as released by athletic director Jim Jarrett.
Last year, the Lady Monarchs compiled a 29-5 record, advanced to the NCAA "sweet 16" for the fifth straight year and captured an NCAA record ninth straight CAA Championship. Old Dominion was ranked 14th in the final Associated Press poll and 12th in the final USA Today/ESPN poll.
"The Lady Monarchs schedule will provide great competition and exciting challenges for the Old Dominion University women's basketball team and its many fans and supporters," said Jarrett. "The non-conference strength of schedule may be the strongest in the NCAA and includes all of last year's Final Four teams. The schedule exemplifies the University goals and aspirations for women's basketball and I am personally excited about the coming season as well as the future of the program."
The Lady Monarchs will host last year's national runner-up Tennessee on Sunday Jan. 28 and host "Final Four" participant Rutgers on Jan. 31. Old Dominion's first home game will be against Syracuse on Nov. 17. UCLA comes to town for the first time since 1990-91 on Dec. 18, and Virginia Tech returns to the Lady Monarchs schedule for the first time since 1993 for a Dec. 21 meeting in the fieldhouse.
Old Dominion opens the season on Nov. 12 in the State Farm TipOff Classic against FINAL FOUR participant Penn State at the Hartford Civic Center. They will return to Connecticut to meet the defending National Champion Huskies of UCONN on a date to be determined.
On Nov. 25, the Lady Monarchs travel to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina. The two teams last played in the 1994 NCAA tournament at UNC. Other road games include visits to the University of Virginia on Sunday Dec. 3, St. John's on Dec. 7 and a Hampton Roads battle with Hampton University on Jan.14.
The Lady Monarchs first home CAA game will be Jan. 2 against American. The league schedule culminates with the CAA Tournament at the Old Dominion fieldhouse, March 8-10. The winner earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
"Once again our schedule features the top competition in the country. We hope that the Hampton Roads community will continue to show its support for our program as we take on what may be considered one of the top home schedules in the nation," said Wendy Larry.
Old Dominion returns four starters from last year's squad. Heading the returnees will be 6-2 senior forward Lucienne Berthieu, CAA Player of the Year (17.8/ 9.0 rpg); 6-1, senior forward and All-CAA performer Hamchetou Maiga (14.0 ppg/7.5 prg); CAA Rookie of the Year, 5-5 sophomore Alli Spence (6.5 ppg/5.1 apg); CAA All-Rookie selection, 5-5 sophomore Okeisha Howard (9.6 ppg), CAA All-Tournament selection 6-0 sophomore Kim Giddens (6.1 ppg/3.2 rpg) and CAA All-Tournament selection, 5-8 junior Sharron Francis (10.1 ppg/5.4 rpg). The veterans along with a strong recruiting class, will give the Lady Monarchs depth to take on such a schedule.
Season tickets for the 2000-01 women's basketball season are now available by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 683-4444, or by ordering on -line at www.odusports. com.