University of Georgia Athletics
Lady Bulldog Basketball Schedule Set For 2008-09
August 18, 2008 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. --- Sixteen games against teams that reached postseason play last spring headline the 2008-09 schedule for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs announced by head coach Andy Landers on Monday.
The Lady Bulldogs will have 11 contests versus 2008 NCAA Tournament squads and five additional outings against WNIT participants.
"This is a schedule that will challenge us from the first game through the last game," Landers said. "Hopefully, we will grow as we're challenged in the early portion of the non-conference schedule to the point where we can be successful as we finish non-conference games because those last few certainly get difficult. And then we jump out of the frying pan and into the fire as we start SEC play."
Georgia opens regular-season play with a noon matinee against Alabama State on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Stegeman Coliseum and wraps up the campaign at home versus the Florida Gators on Sunday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Non-conference dates against teams advancing to the 2008 edition March Madness include East Tennessee State in Athens on Dec. 1, at Georgia Tech on Dec. 5, at Rutgers on Dec. 8 in a nationally televised showdown as part of the Jimmy V Classic, versus Xavier in Athens on Dec. 30 and at Virginia on Jan. 2. The Lady Bulldogs will play a combined six games against Southeastern Conference teams in the most recent NCAA bracket, facing Vanderbilt and Auburn on a home-and-home basis, traveling to Tennessee on Feb. 5 and hosting LSU on Feb. 19.
Additional highlights of the non-conference slate include a Thanksgiving trip to Las Vegas for UNLV's Lady Rebel Round-up and a Dec. 22 matchup with Clemson in the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, where Georgia will host first- and second-round games of the 2009 NCAA Tournament on March 21 and 23.
"We are fortunate to have a great history of NCAA play here at Georgia," Landers said. "Hosting should become great motivation for this basketball team in its quest to qualify itself for the NCAA Tournament. Should we be able to get the job done and earn a bid, it's good to know that we and our fans can be in the same place for once."
The Lady Bulldogs finished 23-10 last season and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Georgia appeared in its 25th edition of March Madness, which ranks No. 2 nationally.
The Lady Bulldogs will return three starters from a year ago guards Ashley Houts and Angela Puleo and forward Angel Robinson as well as five additional letterwinners. Three players will join the Georgia lineup, sophomore Porsha Phillips, a WBCA and McDonald's Prep All-American in 2006 who sat out last season after transferring from LSU; redshirt freshman Nicole Stroud; and true freshman Meredith Mitchell, who helped lead Midfield (Ala.) High to consecutive state titles in 2007 and 2008 and a final national ranking of No. 12 a senior.
Landers will begin his 30th season at Georgia just 11 victories shy of his 800th career win overall. Last season, he became just the third Division I women's basketball coach to post 700 wins at a single institution.
Season tickets for Lady Bulldog Basketball are currently on sale to last year's season ticket holders and will go on sale to the general public on August 30. Packages are just $25 and include all 13 home games at Stegeman Coliseum, plus the Clemson contest at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Season tickets can be reserved both at www.georgiadogs.com or by calling 1-877-542-1231.
Tickets for the first- and second-round games of the 2009 NCAA Tournament at the Arena at Gwinnett Center also are sale. Only all-session books to the two first-round on Saturday, March 21 and one second-round game on Monday, March 23 can be purchased at this time. Those are $30 for adults and $20 for students and can be reserved online via www.georgiadogs.com or by calling the UGA Ticket office at 1-877-542-1231.
To view the complete 2008-09 schedule, click here.
