University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Women's Basketball Announces 2011-12 Schedule That Features 10 Post-Season Teams
9/22/2011 10:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware women's basketball team has released its entire schedule for the upcoming 2011-12 season.
The Blue Hens, who went 20-14 overall last year, advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association championship game, and moved on to a berth in the Women's National Invitational Tournament, return all but one player this season and will look to be among the favorites to capture the CAA title.
Head coach Tina Martin, who will enter her 16th season at the helm of the Blue Hens, returns a talented lineup spearheaded by two-time All-American and 2011 U.S. World University Games team standout Elena Delle Donne (at right), who averaged 25.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game a year ago as a junior. Among the other top returnees are All-CAA junior guard Lauren Carra (10.8 ppg) and starters Danielle Parker (8.1 ppg; 7.9 rpg), Jocelyn Bailey (7.4 ppg), and Vanessa Kabongo (6.2 ppg).
Delaware will square off against 10 teams that advanced to the post-season a year ago, including four in the NCAA tournament and six in the WNIT.
The Hens open the season at home in the Bob Carpenter Center with Rhode Island (Nov. 11, 7 p.m.) with NCAA participant Penn State (Nov. 17, 7 p.m.) highlighting the early home. After a three-game road swing, Delaware hosts William & Mary (Dec. 4, 2 p.m.) and WNIT participant Yale (Dec. 5, 7 p.m.) in back-to-back days.
Delaware opens the 2012 portion of the home schedule with CAA foe Towson (Jan. 5, 7 p.m.) followed by UNC Wilmington (Jan. 12, 7 p.m.). A late-January home conference stand will pit Delaware against Drexel (Jan. 22, 2 p.m.) and Hofstra (Jan. 26, 7 p.m.).
Early in February, the Hens take on a pair of WNIT teams in Virginia Commonwealth University (Feb. 5, 2 p.m.) and Old Dominion (Feb. 9, 7 p.m.). Delaware wraps up its home schedule with George Mason (Feb. 23, 7 p.m.) and Northeastern (Feb. 26, 2 p.m.).
The Hens head to Villanova (Nov. 22, 7 p.m.) for their first road challenge, followed by a pair of tough road opponents in Saint Bonaventure (Nov. 27, 2 p.m.) which went to the WNIT and 2010-11 Ivy league Champion Princeton (Dec. 1, 7 p.m.).
Delaware has challenges against the ACC and Big East as it heads south to take on Wake Forest (Dec. 11, 2 p.m.) but have a quick turn around to head to Providence (Dec. 19, 7 p.m.).
Delaware will take part in the Maryland Christmas Tournament, which will be hosted by the University of Maryland. Delaware opens play with East Carolina University (Dec. 28, tba) and will play either host Maryland, which went to the NCAA tournament or Lafayette (Dec. 29, tba) on the second day.
The Hens travel to George Mason (Jan. 8, 2 p.m.), Northeastern (Jan. 15, 2 p.m.), and Towson (Jan. 19) for their first three conference road games. Delaware will then make a southern swing, heading to 2010-11 CAA Champion James Madison (Jan. 29, 2 p.m.), which was awarded the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament. After challenging the defending champions, the Hens head to another post-season team in UNC Wilmington (Feb. 2, 7 p.m.) to open the month of February.
Delaware's final four road games will be heavy in mileage as it travels to Georgia State (Feb. 12, 2 p.m.), Hofstra (Feb. 16, 7 p.m.), Drexel (Feb. 19, 2 p.m.), which was one of five CAA teams in the WNIT. The Hens final road game of the year will be at William & Mary (Feb. 29, 7 p.m.).
The 2011-12 Virginia 529 College Savings Plan CAA Tournament will take place from March 8-12 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.
Conference game dates and times are subject to change pending the league's conference television schedule.
Agate:
2011-12 University of Delaware Women's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 11 vs. Rhode Island; Nov. 17 vs. Penn State; Nov. 22 at Villanova; Nov. 27 at St. Bonaventure
Dec. 1 at Princeton; Dec. 4 vs. William & Mary; Dec. 5 vs. Yale; Dec. 11 at Wake Forest; Dec. 19 at Providence; Dec. 28-29 at Maryland Christmas Tournament;
Jan. 5 vs. Towson; Jan. 8 vs. George Mason; Jan. 12 vs. UNC Wilmington; Jan. 15 at Northeastern; Jan. 19 at Towson; Jan. 22 vs. Drexel; Jan. 26 vs. Hofstra; Jan. 29 at James Madison
Feb. 2 at UNC Wilmington; Feb. 5 vs. VCU; Feb. 9 vs. Old Dominion; Feb. 12 at Georgia State; Feb. 16 at Hofstra; Feb. 19 at Drexel; Feb. 23 vs. George Mason; Feb. 26 vs. Northeastern; Feb. 29 at William & Mary
March 8-12 Virginia 529 College Savings Plan Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, held at the Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Md.
