University of Connecticut Athletics
2002-03 Women's Basketball Schedule Announced
9/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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STORRS, CT (September 5, 2002) -- National powerhouses Tennessee and Duke along with a potential rematch of the 2002 NCAA title game versus Oklahoma highlight the University of Connecticut women’s basketball 2002-2003 schedule released Thursday by UConn Director of Athletics, Lew Perkins.
In total, the defending national champion Huskies play 29 regular season games, including 16 contests against BIG EAST opponents. UConn will play 13 home contests, seven of which will be in the Hartford Civic Center. This is the most games ever to be played in the Civic Center. The remaining six Husky home contests will be at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, located in Storrs, CT. UConn also will play two exhibition games before the regular season starts on Fri., Nov. 22.
UConn will make four national television appearances with one on CBS, one on ESPN and two on espn2. Other local and regional telecasts will be announced.
“Our 2002-03 women’s basketball schedule is an exciting combination of games which includes an impressive BIG EAST schedule along with numerous non-conference match-ups against many of the top collegiate programs. We always attempt to construct a challenging schedule and I am pleased with this season’s results. I believe we have a terrific balance of games in Storrs and Hartford, and our road games will be against some outstanding competition, “ says head coach Geno Auriemma.
UConn begins defense of its national title at home on Fri., Nov. 22, versus Wright State and will immediately hit the road for tournament play in the first annual Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic when the Huskies face NC State on Sun., Nov. 24. Tournament play continues when the Huskies participate in the Asahi/Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Nov. 29-Dec.1 with possible opponents including Denver, DePaul, Fordham, Gonzaga, host Hawaii, ACC power North Carolina and a possible NCAA title game rematch against Oklahoma.
The non-conference schedule continues with a regional contest versus Holy Cross in the Worcester Centrum on Thurs., Dec. 5. The Huskies will next host USC on Sun., Dec. 8, for its first game in the Hartford Civic Center. Pepperdine will come to Storrs on Fri., Dec. 20, and the Huskies will host St. Joseph’s on Sun., Dec. 22, in the Civic Center. The winter break will have the Huskies in Florida to face South Florida on Sat., Dec. 28, and Florida State on Mon., Dec. 30, while January will showcase women’s basketball’s top rivalry when the Huskies host Tennessee on Sat., Jan. 4, at 2:00 p.m. in the Hartford Civic Center. UConn will close out its non-conference schedule in February, when the Huskies make their first-ever appearance in historic Cameron Indoor Stadium under the Auriemma tenure and face the Lady Blue Devils on Sat., Feb. 1.
UConn begins BIG EAST play with a home contest against Rutgers on Wed., Jan. 8, in the Hartford Civic Center and will host Virginia Tech on Sun., Jan. 12, in Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies will also host Georgetown (Jan. 18), Syracuse (Feb. 12) and West Virginia (Mar. 4) in the Hartford Civic Center while conference games versus Villanova (Jan. 29), Seton Hall (Feb. 16), and Notre Dame (Feb. 23) will be played in Gampel Pavilion.
UConn’s away conference schedule is highlighted by a Mon., Jan. 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rematch versus Notre Dame in South Bend. UConn will also go on the road to face Seton Hall (Jan. 15), Pittsburgh (Jan. 25), St. John’s (Feb. 4), Miami (Feb. 19), Georgetown (Feb. 26) and Providence (Mar. 1).
