CCU women to face UNC women on court

CONWAY -- The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team released its 2008-09 schedule today (Sept. 23), as announced by Head Coach Alan LeForce. The Chanticleers will play 13 non-conference games, including a contest with 2008 Elite Eight participants North Carolina, followed by a 16-game conference slate.

“We think it’s a very competitive schedule,” commented LeForce. “We are playing some good teams that we think will stretch us and help prepare us for our conference. I think looking at the schedule, we have a chance to be competitive in every game.”

Entering his 12th season with the Chanticleers, LeForce will be seeking his 400th career victory when Coastal Carolina opens the season hosting Erskine Nov. 14 and Campbell Nov. 17. The Chants will get its road schedule underway at Wofford Nov. 19, before returning home to face Jacksonville Nov. 22. After playing at the College of Charleston Nov. 25, the Chanticleers will host back-to-back games against Southern Virginia Nov. 29 and Coker College Nov. 30.

Coastal Carolina starts the month of December with three contests on the road. The Chants take a trip to Indiana, the home state of juniors Amanda Stull, Lori Whitaker and newcomers Kendra Reynolds and Taylor Epley, to face Butler Dec. 6.

“With our players from Indiana, the Butler trip gives them a chance to get home and see family and friends and Butler will be very good competition,” LeForce said. It will be the first meeting ever between the two squads.

The Chanticleers will then visit traditional powerhouse North Carolina Dec. 13. The Tar Heels regular venue, Carmichael Auditorium, is in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation project, forcing UNC to play all of its home games at the Dean Smith Center this season. Coastal Carolina then heads to Orangeburg, S.C., to tip-off against South Carolina State Dec. 16.

The Chants take on UNC Wilmington Dec. 18 at home, before its annual Crescent Bank Carolinas Challenge game at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center Dec. 20 when Stetson comes to town. Coastal Carolina closes its non-conference schedule on the road with an evening battle at Alabama State Dec. 29.

The Big South Conference kicks off 2009 for the Chants with two home games against UNC Asheville (Jan. 3) and High Point (Jan. 5).

“Our league is getting better every year,” LeForce continued. “We’re all still chasing Liberty, but from top to bottom, the bottom has caught up. For several years, Liberty just dominated, but now anybody can beat anybody. You have to be ready to play night in and night out, and if you don’t, you will get beat.”

The Chants will journey to Charleston Southern (Jan. 10), Winthrop (Jan. 17), Radford (Jan. 24), and 2008 Big South Champion Liberty (Jan. 26), for their longest road-stretch of the season.

The Chanticleers will play the next six of eight games in the comfort of Kimbel Arena, starting with Gardner-Webb Jan. 31 and Presbyterian Feb. 2. The only two contests outside of Kimbel during this period are at High Point Feb. 7 and UNC Asheville Feb. 9. The following four games against Charleston Southern (Feb. 14), Liberty (Feb. 21), Radford (Feb. 23) and Winthrop (March 2) give the Chanticleers a home-court advantage.

Coastal Carolina closes out the regular season on the road against Gardner-Webb March 5 and Presbyterian March 9.

The Big South Championship features opening round action March 13 at the Millis Center on the campus of High Point. It will be the first time in Panther history they have hosted the Big South women’s basketball tournament since joining the Conference in 1997.

The Chanticleers return eight letterwinners from last season's 16-12 squad, while welcoming four newcomers. Coastal Carolina finished fifth in the league, falling to High Point in the quarterfinals of the Big South Championship.