Huskers Set Sights on Sizzling Schedule

Lincoln  --The Nebraska women's basketball team will face a challenging 2003-04 schedule that features 12 games against nine teams that qualified for postseason play in 2003.

The Huskers will play eight games against six teams that qualified for the 2003 NCAA Tournament, and will add four games against three squads that advanced to the final eight in the Women's National Invitation Tournament last season. Nebraska's home schedule at the Bob Devaney Sports Center will feature four NCAA Tournament teams, including Ohio State (Dec. 12), Kansas State (Jan. 24), Texas (Jan. 28) and Colorado (March 3), while adding a pair of WNIT qualifiers in Creighton (Dec. 21) and Missouri (Feb. 25).

Women's basketball season tickets are available by calling the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-8BIGRED or (402) 472-3111. Tickets are also available on the athletic department's website - Huskers.com.

"Our schedule will definitely be challenging throughout the season," Yori said. "We play teams from the top conferences in the nation during our non-conference schedule, including the Pac-10, the SEC, the Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA and of course, Ohio State from the Big Ten."

The Buckeyes, who advanced to the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament after advancing to the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament, highlight the Huskers' non-conference schedule. Ohio State finished with a 22-10 overall record and a 10-6 mark for a fourth-place finish in Coach Jim Foster's first season at the school. Nebraska will battle the Buckeyes in the friendly confines of the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7:05 p.m.

Along with Ohio State, the Huskers will also feature their traditional in-state showdown with Creighton at the Devaney Center on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m. The Bluejays finished with a 24-9 overall record and advanced to the WNIT semifinals in 2003.

Nebraska opens exhibition play at the Devaney Center on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2:05 p.m. against NCAA Division II Nebraska-Omaha. The Huskers finalize their preparations for the regular season by taking on Division II Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7:05 p.m. at the Devaney Center.

The Huskers, who begin fall practice on Saturday, Oct. 18, open regular-season play by taking on Wofford on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:05 p.m., before closing their opening home weekend against Princeton on Sunday, Nov. 23. Nebraska's other non-conference home games will come against Texas-Arlington (Dec. 6), Louisiana-Lafayette (Dec. 14) and St. Bonaventure (Jan. 3).

NU will face tough road tests in non-league play at the Memphis Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 28-29), where the Huskers could face either Memphis, Mississippi or Eastern Kentucky. Nebraska will also travel to Washington State (Dec. 4) and Rice (Dec. 30).

Nebraska's non-conference schedule will prepare the Huskers for the rigors of the Big 12 Conference, which could feature the best teams from top to bottom in the eight-year history of the league.

"There is no question that this could be the best year in the history of the league," Yori said. "At the end of the year, it is really possible that 10 teams from the Big 12 could be playing in the postseason. I think the top teams in the league are going to be better and the teams in the bottom half of the conference are also going to make some strides this year."

NU opens league play at Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The Sooners, who qualified for the 2003 NCAA Tournament after advancing to the NCAA title game in 2002, will be the Huskers' first of seven conference games against 2003 NCAA qualifiers.

The Huskers open home conference competition against Iowa State on Saturday, Jan. 10. After a road game at 2003 WNIT quarterfinalist Missouri (Jan. 14), and a home contest against Texas A&M (Jan. 17), Nebraska travels to 2003 NCAA Elite Eight participant Texas Tech to begin a treacherous five-game stretch.

After taking on Texas Tech, the Huskers return to the Devaney Center for back-to-back games against 2003 NCAA second-round participant Kansas State (Jan. 24) and Final Four qualifier Texas (Jan. 28). NU then must travel to WNIT runner-up Baylor (Jan. 31) and NCAA Sweet 16 qualifier Colorado (Feb. 4). The Huskers return to the Devaney Center to take on Kansas (Feb. 7) and Oklahoma State (Feb. 11), before taking the road again for a pair of tests at Kansas State (Feb. 14) and Iowa State (Feb. 21). After playing host to Missouri (Feb. 25) and traveling to Kansas (Feb. 28), the Huskers will conclude the regular season with Senior Night against Colorado at the Devaney Center on March 3.

The Huskers will travel to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Tournament at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, March 9-13. The 2004 NCAA Tournament begins March 20 and concludes with the NCAA Women's Final Four at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, La., April 2-4.