A new season of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball
is set for what shapes up to be a veteran team and will feature
several prominent teams, including three teams that made it to the
NCAA Tournament and one from the Women's NIT. The Islanders host
six homes games before the start of the Southland Conference
schedule and will have 14 total home games this season.
"Last year was extremely tough on us with traveling all the
time," said head coach Robert Robinson. "We want to have as many
home games as possible in front of home crowd."
The 2009 women's basketball team will begin the season by
hosting the Islander Tip-off Tournament at the American Bank Center
on Nov. 13 and 14 with doubleheaders each evening beginning at 5
p.m. The Islanders will play host to Alabama, Air Force and
Tennessee Tech in the two day event with matchups yet to be
decided.
After opening at home, the Islanders go on the road to play at
Texas Southern on Nov. 21 before heading to the Lady Eagle
Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss.
on Nov. 27 and 28. The first game of the tournament pits the women
against Georgia of the SEC, a 2009 NCAA Tournament participant.
The second game is dependent on the outcome of the first, with the
winner playing the winner of Southern Miss versus Jackson State in
the championship game with the other two teams consolation game
against the loser of JSU/USM.
TAMUCC follows that tournament up with a visit to Colorado
Springs, Colo. for the Air Force Classic where they will take on
Drake on Dec.4 and Chicago State on Dec. 5. The Islanders return
home on Dec. 13 to play host to Incarnate Word on a Sunday
following the completion of exams.
Following a trip to Edinburg to face Texas-Pan American on Dec.
19, they return home to host a pair of high profile opponents in
the American Bank Center. On Monday, Dec. 28, they take on Houston
at home for just the second time in school history. Two days
later, the Islanders host Colorado State on Dec. 30 in the first
meeting ever between the two teams.
"With Alabama, Houston and Colorado State coming in, it gives us
three really quality teams coming to the ABC this year," said
Robinson. "Its good for our fans because they want to see us
compete against the bigger name schools and it provides for a good
college basketball atmosphere."
The final two non-conference contests come on Jan. 2 and 6 as
the Islanders travel to NCAA Tournament participant TCU on Jan. 2
in Forth Worth then come back home to host UTPA on Jan. 6.
"Overall, our non-conference schedule is very challenging," said
Robinson. "We are going to play a lot of good teams which is only
going to make us better for the conference."
A&M-Corpus Christi opens the Southland Conference schedule
at home this season, taking on Central Arkansas on Jan. 9 and Texas
State on Jan. 13. They last opened the conference season with two
home games during the 2006-07 year.
"We want to get off to a good conference start," said Robinson.
"Having the first two SLC games at home should be advantageous for
us to get started quickly."
The Islanders travel to Natchitoches, La. to play Northwestern
State on Jan. 16 and then to Beaumont to take on Lamar on Jan. 20.
TAMUCC returns home for one game against the Southland's NCAA
representative from last season, UTSA, on Jan. 23 before finishing
the month of January on the 30th at Sam Houston State.
A&M-Corpus Christi starts the month of February off against
UT Arlington at the ABC on Feb. 3. UT Arlington qualified for the
Women's NIT last season as the regular season conference champion.
The Islanders hit the road for a pair of games, starting off on
Feb. 6 at Nicholls in Thibodaux, La. before traveling to San Marcos
four days later against Texas State on Feb. 10.
The Islanders then host four of their final seven conference
games to end the season starting with Sam Houston State at Stripes
Court on Feb. 13. They then travel to UTSA on Feb. 17 and host
McNeese State on Feb. 20. A pair of road games bookend the final
two home games as the Islanders travel to Southeastern Louisiana on
Feb. 24 then return home to host Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 27 and
Lamar on Mar. 3. The final game of the season comes on the road in
the metroplex as the Islanders travel to UT Arlington to end the
year.
The 2009-10 season for the Islanders comes with higher
expectations from last season as they return all but one starter
and get the services of Elisa Beagle back after Beagle missed last
year with an injury. Several younger players return with key
experience as the Islanders battled through several season-ending
injuries last year while still qualifying for the SLC Tournament
for the third-straight year. The tough schedule and the returning
players have the Islanders in good position to make a big impact in
the conference standings this season.
"Since we have an upper classmen team, it should be a good
experience for them," said Robinson. "Both in getting ready for SLC
play and to help put us in good situations to have success
throughout the year."
