COMPLETE SCHEDULE

GREELEY, Colo. - From the preseason WNIT to the postseason Big Sky Conference Tournament, the Northern Colorado women's basketball team has a schedule filled with exciting contests for 2009-10.

Being invited to the preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament is a big step for Head Coach Jaime White and the Bears. They open at New Mexico, historically ranked among the national attendance leaders, on Nov. 13.

"This is a great opportunity," said Coach White. "I'm very excited to be in the only preseason national tournament for women's basketball. Starting at New Mexico will be a great experience for our players."

There will be at least three games in the WNIT, with the other two opponents and dates to be announced after the first round of play.

Next on the docket is the Northridge Thanksgiving Tournament at Cal State Northridge. The opponents for the games on Nov. 27 and 28 have yet to be announced by the Matadors.

December sees the Bears play in state for six of eight games, with the only road trip one to Kansas where they face Wichita State on Dec. 4 and Kansas on Dec. 6. In a one week period from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21, NC hosts a team every other night in Mesa State, Bradley, St. Mary's and in-state rival Colorado State. The game against the Rams is a double-header with the men's team and will begin at 5:05, while the other three start at 7:05. The calendar year closes with a contest at Air Force on Dec. 30.

The turn to 2010 begins Big Sky Conference play, with the final non-conference tilt at Denver on Feb. 3.

With the return of seven players who started in at least one game a season ago, Coach White feels good about the strength of schedule.

"We have the chance to play in some of the biggest arenas in women's basketball," said White. "To play all the in-state games against Colorado State, Air Force and Denver is also a big part of our program. We have a lot of experience returning and with the addition of Jayne Strand and Emily Elliott, we'll hopefully have the depth we need to start the year with such strong competition."

The Bears have three Mountain West teams (Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico), two Missouri Valley (Bradley, Wichita State) and one Big 12 (Kansas) slated for the year, plus the remaining field in the WNIT and the Cal State Northridge Tournaments.

The 2008-09 team posted a record of 12-18 and were plagued with several injuries throughout the year, but with eight letterwinners returning, the team looks forward to the opening tip in November.