Sept. 17, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's has announced its 2009-10 women's basketball schedule, which includes a potential 16 games against teams that advanced to postseason play last year. The schedule is highlighted by the Hawks' home opener at the newly renovated Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena versus UMBC on Saturday, November 21 as well as televised games at Charlotte (Jan. 23) and versus Rhode Island (Feb. 17) on CBS College Sports.

In all, the Hawks have the potential to face eight NCAA Tournament teams (Vanderbilt, Florida, Villanova, Drexel, Maryland, Charlotte, Temple and Xavier) and eight WNIT teams (St. John's, Hartford, Boston University, Dayton, Duquesne, George Washington, Richmond and St. Bonaventure) this season.

Saint Joseph's opens the season with a pair of road games, starting with the season opener at New Hampshire on Friday, November 13. The Hawks will travel to Providence two days later (November 15), before returning to Philadelphia for their first game at the Hagan Arena versus the UMBC Retrievers on November 21.

The Hawks will face their first major test of the season when they face Vanderbilt on Tuesday, November 24. SJU will then travel to Miami for the Florida International Thanksgiving Tournament. The Hawks open play versus Florida International on November 27 and face either St. John's or Florida on the 29th.

December brings America East power Hartford to Hawk Hill for a game on Friday, December 4. Following a home contest versus George Mason (Dec. 6), Saint Joseph's opens Big 5 play with a trip up the Main Line to Villanova. The Hawks and Wildcats, coming off a 66-57 triple-overtime victory by SJU last season, will meet at The Pavilion on Wednesday, November 9.

Saint Joseph's hosts Colonial Atlantic Athletic champions Drexel (Dec. 13) and CAA power Old Dominion (Dec. 22) before taking a short break for the Christmas holiday.

For the 20th year, Saint Joseph's will host its annual Hawk Classic on December 28 and 29. The Hawks will open against Brown in the semifinals, while Boston University and South Carolina round out the tournament field.

The New Year will bring arguably the toughest matchup of the season as Saint Joseph's travels to national power Maryland for a game on January 3. The contest marks the first time the teams have met since the 1991-92 season.

Saint Joseph's begins Atlantic 10 play on January 10 as the Hawks welcome Fordham to Hagan Arena.

A Big 5 matchup versus Penn on January 13 at home rounds out the Hawk's non-conference schedule, with Saint Joseph's opening it's A-10 road slate three days later at Temple on January 16.

Other league home games are with Dayton (Jan. 20), George Washington (Jan. 30), Temple (Feb. 2), Saint Louis (Feb. 13), and Rhode Island with the Hawks closing out the regular season versus Duquesne (Feb. 28).

The remainder of Saint Joseph's road schedule includes at Charlotte at La Salle (Jan. 27), at St. Bonaventure (Feb. 6), at Xavier (Feb. 10), at Richmond (Feb. 21) and at Massachusetts (Feb. 25).

The 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship will be held at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. from March 5th to the 8th.

Ticket information for Saint Joseph's games at the Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena can be obtained by calling the SJU Ticket Office at 610-660-1712.