DES MOINES, IOWA - The Drake women's basketball team enters the 2008-09 campaign facing a formidable 29-game ledger as it looks to become the first Bulldog squad to earn back-to-back regular season Missouri Valley Conference titles since the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 teams accomplished the feat.
The Bulldogs, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Amy Stephens, will be tested by nine squads that advanced to post-season play last season, including four which qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
Drake, which captured its first regular season Missouri Valley Conference title since the 2000-01 campaign and 19th overall post-season berth in school history last season, will kick-off its 35th intercollegiate season on Nov. 14 as the Bulldogs host 2008 Women's National Invitation Tournament participant Texas State at 7 p.m.
The 2008-09 ledger is highlighted by 14 games in the Knapp Center, where Drake went 13-3 a year ago to push its overall record in the facility to 158-45 (.778), including 56-22 (.718) under Stephens.
The Blue and White follow their meeting versus Texas State with a trip to Wisconsin for contests at WNIT participants Wisconsin Nov. 20 and Green Bay Nov. 22. It will mark the first meeting between Drake and the Badgers since the Bulldogs handed Wisconsin a 59-54 setback during the 2002-03 campaign. Drake renews acquaintances with the Phoenix after splitting a pair of contests last season, including the Bulldogs posting their first post-season win since the 2001-02 season with a 65-56 WNIT opening round victory in the Knapp Center.
Returning home, Drake hosts a pair of first-time opponents in Columbia Nov. 29 and 2008 NCAA Tournament participant Coppin State Dec. 2.
The Bulldogs then complete a home-and-home series with a visit to Weber State Dec. 6 before battling in-state rival Iowa State Dec. 11, also a participant in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
Drake closes out the calendar year welcoming Iowa into the Knapp Center on Dec. 20, before traveling to face Chicago State Dec. 22 for the second time in school history and first since the 1989-90 campaign.
"The non-conference schedule is a good mix of tough teams, including three schools which played in the NCAA Tournament last year," said Drake coach Amy Stephens. "We have a challenging road swing right away, traveling to Wisconsin and playing Tennessee Tech which has a solid program. Coppin State is very athletic and played Maryland within 15 points (80-66) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament."
Drake opens the Missouri Valley Conference portion of its schedule with a New Year's Day tilt at Indiana State before tangling with Illinois State Jan. 3, the 2008 MVC Tournament champions.
The Bulldogs open the home portion of their league slate against Wichita State Jan. 8.
Rounding out Drake's home conference schedule is Missouri State Jan. 10, Bradley Jan. 23, Northern Iowa Jan. 25, 2008 WNIT participant Creighton Jan. 31, Southern Illinois Feb. 12, fellow WNIT invitee Evansville Feb. 14, Illinois State March 5 and Indiana State March 7.
The Bulldogs will look to capture their 11th NCAA tournament berth at the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Women's Basketball Championship, hosted by the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. March 12-15).
The Bulldogs return three starters from their 2007-08 squad that registered a 23-11 mark en route to winning a share of the regular season MVC title with Illinois State and Evansville.
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