CCSU Women's Basketball Releases 2009-10 Schedule

The Central Connecticut State University women's basketball team released its 2009-10 schedule on Tuesday afternoon. Head Coach Beryl Piper will lead the Blue Devils in 18 conference games and 10 non-conference contests in her third season at the helm. CCSU opens the season on the road at the University of Maine on Friday November 13. The Blue Devils will open up at home when they host Holy Cross on Monday November 16 at Detrick Gymnasium.

COMPLETE 2009-10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

"We are excited to release our complete schedule," Piper said. "To build on the success we had last year, we need to take it one game at a time this season. Every one on the schedule is a big one in our minds. The non-conference opponents we have lined up should prepare us for the competition in the tough Northeast Conference."

After the home opener with Holy Cross, Central will play four more non-conference games before an NEC contest at Long Island on December 5. In that four game tilt, the Blue Devils will host Fordham on November 18 and Rhode Island on December 2, and head on the road to take on Brown and Colgate on November 21 and 28, respectively.

After their lone NEC game in 2009 against LIU, the Blue Devils will finish the year with their final four non-conference contests. CCSU will travel to New Hampshire on December 10 and Rutgers on December 20 before heading to the Hilton Garden Classic at Virginia Tech. Central will take on Charlotte in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday December 29 and play either NJIT or the host Hokies on Wednesday December 30.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to play at a place like Rutgers this year," Piper noted. "Being able to play in that environment, against a team with that tradition, will benefit our players immensely."

To start the new year the Blue Devils will play host to St. Francis (NY) on Monday January 4 for the first of 17 straight NEC games. CCSU will play everyone in the conference twice, except for St. Francis (PA), Robert Morris, Mount St. Mary's and Wagner. St. Francis (PA) and RMU will travel to New Britain for their only contests with CCSU, while Central will only play The Mount and Wagner on the road this season. For the 2009-10 season, Bryant University has been added to the NEC schedule. The Blue Devils' two contests with the Bulldogs will count in the conference standings, but Bryant will not be able to qualify for NEC Tournament action.

The NEC Tournament will begin on March 6 and 7 with quarterfinal matchups at St. Francis (PA). CCSU will attempt to qualify for the conference tournament for the second straight year. If the Blue Devils reach the league championship, they will play at the gymnasium of the highest remaining seed on Sunday March 14.