ELON, NC -- Elon University today officially released its 2002-2003 women's basketball schedule. The upcoming slate will feature 12 home dates as well as 15 contests away from "The Nest". Head Coach Brenda Paul thinks highly of the upcoming schedule saying, "We are taking on an extremely challenging schedule in 2002-2003, but we are a junior and senior club with experience playing this type of competition. We are looking forward to leaving the Big South on a high note (Elon will be joining the Southern Conference in 2003-2004)."

The Phoenix will open the season on Saturday, November 23 at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA at 7:00 PM. The home opener will be on Tuesday, November 26 at 6:00 PM against future Southern Conference foe Davidson.

Paul's squad will make one tournament appearance in 2002-03 when they head to Fairbanks, AK to participate in the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend. The Phoenix will open tournament play versus the Rice Owls and will then face either host Alaska Fairbanks or Wyoming.

The slate will also feature non-Big South home contests against North Carolina A&T, American, Birmingham-Southern and Morris Brown. The Phoenix will hit the road to battle non-conference foes UNC Greensboro, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Birmingham-Southern and Morris Brown. Elon will also see the traditional home-and-home series with Big South opponents such as five-time defending champion Liberty.

--ELON--