Sept. 2, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
2010-11 SDSU Women's Basketball Schedule (As of Sept. 2) in PDF Format
Seven nationally-televised games, three non-conference tournaments and the season-opener against UCLA highlight the complete 2010-11 San Diego State women's basketball schedule, released Thursday by Aztec head coach Beth Burns.
SDSU is slated to have as many as five non-conference outings against schools advancing to the postseason a year ago, including three teams who earned trips to the second round of the NCAA tournament in UCLA, Dayton and Texas A&M. Combined with their Mountain West Conference opponents, the Aztecs could have as many as 15 regular-season contests vs. teams that earned either NCAA or WNIT bids in 2010.
"Our regular-season schedule will be one of the most challenging and competitive that we've ever had here at San Diego State," Burns said. "But facing such high-quality competition, including at three major tournaments, will no doubt prepare us for the Mountain West Conference and for postseason play."
The Aztecs, who won the 2010 MWC championship and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, begin their season with four consecutive home games, starting with an exhibition contest against crosstown foe UC San Diego on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. SDSU officially tips off the campaign live on The Mtn. with its first meeting with UCLA in 11 years, as the two squads meet on Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. at Viejas Arena. The Bruins advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament a year ago, finished with a 25-9 overall record and claimed a final No. 23 national ranking.
San Diego State then plays host to a pair of in-state foes in first-time opponent Cal State Bakersfield (Nov. 17), followed by the team's final home contest for nearly a month in UC Irvine (Nov. 23).
The Aztecs travel to Reno, Nev., for the first of their three non-conference tournaments at the Nugget Classic, Nov. 26-27. SDSU will take on Big Ten member Minnesota the day after Thanksgiving, before facing either host Nevada or 2010 NCAA team North Carolina State in the consolation or championship game on Saturday.
SDSU returns to California for back-to-back road outings at the University of San Diego on Nov. 30 and at Pepperdine on Dec. 7. The Aztecs' second tournament will take them just up the road to Los Angeles, where the team will play games on back-to-back days vs. Dayton on Dec. 18, and against either host USC or Colorado on Dec. 19.
After a pre-holiday break game vs. their third potential Pac-10 foe in Washington State on Dec. 21, the Aztecs will play host to the sixth annual San Diego Surf `N Slam Classic at Viejas Arena, Dec. 28 and 30. This year's edition features likely preseason top-10 team Texas A&M as well as Texas-San Antonio and Drexel. SDSU is the two-time defending tournament champion, having knocked off then No. 4 Texas in 2008 and Auburn in 2009.
The team's previously announced 2011 Mountain West Conference slate changed just slightly with the possibility of the Jan. 15 game against New Mexico being moved to Jan. 16 for television and the addition of almost every tip-off time for the remainder of the league campaign.
Season tickets for the 2010-11 San Diego State women's basketball home season are on sale now, starting at just $60. They can be purchased online at www.goaztecs.com, over the phone by calling 619-283-7378, or by visiting the Aztec Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium's Window "E." The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
2010-11 San Diego State Women's Basketball Schedule Breakdown
-2010 NCAA Second Round Participants (3) - Dayton, Texas A&M, UCLA
-2010 NCAA Participants (4) - Dayton, NC State, TCU, Texas A&M
-2010 WNIT Participants (7) - BYU, Drexel, Nevada, New Mexico, Pepperdine, Utah, Wyoming
-2010 Conference Title Game Participants (5) - NC State (ACC), Pepperdine (WCC), Texas A&M (Big 12), UCLA (Pac-10), Utah (MWC)
-Teams with 20 or more wins in 2009-10 (9) - Texas A&M (26), Dayton (25), UCLA (25), BYU (23), Utah (23), TCU (22), Wyoming (21), NC State (20), Pepperdine (20)
-Teams to earn votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll (3) - Texas A&M (No. 14), UCLA (No. 23), Dayton (rv)