WILMINGTON, N.C. – An in-season tournament in Cancun, Mexico; home games against by a pair of in-state foes and a visit to ACC-member Wake Forest highlight the 2008-09 UNCW women’s basketball non-conference schedule, head coach Ann Hancock announced.

“We’re excited about this year’s non schedule for a variety of reasons,” said Hancock. “It features a good mix of games that will prepare our young team for the always demanding Colonial Athletic Association. We are also looking forward to the games against in-state rivals East Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Wake Forest, Western Carolina and Winston-Salem State. All five schools have been strong in recent years and we look for those contests to be among our most challenging and exciting games this season.”

UNCW opens its ninth season under Hancock at Trask Coliseum with a pre-season exhibition against Hancock’s alma mater, Wingate, Nov. 6. The squad kicks off the regular-season Nov. 14-15 with an appearance in the ISES Cancer Awareness Tip-Off, hosted by Elon University. The Seahawks are slated to face Longwood and Winston-Salem State in the event.

A visit from Southern Conference member UNC Greensboro on Nov. 20 marks the first home game of the regular season for the Navy, Teal and Gold. The tilt against the Spartans will also serve as the second annual “Seahawks Tomorrow” contest, where students from local elementary schools will be on hand for a day of activities centering on the Noon tip. 

The Seahawks then make the first trip outside of the United States in program history when they travel “South of the Border” for the Cancun Thanksgiving Classic, Nov. 26-30. The two-game event kicks off Nov. 28 with UNCW taking on Fordham. The tournament wraps up the next day with consolation and championship contests, where the Seahawks will tangle with either Ohio or South Carolina.   

“We are looking forward to the Cancun trip as a great experience both on and off the court,” Hancock said. “The team will have a chance to travel to Mexico and learn about a different culture while also facing some quality opposition.”

December gets underway with a two-game home stand as Kent State (Dec. 4) and long-time rival East Carolina (Dec. 14) make their way to the Port City. The Seahawks travel south for a Dec. 18 matchup with Coastal Carolina before returning home for a Sunday matinee versus Hampton Dec. 21. The team will take an eight-day break for the Christmas holiday prior to a Dec. 30 tilt at Western Carolina that will serve as the final contest of the 2008 calendar year. The Seahawks and Catamounts engaged in one of the most exciting games in recent memory at Trask Coliseum last January, a 90-88 UNCW overtime victory that was decided by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from 25-feet.

UNCW completes the non-conference portion of its 2008-09 slate with a visit to Wake Forest Jan. 3. The Demon Deacons finished the 2007-08 season with a 15-15 overall mark, including a 10-6 record at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

            The Seahawks’ 2008-09 Colonial Athletic Association schedule will be released by the conference office in September.