AASU Releases 2009-10 Women's Basketball Schedule

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Head coach Matt Schmidt and the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball team have announced their schedule for the upcoming 2009-10 season, which begins on Sunday, November 15.

The Lady Pirates will open up the season on the road for its first four contests, beginning with a visit to Southeast region foe Limestone at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday the 15th. AASU will then spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Boca Raton, Fla., on Nov. 21-22 facing Nova Southeastern and Barry, respectively. The Lady Pirates then take on South Atlantic Conference foe Newberry on Nov. 25.

Coach Schmidt's squad will open up its Alumni Arena slate on Sunday, November 29, with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Pfeiffer. The Peach Belt Conference slate opens with a trip to Augusta State on December 5, then the Lady Pirates close out the fall by hosting their annual Holiday Classic on Dec. 18-19, hosting Edward Waters and Tampa, respectively.

The 2010 calendar year opens up with one of two new Peach Belt Conference foes on the schedule for the Lady Pirates as AASU takes on Flagler in St. Augustine, Fla., on January 2. AASU hosts its final non-conference game of the year on Jan. 6, taking on Allen. The Lady Pirates then enjoy four straight PBC contests, hosting USC Aiken on Jan. 9; Augusta State on Jan. 13; Georgia College on Jan. 16 and the second new PBC foe, Montevallo, on Jan. 18.

A three-game road swing sends the Lady Pirates to Lander on Jan. 20, UNC Pembroke on Jan. 23 and Clayton State on Jan. 27. January ends with a home game against North Georgia on the 30th at Alumni Arena.

Flagler makes its first visit to Savannah on February 3, then the Lady Pirates travel to Francis Marion on Feb. 6 before returning home to host Lander on Feb. 8. Another three-game league road trip has the Pirates at Georgia Southwestern on Feb. 11; Columbus State on Feb. 13 and USC Aiken on Feb. 20. The 2009-10 regular season ends with two home contests for the Lady Pirates, hosting UNC Pembroke on Feb. 24 and Francis Marion on Feb. 27.

With 13 teams in the Peach Belt this season, the league has been split into divisions and the format of the 2009-10 PBC Tournament has also changed. AASU is in the new East division of the PBC along with Lander, Flagler, Francis Marion, USC Aiken and Augusta State.

Eight out of the 13 teams will qualify for the PBC Tournament, with the top two seeds from each division hosting a first-round contest on campus on March 3, then the four winners traveling to Aiken, S.C., for the new PBC Final Four on March 6-7.

In head coach Matt Schmidt's first season, the Lady Pirates went 17-11 and finished tied for third in the PBC standings. AASU returns six players from last season's squad for the upcoming 2009-10 season.

Click here for the complete 2009-10 AASU Women's Basketball schedule.