Aug. 28, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The 2007-08 schedule for the Santa Clara University women's basketball team was announced today and will feature games against schools from the Pac-10, the Western Athletic Conference and the Big West Conference, along with another competitive West Coast Conference schedule.
The Broncos are aiming for a return to the top of the WCC after taking home the tournament title in 2005 and the regular season championship in 2006. Michelle Bento-Jackson returns for her sixth season as head coach and will be joined by a new-look coaching staff. Stepping up to the top assistant position is Jenn Bradley '03, who spent the past four years as the second assistant. New to the staff are former Bronco stars Michelle Cozad '06 and Anna Martin '07.
"This year's schedule will present many challenges for our program as we will be facing quality opponents throughout the pre-season," said Bento-Jackson. "Four of our pre-season opponents participated in postseason tournaments last year and we know that a competitive schedule, such as this is going to help us improve as a basketball team."
Santa Clara will start play by hosting two exhibition games at the Leavey Center, the first on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. against Cal State Monterey Bay, followed by San Francisco State on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Five days later they will travel to Reno to play the University of Nevada in the regular season opener, followed by playing at Washington State in Pullman. The team opens its home slate on Nov. 17, taking on Boise State at the Leavey Center.
In late November, the team embarks on its longest road trip of the year, as they travel to Alaska for the Alaska Shootout on November 20 and 21. The tournament will feature host Alaska-Anchorage, Bradley and Cleveland State.
SCU ends the year and moves into January with a four-game homestand, beginning with a Dec. 21 Rivalry Series match-up against San Jose State. The team then hosts Northern Arizona on Dec. 29, Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 31 and Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 5.
Bento-Jackson's team opens up WCC play versus Saint Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center. Pac-10 power Stanford comes to the Leavey Center for a non-conference game on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7:00 p.m. PT. The Broncos finish the season at home against the defending champion Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Portland Pilots on Feb. 28 and March 1, respectively, before heading to the WCC Championships in San Diego, Calif., from March 6-9.