PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers women’s basketball team released its 2002-2003 schedule today, one that features 12 home games.

In all, 11 of the 24 teams on Rutgers’ schedule played in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, while two others competed in the WNIT. Five of the opponents also appeared in the final 2002 Associated Press and/or ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Polls. In all, RU’s 2002-2003 opponents posted a 429-298 (.590) overall record last season, winning 38 postseason games.

The Scarlet Knights begin the season with a two-game swing through California, beginning at Stanford Nov. 22. Rutgers will play at California Nov. 24 before returning to New Jersey to host the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic. The Knights will play Wagner Nov. 30, while Richmond and Northwestern will play in the other first-round game. The third-place and championship games of the tournament will be held Dec. 1.

RU will play two non-conference games – Dec. 6 at Virginia and Dec. 10 at Temple – before returning to the Louis Brown Athletic Center Dec. 21 to take on Harvard. The Knights will host George Washington Dec. 29 and play at Texas Tech Jan. 2 before beginning the BIG EAST Conference schedule Jan. 8 at Connecticut.

The Knights host Syracuse Jan. 11 and Villanova Jan. 15, then hit the road for games at Notre Dame Jan. 18 and at Virginia Tech Jan. 22. Rutgers finishes the month with a home game against St. John’s Jan. 25, a road game against Providence Jan. 28, and its final non-conference game of the season, a road game against Old Dominion Jan. 31.

Miami comes to Piscataway Feb. 4 before the Knights head to South Orange to play in-state rival Seton Hall Feb. 9. Rutgers makes a two-game homestand in the middle of the month, welcoming West Virginia Feb. 12 and Pittsburgh Feb. 16, then plays at St. John’s Feb. 19 and at Georgetown Feb. 22.

Two of Rutgers’ final three regular-season games are at home, finishing the schedule with Virginia Tech Feb. 26, at Villanova March 1, and hosting Boston College March 4.

Rutgers once again will host the BIG EAST Tournament, this year held March 8-11.

All games and dates are subject to change. All times will be announced at a later date.

Tentative 2002-2003 Rutgers Women’s Basketball Schedule

Wed. Nov. 6 EXHIBITION
Wed. Nov. 13 EXHIBITION
Fri. Nov. 22 at Stanford
Sun. Nov. 24 at California
RUTGERS COCA-COLA CLASSIC
Sat. Nov. 30 WAGNER
Sun. Dec. 1 CHAMPIONSHIP/CONSOLATION
Fri. Dec. 6 at Virginia
Tues. Dec. 10 at Temple
Sat. Dec. 21 HARVARD
Sun. Dec. 29 GEORGE WASHINGTON
Thur. Jan. 2 at Texas Tech
Wed. Jan. 8 at Connecticut*
Sat. Jan. 11 SYRACUSE*
Wed. Jan. 15 VILLANOVA*
Sat. Jan. 18 at Notre Dame*
Wed. Jan. 22 at Virginia Tech*
Sat. Jan. 25 ST. JOHN’S*
Tues. Jan. 28 at Providence*
Fri. Jan. 31 at Old Dominion
Tues. Feb. 4 MIAMI*
Sun. Feb. 9 at Seton Hall*
Wed. Feb. 12 WEST VIRGINIA*
Sun. Feb. 16 PITTSBURGH*
Wed. Feb. 19 at St. John’s*
Sat. Feb. 22 at Georgetown*
Wed. Feb. 26 VIRGINIA TECH*
Sat. March 1 at Villanova*
Tues. March 4 BOSTON COLLEGE*
Sat.-Tues. March 8-11 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

BOLD CAPS indicate home game
* indicates BIG EAST Conference game
All dates are subject to change