ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon women's basketball team will face off with three squds, including two ranked in the top 25, during the opening weekend of play at the 2012 Disney Division II Tipoff Classic in Anaheim, California.
Gannon opens play with by facing No. 8 UC San Diego on Friday at 6:15 p.m. (9:15 p.m. ET). The Lady Knights then face top-ranked Ashland Saturday at 9 a.m. (12 noon ET). The trip closes with a meeting with West Texas A&M Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (9:15 p.m. ET).
GANNON LADY KNIGHTS: The Gannon women's basketball team returned to the postseason during the 2011-12 season following a one-year hiatus. The Lady Knights reached the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals after earning the second seed in the tournament, eventually falling to nationally-ranked Indiana (Pa.). Gannon was selected as the sixth seed in the NCAA Division II tournament, their eighth program appearance. Gannon knocked off No. 3 seed Johnson C. Smith before falling to eventual national champion Shaw.
UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS: University of California - San Diego is under new management as Heidi Vanderveer takes over a squad that finished 30-3 last season. The 30 wins set a new school record for the program. The Tritons return three starters from a squad that was ranked No. 1 in the country for seven weeks last season. Leading that trio is All-CCAA First Team guards Daisy Feder and Emily Osga. The Tritons were selected third (out of 12) in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
ASHLAND EAGLES: Ashland roared onto the scene as a national contender last season, posting a 32-2 record. The Eagles dropped their first contest of the season to Minnesota State Mankato (63-46) before rolling off 32 straight wins that led to a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship game. The Eagles fell in overtime to Atlantic Region champion Shaw 88-82. Ashland was led by NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Kari Daugherty. The University of Dayton transfer averaged 21.3 points and 14.1 rebounds. Ashland returns four starters and 11 letterwinners overall.
WEST TEXAS A&M BLUFFS: Gannon closes out the three-game road trip with a contest against West Texas A&M. The Lady Buffs, ranked second in the 2012-2013 Lone Star Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, are coming off of a 19-10 season and a second place finish in the Lone Star Conference a season ago. West Texas A&M did earn a berth in the NCAA South Central Regional where it lost to No. 10 Washburn. The Lady Buffs return six players and two starters from last season's team.
ABOUT THE DISNEY TIPOFF CLASSIC: Disney's 2012 NCAA Division II Tipoff West Coast Classic is a college basketball tournament drawing 11 teams from across the country and one from Canada this year. Teams hail from California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and British Columbia.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES: The Lady Knights were 15th the preseason USA Today ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll (October 30). It marks the seventh straight season that the Lady Knights have received votes in the poll. Gannon was ranked nine straight weeks last season, finishing the year at No. 21.
PRESEASON SUCCESS: Gannon completed a perfect 2-0 preseason, earning wins against a pair of NCAA Division I opponents. Gannon defeated Kent State 70-61 and then six days later took down another MAC school in Buffalo by a 63-53 score. Ashland was another DII school to take down a DI, defeating Dayton 79-77 on a last-second three-pointer.
