Cox releases 2006-07 Clayton State women’s basketball schedule

Four NCAA Division II National Tournament opponents, plus Georgia State exhibition, highlight Laker slate
 

2006-07 Clayton State Women's Basketball Schedule

MORROW, Ga. --- SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 --- Coming off the two most successful seasons in program history, the Clayton State Lakers are aiming even higher for the 2006-07 season, and the schedule is proof of that. Head coach Dennis Cox released the schedule on Wednesday, and this proves to be one of the toughest slate of games in a season yet for the Lakers.

Highlighting the 2006-07 season with be two opponents that finished the season ranked in the upper half of the final Division II Top 25 poll, and four NCAA Division II National Tournament teams. Add to it some strong region opponents and the always-challenging Peach Belt Conference and it is as tough a schedule as it comes for the Lakers.

“We definitely have our work cut out for us with this year's schedule,” said Cox, who is 50-13 and has paced the Lakers to consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament berths in his two seasons at the helm.

“In addition to competing in one of the toughest and deepest Division II conferences in the country, we tackle a non-conference schedule that will give us an indication early on whether we will be able to compete with the best in the nation this year.”

At the forefront of that non-conference schedule are the first two home games of the season – Dec. 9 against Delta State and Dec. 15 against Shaw.

Delta State, a long-time dominant power in the Gulf South Conference, finished a whopping 30-3 last season, advanced to the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA Division II National Tournament and finished 12^th in the final Division II Top 25 poll. Shaw, a perennial power out of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) also advanced to the “Elite Eight” of the Division II National Tournament and finished 10^th in the final Top 25 poll with a 29-5 mark.

“We especially look forward to the opportunity to play Shaw and Delta State - two perennial Top 10 powerhouses - in our only home games before Christmas,” Cox said.

In addition to Delta State and Shaw, the Lakers will also have road games at in-state rivals West Georgia on Dec. 6 and Valdosta State on Dec. 16, plus a regional road contest at Elizabeth City State on Nov. 25. Clayton State also plays host to the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic on Dec. 29-31 against both West Georgia and Elizabeth City State.