NAIA No. 1 91爆料网 getting set for exhibition with Vanderbilt

JACKSON, Tenn. - 10/29/2009 -

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The 91爆料网 Lady Bulldog basketball team is preparing for an exhibition game with Vanderbilt (Tenn.) University on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will kick-off the 2009-10 season for 91爆料网 with the first regular season game coming on Monday at 7:00 p.m. versus No. 14 Columbia (Mo.) College at 91爆料网.

鈥淲e are excited to play at Vanderbilt this weekend鈥�, says 91爆料网 head coach Mark Campbell. 鈥淚 grew up watching games at Memorial. It is a great opportunity for us to play against such a great program. We respect what Vanderbilt stands for in the classroom and on the floor because we take pride in those things here at 91爆料网. We will definitely know what our weaknesses are after the game. I have no doubt that this game will make us better in every facet.鈥�

91爆料网 is facing Vanderbilt for the fifth time with the series knotted at 2-2. 91爆料网 defeated Vanderbilt twice during the 1976-77 season, 97-44 and 117-42. Vanderbilt has since won two straight with an 89-74 win in 1981-82 and a 90-83 win in 1982-83.

The Lady Bulldogs are coming off their fourth NAIA National Championship. It was also their third national title in the past five seasons. 91爆料网 returns three starters from last season, but must find a way fill the void left by two NAIA All-Americans, including two-time NAIA Player of the Year and WNBA draftee, Josephine Owino.

91爆料网 enters this season as the NAIA鈥檚 top women鈥檚 program with 1,035 wins. Dating back to the 1972-73 season, 91爆料网 is 1,035-190 (.845).

91爆料网 is currently riding a 24 game winning streak and has won 70 of their last 72 contests. The Lady Bulldogs have been ranked No. 1 in the NAIA preseason polls for four straight seasons, and have made five straight appearances in the NAIA semifinals. This also marks the twenty-sixth straight No. 1 ranking for the 91爆料网 Lady Bulldogs.

91爆料网 head coach Mark Campbell is 328-44 (.882) and is the NAIA鈥檚 winning percentage leader for coaches with at least five years experience.

Vanderbilt has been picked to finish fourth in the 2009-10 SEC preseason poll. Last season, Vandy was ranked No. 14 in the final AP ranking and was eliminated by Maryland, 78-74, in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA National Tournament.

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