BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Five contests against teams claiming postseason berths last season and 15 home dates highlight the 2009-10 women's basketball schedule, released today by head coach Wanda Watkins.

"There's a good mix, plus there's a lot of challenge in this schedule," said Campbell head coach Wanda Watkins. "I've always said that you want to have a nonconference schedule that is going to prepare you for your league schedule and help you get better, and this gives us some great opportunities for that."

The Lady Camels are entering their second season inside the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center, where CU set home attendance records a year ago, and boasted a strong home record that included a 4-0 start and a 9-6 overall ledger. The Lady Camels' 4-0 start matched the 1998-99 team's stellar beginnings, marking CU's best effort in 10 years.

"The facility is great and it still provides us a cozy atmosphere to play out games in, despite being much larger than what we had in Carter Gym," said Watkins. "It's been nice to see the pride that the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center has generated on our athletic teams, through our community and our campus."

This season, Campbell will try to build on that start, beginning the year in Buies Creek, as Southern Conference member Wofford will play for the first time on the Gilbert Craig Gore Arena floor, Nov. 13. In fact, the Lady Camels have not faced the Terriers since 1997, when they faced WC four times over a two year period, going undefeated.

Another home date will follow, with long-time and frequent rival Coastal Carolina returns the favor on Nov. 16, after Campbell traveled to Conway, S.C. last season. In that contest, the Chanticleers escaped Kimbel Arena with a 52-50 edge. The Lady Camels have faced CCU 33 times all-time, holding an 18-15 mark. Only UNC Wilmington has faced Campbell more times in school history, as the two have locked up a whopping 44 times.

An unfamiliar opponent will be CU's first road test, as Watkins will take her team just over 50 miles to North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C. The Eagles last faced CU in 1980, just one year after Watkins graduated from Campbell. The Lady Camels hold a 7-2 all-time record against NCCU.

Six days later, Campbell will head to the western portion of the Tar Heel state, facing UNC Asheville on Nov. 24. Former Big South foes, the two have paired up 31 times in history, and met as recently as 2007, also in Asheville.

On Nov. 27, the Lady Camels will open Atlantic Sun Conference play, hosting North Florida inside the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center. The contest will mark the only time in history a Campbell women's basketball team has faced a conference opponent in the month of November.

After a break for fall semester final exams, the Lady Camel will return to the hardwood on Dec. 9 at High Point, their third of four Big South opponents in 2009-10. Campbell handed the Panthers a 67-56 loss in Buies Creek last year. Center Ashley Williamson, who heads into her senior campaign, notched her second of double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds to down the Panthers.

The Lady Camels will then wrap up the road portion of their schedule, heading to Farmville, Va. for the first half of a home-and-home series with Longwood. The Lancers will complete the series with a trip to Campbell on Jan. 4, the Lady Camels' final nonconference date of the season.

On Dec. 19, CU will host Jacksonville for its second A-Sun game of the year, followed by visits from Winthrop, a 2009 WNIT participant, and Winston-Salem State to finish the year.

League rival USC Upstate will open the year for the Lady Camels on the road Jan. 2. Campbell split with the Spartans last season, with each team defending its home floor. Three Lady Camels, including Ashley Williamson, Amanda O'Neill and Geami Britt, all returning letterwinners, reached double figures in Buies Creek, as CU took a 62-58 win on CSS-TV.

After trips to Mercer and Kennesaw State, respectively, on Jan. 7 and 8, Campbell will see its second 2009 postseason participant on Jan. 14 in Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles took the A-Sun regular season crown a year ago, and advanced to the WNIT, downing George Washington before falling to South Florida in the second round.

Saturday, Jan. 16 will see another Lady Camel home tilt, as Stetson meets the Lady Camels. Like USC Upstate, the Hatters split with Campbell last season, with each team winning its home date. The Lady Camels closed out the regular season with Stetson last year, taking control of the contest with a 12-4 run to close out the contest and win 67-57 on senior day.

Other home dates include the A-Sun's Music City duo of Belmont and Lipscomb on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. The Lady Camels close out the home portion of their schedule with four straight games in the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center from Feb. 11-20, that includes Kennesaw State, Mercer, Women's NCAA Tournament participant and A-Sun regular season champion East Tennessee State and USC Upstate, respectively.

"The league is tough. Florida Gulf Coast and ETSU return nearly everyone from last season, when they finished at the top of the conference," said Watkins. "Winthrop will also be a great game for us. We had a big win at their place last season."

The Lady Camels close out the regular season with a trip to Florida's River City, facing Jacksonville and North Florida on Feb. 25 and 27.

The A-Sun Tournament will be held through the first week in March, fighting for a NCAA Tournament bid from March 3-6 in Macon, Ga. on the campus of Mercer University.

"I'm looking forward to this year's team," added Watkins. "I'm very excited about this year's incoming class, and meshing them with our returning players. I think there is going to be some promise, and we'll see how it all unravels."