BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Head coach Wanda Watkins announced the 2014-15 Campbell Women's Basketball schedule Tuesday, a 29-game slate that features 14 matchups in Gore Arena and 20 Big South Conference dates.
"We're looking forward to getting started with our season," Watkins said. "Our season offers a good variety for us this year. We've got good regional competition here within our state. Right around the corner from us we have N.C. Central, Elon, UNCW, and Western Carolina. We have great regional rivalries that we always look forward to."
This year's lineup kicks off on Nov. 14 in Buies Creek as the Lady Camels host Pfeiffer for the first time in 37 years; the school is also the alma mater of Brittany Cox, special assistant to Watkins. Campbell has a 2-0 advantage in the series, taking the most recent game, 79-68, in 1977.
Campbell remains at home for the next game, a Nov. 17 meeting with N.C. Central. CU has won all four meetings from 2009-13, including a 56-45 win in Durham last year, and owns the series record, 12-2.
The first road test for the Lady Camels will be Nov. 19 at UNC Wilmington, a historically familiar foe for CU. Campbell has won 30 of the 46 meetings between the teams, including last year's 67-53 victory on Education Day.
Two days later, Nov. 21, Campbell returns to Gore Arena, hosting Mount St. Mary's. The teams have only played each other twice, in 2012 and last year, splitting the series. The Mount won last year's matchup in Emmitsburg, Md., 68-64.
"We have a return game with Mount St. Mary's," explained Watkins. "We've been up there for two years in a row and we'll get a return from them for two years in a row. They had a really good season last year and were a WNIT qualifier."
In their fifth game in 11 days, and first of three away games in a row, the Lady Camels visit Western Carolina on Nov. 24. Last season, Watkins earned her 500th career win with a 73-60 defeat of the Catamounts in Buies Creek.
After the Thanksgiving break, Big South play for CU kicks off with games at Winthrop (Dec. 2) and Charleston Southern (Dec. 13).
Campbell closed out its regular season last year with an 82-56 loss at Winthrop, but won in a 72-71 thriller at Charleston Southern. Roslyn Presley, who graduated last year, and Kiera Gaines each notched a double-double to help the Lady Camels slip by the Buccaneers.
CU returns home for two games, first taking on Brevard on Dec. 15, the first-ever meeting between the sides.
On Dec. 17 at 3 p.m., the Lady Camels host Elon for a midday tilt. The Phoenix took the 2013 matchup, which pitted CU's Amanda Coffer against her sister, Sam, 56-49, in Elon.
"Elon will be an interesting contest, a middle of the afternoon contest on a weekday for us," Watkins said. "We felt like it was really important for us to have that game as we get on the road that night and head down for the Hatter Classic."
The Lady Camels will see Stetson and Bethune-Cookman at the Hatter Classic in DeLand, Fla., Dec. 19-20.
"We'll cap off our nonconference schedule with the Hatter Classic, which is going to be really outstanding competition that I know we're going to see in that tournament," commented Watkins.
A former Atlantic Sun foe, Stetson hosts CU on Dec. 20. The Lady Camels, who own a 20-15 series advantage, look to snap a two-game skid against the Hatters, who won the last contest, 70-55, in 2011.
"Stetson lost to Florida Gulf Coast in its conference championship last year, but beat Miami in the first round of the WNIT," Watkins continued. "We play them in the first round on their home court and then we play Bethune-Cookman the next day."
Campbell and Bethune-Cookman last met at the 2011 Hatter Classic, as the Lady Camels came away with a 62-46 victory.
After nine days off for the Christmas break, Campbell welcomes Presbyterian to Gore Arena on Dec. 30. The Blue Hose won last year's battle in Buies Creek, 58-53.
The Lady Camels open up 2015 with away contests at Longwood and High Point.
On Jan. 3, Campbell visits Farmville, Va., where it took a decisive 74-55 victory last season. The following Monday, Jan. 15, CU will try to avenge last year's 64-59 loss at High Point.
Campbell then hosts a three-game homestand, taking on UNC Asheville, Gardner-Webb, and Radford, all teams the Lady Camels defeated in Gore Arena last season.
UNC Asheville, which CU defeated 67-59, comes to the Creek on Jan. 10.
Education Day will be held on Jan. 13 at 11:45 a.m. this year as the Lady Camels face Gardner-Webb. Campbell came away with a 65-62 victory in its final home game of the 2013-14 season.
"I like to think that those 3,000 youngsters that come in here and pack our house will give us an advantage," Watkins said about the Education Day crowd. "It'll be tough, there's a great rivalry between us and Gardner-Webb, there always is and it's always a battle when we play them."
Rounding out the set of home games is Radford, which CU defeated 72-58 in Gore Arena last season, on Jan. 17.
The Lady Camels' following three games are out of the state, visiting South Carolina twice and Virginia once.
On Jan. 20, Campbell takes on Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C., where the Lady Camels narrowly escaped with an 82-81 victory last season.
Campbell then visits Liberty on Jan. 24, with motivation to avenge a 75-52 loss suffered in Lynchburg, Va. last year.
The Lady Camels enter the second half of conference play on Jan. 27 in Clinton, S.C., taking on the Blue Hose for the second time. Last year's game in Clinton was another close win for CU, which came home with a 46-43 victory.
A trio of games in Gore Arena is next. CU hosts Longwood on Jan. 31, defending its 63-54 defeat of the Lancers last season.
Winthrop comes to town on Feb. 2. Last season's game in Buies Creek went to overtime, but the Lady Camels claimed a 77-74 victory on the back of a Gaines assist-rebound double-double (12-12).
After dropping last year's decision to Charleston Southern in the creek, 81-71, Campbell will defend its home court against the Buccaneers on Feb. 5.
Campbell then hits the road for a quick trip to UNC Asheville, where CU won 61-52 last year, on Feb. 10. The Lady Camels will then host High Point on Feb. 14, after falling to the Panthers, 76-62, in Buies Creek last season.
In its final regular season road trips of the season, CU visits Gardner-Webb and Radford.
On Feb. 17, the Lady Camels make the trip to Boiling Springs, where they fell 56-54 to the Runnin' Bulldogs last year.
Campbell will look to take home another victory at Radford on Feb. 21, after winning last season's 75-61 contest.
Rounding out its regular season slate, the Lady Camels play host to two teams they defeated in Buies Creek last year.
Last year, CU earned a 75-68 win over the Chanticleers, who come to Gore Arena on Feb. 24. Four days later on Feb. 28, Liberty, which CU defeated 61-55 last year, closes out the regular season.
This year's Big South tournament will again be hosted by Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. The women's first round will be held March 3, followed by the quarterfinals on March 5. The semifinals will be played on March 7 and the championship game will tip off March 8.
"I'm really enjoying working with our team," Watkins concluded. "I like the core that we have coming back. They're being great teachers of our system. I really like our new folks that are here and that have been with us some for summer school. I know our team is as excited as I am that this will be right around the corner and November will be here before we know it."
The Lady Camels return three starters from 2013-14, including reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year, Kiera Gaines, and add five newcomers to the mix.
Last season Campbell posted a 19-12 record, going 13-7 in the Big South. The Lady Camels defeated Gardner-Webb in the Big South quarterfinal round, 63-46, before falling to High Point in the semifinals, 73-69.
