April 27, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team will face three teams that advanced to postseason in 2008 when they travel to Charlotte Amaelie, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nov. 27-29 to participate in the ninth-annual Paradise Jam, it was announced Sunday by Basketball Travelers, Inc.
The Paradise Jam consists of two separate tournaments, the Island Division and the Reef Division. Each is a four-team, three-game round-robin event. Games will be contested at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center, the Caribbean's premier basketball facility.
The Knights will participate in the Island Division, which features 2005 NCAA Champion Baylor, and 2008 WNIT participants Wisconsin and Villanova. UCF faces Baylor at 3:30 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, Wisconsin at 1 p.m. EST Nov. 28 and Villanova at 1 p.m. EST Nov. 29.
UCF returns a young, but experienced team after charting an impressive season of firsts in 2007-08, under first-year head coach Joi Williams. The Knights' freshmen played 91.0 percent of the team's minutes last year, marking the largest proportion of rookie game experience in the nation.
The Paradise Jam will be the second trip for the Knights' women's basketball team off the United States mainland in three years, as UCF participated in the 2006 Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas,
Baylor finished the 2007-08 season with a 25-7 record, including a 12-4 mark in the Big 12 Conference. The Bears defeated Fresno State in the NCAA Tournament first round before falling to Pittsburgh in the second round. Baylor returns First-Team All-Big 12 and All-Defensive selection Rachel Allison, a 6-foot-1 forward, who was a Naismith Award Candidate, finishing second on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and first in rebounding (8.6 rpg). She ranked second in the league in rebounds and double-doubles (8). The Bears will have to compensate for the loss of senior guard Angela Tisdale, who was selected as the 33rd overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. Tisdale led the team in scoring (16.4 ppg), free-throw percentage (.811) - which also was first in the Big 12 - and assists (107) in her final season in Waco, Texas.
Wisconsin compiled a 16-14 record in 2007-08, including a 9-9 tally in Big Ten play. The Badgers lost to Villanova in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament in Madison, Wisc. Wisconsin will be looking to compensate for 2008 Big Ten Player of the Year Jolene Anderson, who was the 23rd overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. Anderson was UW's all-time career scoring leader (men or women) 2,217 career points. She led her team in scoring and rebounding each of her four years and scored in double figures in 118 of her 123 career games as a Badger. Wisconsin will be a young team in 2008-09 as the Badgers will have just one senior and seven juniors on their roster for this upcoming year.
Villanova went 17-16 last season with a 5-11 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. The Wildcats advanced to the third round of the WNIT before dropping a 64-58 decision at Colorado. Villanova returns 6-foot-2 forward Laura Kurz, who transferred from Duke two years ago. Kurz, a second-team all-BIG EAST selection, led the team in scoring last season with 14.9 ppg, including a squad-best 15.3 ppg in BIG EAST games only. She also was the team's leading rebounder with 6.4 boards per game.
UCF's complete 2008-09 schedule will be released later this summer.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
2008 Paradise Jam Women's Island Division Pairings
Game 1: Villanova vs. Wisconsin - Nov. 27, 1 p.m. EST
Game 2: UCF vs. Baylor - Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m. EST
Game 3: Wisconsin vs. UCF - Nov. 28 1 p.m. EST
Game 4: Baylor vs. Villanova - Nov. 28 3:30 p.m. EST
Game 5: UCF vs. Villanova - Nov. 29, 1 p.m. EST
Game 6: Wisconsin vs. Baylor - Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m. EST
2008 Paradise Jam Women's Reef Division Pairings
Game 1: Texas Tech vs. Iowa - Nov. 27, 6 p.m. EST
Game 2: USF vs. California - Nov. 27, 8:30 p.m. EST
Game 3: Iowa vs. USF - Nov. 28, 6 p.m. EST
Game 4: California vs. Texas Tech - Nov. 28, 8:30 p.m. EST
Game 5: USF vs. Texas Tech - Nov. 29, 6 p.m. EST
Game 6: California vs. Iowa - Nov. 29, 8:30 p.m. EST