University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Women's Basketball Ranked 22nd In Preseason
November 7, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2000
For the ninth consecutive year, the University of North Carolina women's basketball team will begin the season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. The Tar Heels debut at No. 22 in the poll, which was released today. UNC is ranked 25th in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.
"We're pleased to be in the polls, but we want to improve our rankings," said UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell, who is heading into her 15th season at UNC. "We believe we have the potential to be better than people think we're going to be."
UNC finished the 1999-2000 season with a 20-13 record, winning eight of its final 10 games. Four starters return, including senior forward LaQuanda Barksdale, who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring and rebounding last season. Barksdale and senior guard Juana Brown both are preseason candidates for the Naismith Player of the Year Award.
The Tar Heels play their final exhibition game of the preseason on Thursday, hosting Basketball Travelers at 7 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium. There is no charge for admission to that game.
UNC opens the 2000-01 season on Nov. 17 at Buffalo, then plays at Syracuse on the 19th before returning home to host North Carolina A&T on Nov. 21. Tipoff for that game is 6:30 p.m., and a UNC men's basketball exhibition game will follow.
Season tickets for Carolina women's basketball are $50 for adults and $30 for senior adults and students. They may be purchased by calling the UNC ticket office at 1-800-722-HEEL (4335) or 919-962-2296. For each 2000-01 season ticket sold, Hatchell will donate $5 to ovarian cancer research.
Single game tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior adults and students. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
