University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Host Eagles In Regular Season Opener
November 9, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2007
CHAPEL HILL --- North Carolina (0-0) will open its 2007-08 campaign Friday night against cross-town foe North Carolina Central at Carmichael Auditorium. NCCU (0-0) is in its first year as a Division I team, playing as an independent in 07-08 before joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 08-09. This marks the second year in a row in which UNC will be facing a team in its first ever D-I game. The Tar Heels welcomed Winston-Salem State to the D-I ranks last year with an 83-32 win in Chapel Hill. Carolina is ranked No. 8 in the nation in the AP poll and No. 7 in the coaches poll. NCCU is unranked.
AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 0-0, North Carolina Central 0-0
Rankings: North Carolina is ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 7 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. NCCU is unranked.
TV: None.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, a division of Learfield Communications. Brad Heller (play-by-play) and Jan Boxill (analyst) have the call.
Websites: TarHeelBlue.com (North Carolina); web.nccu.edu/athletics/ (NCCU)
CAROLINA SEASON OPENERS
• The Tar Heels will look to post their seventh straight win in a season opener Friday night.
• Carolina last lost its opener in 2000, when the Tar Heels fell to Buffalo, 95-89.
• That also marks the last time UNC did not play its opener in Chapel Hill.
• Carolina is 28-5 all-time in season openers, including a 17-4 mark under Sylvia Hatchell.
• UNC topped East Tennessee State, 96-35, in last season's opener.
NOTING THE EAGLES
• North Carolina Central is coming off its best season in program history, as the Eagles finished 26-6 and won the CIAA Tournament title.
• NCCU lost just one senior from last year's squad, but it was a signifcant loss. Cassie King was the school's all-time leading scorer and a Kodak Honorable Mention All-America performer.
• The Tar Heels and Eagles have never met in women's basketball.
• The Eagles are coached by Joli Robinson, who is entering her 12th season at the school.
LOOKING AHEAD
• UNC will host the annual State Farm Tip-Off Classic Sunday afternoon at the Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels will face 12th-ranked Arizona State at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN, with No. 4 Maryland facing No. 6 Oklahoma at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
