Auburn women’s basketball to be on TV four times

The Auburn women’s basketball team will appear on television four times during the 2008-09 season as part of the Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Television Package, the league announced Thursday.

The overall conference package includes 40 games with 73 appearances.

The schedule is highlighted by eight games on ESPN2, five national FSN games and two on CBS. In addition, 24 games will be featured on the league’s regional sports network which airs on FSN South, FSN Southwest SportSouth and SUN Sports.

“It is always great to get that television exposure and we are really excited about what the fans will see out of Auburn basketball this season,” said head coach Nell Fortner. “We have a team this year that deserves that exposure and will be exciting for people to watch.”

The Auburn portion of the schedule includes two games on Fox Sports South, one on the Fox Sports Network and one on ESPNU. The entire SEC Tournament will also be broadcast with the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals on Fox Sports South. The championship game will run on ESPN2.

The Tigers will make their first appearance on Thursday, Jan. 22 with an 8 p.m. matchup against in-state rival Alabama in Auburn on Fox Sports South.

The next appearance is just three days later on Jan. 25 as Auburn takes on defending national champion Tennessee in a 2 p.m. home game on ESPNU.

Auburn’s next TV game comes on Thursday, Feb. 19 as the Tigers travel to Vanderbilt for an 8 p.m. game on Fox Sports South.

The schedule culminates with a national television appearance on Fox Sports Net as Auburn hosts Georgia at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22.

“The game against Georgia is going to be a great matchup between two very good teams,” said Fortner. “It will be great to have that game on national TV to allow our fans all over the country to see us in action.”

Auburn is set to open its season with an exhibition game against Anderson University at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 in the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. The regular season is slated to open on the road at Alabama A&M on Nov. 14, with the home opener against Temple following on Nov. 17.