Felician Athletics - 9/6/06 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Women's Basketball Team To Open Season In Disney World

RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Felician College women's basketball team, under second-year head coach Jay Latko, will open up the 2006-07 season at Disney's Division II Tip-Off Classic. The annual event, now in its 10th year, will be held November 2-6 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Buena Vista, Fla.

Felician will be making its first appearance in the tournament. The Golden Falcons begin their trip by taking on West Texas A&M University, ranked No. 17 in last year's final national poll, on Friday, November 3. The next day, they play No. 24 Stonehill College, followed by a November 5 date with Augustana College. Felician's three opponents combined for a 72-21 won-lost record in 2005-06.

"This is an excellent opportunity for our program," Latko said. "Not only do we get to play some of the best teams in the country, it gives our team an experience that is more than basketball. So many times over the course of the season we get off the bus, play, and then go home. Hopefully everyone involved will have a time they will remember for a long time to come."

The Wide World of Sports Complex is spread over 220 acres in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, and hosts more than 170 events in 30 sports annually. It is home to the Atlanta Braves' spring training and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camp.

Felician returns three starters from last year's team which finished 8-20 overall. Co-captains Rochelle Forbes (Montreal, Quebec) (8.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game in 2005-06) and Diane Burns (Brewster, NY) (6.9 ppg, 3.2 assists per game) are the leading returning scorers.