PHILADELPHIA (09/18/02) - A trip to New England to take on 2002 National Champion Connecticut highlights the 2002-03 schedule for the Saint Joseph's University women's basketball team. Annually compiling one of the nation's most rigorous slates, SJU will likely square off against nine teams that made postseason appearances last year. "We have a tough schedule. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it," assesses second-year head coach Cindy Griffin. "Our schedule is going to be challenging, but I want our kids to gain as much as they can from this level of competition." An early Christmas present, SJU will take on the Huskies, who are coached by former SJU assistant Geno Auriemma, in Hartford on December 22. By that point, however, SJU should be well tested as the early season non-conference schedule includes road encounters with NCAA qualifiers Virginia and Penn State, as well as a clash with crosstown rival Drexel. The Crimson and Gray will also host Boston University in addition to Philadelphia Big Five battles with Villanova (NCAA) and Pennsylvania. Aside from these clashes, SJU will compete in a pair of in-season tournaments. In early December, the Hawks travel to Durham, N.C. to compete in the Duke Classic at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The tournament field includes the host Blue Devils (NCAA), as well as Buffalo and Howard. After Christmas, SJU hosts the 13th annual Hawk Classic. Hartford (NCAA), Siena (WNIT) and Maryland-Baltimore County will contend for the Classic crown. A pair of Atlantic 10 Conference games with A-10 champion and NCAA participant Temple, as well as a meeting with WNIT qualifier George Washington present difficult challenges once the league portion of the schedule gets underway. In addition to the Owls, SJU will play home-and-home series with eastern division rivals, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure and Fordham. In the West, SJU will host Dayton, G.W. and Xavier and take on Duquesne, La Salle, and Richmond on the road. "I believe that you have to play the best to be the best," relates Griffin. "It is only going to help us down the stretch."