UT Women Set To Host Spartan Challenge

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's basketball team is set to take the court at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center for a pair of games starting at 3 p.m. on Friday against the Ave Maria University Gyrenes. On Saturday at 8:00 p.m., the Spartans will host the Virginia Intermont College Cobras.

The Spartans are coming off a 2011 campaign where they finished 11-16 overall.

Tampa will be led by returning upperclassmen, forward Moriah Hodge (senior) and guard Illyssa Vivo (junior). Vivo started all 27 games averaging 12 ppg and 4.8 apg. Hodge also started all 27 games averaging 10.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg.

The Spartan's are 2-0 all time against Ave Maria, who they host on Friday afternoon. The Gyrenes (2-1) are led by senior guard Emily Huber. Huber has averaged 18.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg so far this season.

The Virgina Intermont Cobras (2-1) match up against the Spartans on Saturday night for the first time ever. The Cobras are led by sophomore forward Rainey Story, whose averaging 14.3 ppg this season.

Tampa officially starts conference play Saturday, January 5 against Rollins College.

Tickets are available at the gate for $5. Children 12-and-under will be admitted free. UT faculty, staff and students are admitted free when displaying a valid Spartan ID card.

UT will offer live stats and a webcast for the match through TampaSpartans.tv.

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