JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's basketball head coach Mike Mincey announced the 2012-13 schedule for the Lady Eagles on Wednesday. Carson-Newman will face four teams that saw postseason action a year ago, and will begin the season with exhibitions against three NCAA Division I opponents including North Carolina, Tennessee, and East Tennessee State.

"I was more pleased with the schedule this year than perhaps last year," said Mincey. "I think this year's slate sets us up well to strengthen our schedule for perhaps to make the NCAA Tournament."

The exhibition season opens for Carson-Newman on Oct. 28 against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., where the Lady Eagles will face 1974 C-N alumnus and Tar Heels head coach Sylvia Hatchell. Carson-Newman will also face Tennessee in Knoxville on Nov. 1 and finish the exhibition schedule against East Tennessee State in Johnson City on Nov. 3.

"They are always difficult games, in that you usually will take a loss to them (Tennessee and North Carolina)," said Mincey. "But our girls really enjoy the Carolina trip because we get to have the ACC experience, a full trip. The environment of playing at Tennessee is somewhat intimidating, but I think the girls go into it thinking it will be very tough, but at the end of the experience they are glad to have the chance to play at Thompson-Boling Arena."

The regular season will begin with a trip to Harrogate for the SAC-Conference of the Carolinas Challenge, where the Lady Eagles will face Coker and Erskine from Nov. 9-10. Carson-Newman will continue tournament play the next weekend, facing North Georgia and Georgia College at the North Georgia Tournament in Dahlonega, Ga., from Nov. 16-17.

The home opener for Carson-Newman is on Nov. 20 against Columbus State at Holt Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles will continue home play against Brevard on Nov. 28 in the South Atlantic Conference opener, and North Georgia Dec. 5 before finishing up before Christmas break against Hiwassee (Dec. 13) and at Lenoir-Rhyne (Dec. 15).

After the holiday break, the Lady Eagles will welcome Virginia Intermont to Mossy Creek on Dec. 30. Carson-Newman begins January play on Jan. 9 at Tusculum before a home matchup with Newberry on Jan. 12. After trips to Mars Hill (Jan. 16) and Anderson (Jan. 19), the Lady Eagles will host LMU on Jan. 23 and Catawba on Jan 26. The month finishes with a trip to Brevard on Jan. 30.

The Lady Eagles begin February at Wingate on Feb. 2, before three straight home games against: Tusculum (Feb. 6), Lenoir-Rhyne (Feb. 9), and Mars Hill (Feb. 13). After road tilts with Newberry (Feb. 16) and LMU (Feb. 20), the Lady Eagles host Anderson (Feb. 23) before finishing the month against Catawba on Feb. 27.

Carson-Newman's last regular season game will be at home against Wingate on March 2. The 2013 South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament will be held from March 6-9, with NCAA Tournament action beginning on March 15.

Full practice for the Lady Eagles begins on Oct. 15.