University of Tennessee Athletics
State Farm Tip-Off Classic
September 06, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Sept. 6, 2011
The 2011-12 women's collegiate basketball season will be tipped off in style as the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame teams up with State Farm, Intersport and ESPN to host the 2011 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on November 15. This year's Tip-Off Classic will feature the University of Tennessee versus the University of Miami (Fla.) in Knoxville, Tenn., at Thompson-Boling Arena at 6 p.m., ESPN2.
The 2011 State Farm Tip-Off Classic marks the 19th anniversary of the event, which has become synonymous with the start of the collegiate women's basketball season. Once again, this year's match-up will feature some of the best players, coaches and programs in the country. Led by Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, the Tennessee Lady Vols are looking to make a run at the 2012 Final Four. Miami, a young team with all of their players back from last year, is looking to make their mark. Miami's coach, Katie Meier led the team to its first ever ACC Regular Season Championship in 2011.
While this year will mark the Lady Vols' eighth appearance in the Classic posting a 5-2 all-time record, it will be the first appearance for Hurricanes as well as their inaugural meeting against Tennessee. Additionally, it will be the fifth time Thompson-Boling Arena has hosted the event.
During halftime, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2012 will be introduced to the arena and the national television audience. This year marks the 14th Induction, with the inaugural induction taking place in conjunction with the Hall of Fame's grand opening in 1999. When the Class of 2012 is officially inducted on June 9, the list of individuals who have been recognized as Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will increase to 127. The Class of 2012 includes Nancy Fahey (Coach), Nikki McCray (Lady Vol Olympian and All-American), Pamela McGee (Player), Inge Nissen (Player), Robin Roberts (Contributor), and Dawn Staley (Player).
During this year's game, there will be three Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductees sitting on the bench for Tennessee (Pat Summitt, Holly Warlick, and Daedra Charles-Furlow).
