June 1, 2007

BRIDGEPORT, CT - In a joint press conference today, Sacred Heart and Fairfield University announced they will compete for the first time as Division I programs in the upcoming 2007-08 seasons in both men's and women's basketball. The two schools will play each other at the Arena at Harbor Yard on November 18 in a doubleheader starting with the women's game at 4:30 pm, followed by the men's game at 7 pm. This year's game will be the first of a multi-year deal between the two schools.

"We're obviously very happy to be a part of this new endeavor," said Dr. Anthony Cernera at the press conference. "Both of our institutions find itself rooted in a tradition that began over 2000 years ago - education that includes the entire person. Service to the community is a hallmark of the mission of both schools. This basketball rivalry over the next three years will be a continuing part of that service."

The men's teams will battle one another for the first time in both schools' basketball history, while the women's squads will face each other for the first time as Division I opponents. The Stags and the Pioneers women's teams last played each other as Division II foes during the 1980-81 campaign. The women's teams played one another 11 times between 1973-74 and 1980-81 with the Stags holding a slight 7-4 advantage.

The Sacred Heart men's basketball team earned the number two seed and lost in the Championship game of the Northeast Conference tournament to Central Connecticut State last season. The Pioneers finished 18-14 overall and a 12-6 in the NEC. Head Coach Dave Bike, who has 446 career victories, will begin his 29th season at the helm of the Pioneer program.

"I remember how excited the people got about the old battle of Park Avenue with Sacred Heart and Bridgeport," says Bike. "I hope that this new rivalry with Fairfield will do the same thing for all the local basketball fans."

The Pioneers women's basketball team won the NEC title in 2005-06, and last year won 20 games for the second straight season. Head coach Ed Swanson, who will begin his 18th season in 2007-08, guided the Pioneers to a 22-10 overall record and 15-3 NEC mark last year.

"I'm a big baseball fan," says Swanson. "I'm a Met fan and when I go to the interleague games between the Mets and Yankees I enjoy the passion of the fans. I think our series with Fairfield will have the same kind of passion."

The Fairfield University men's basketball team comes off a 13-19 overall season with a 10-8 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The program will begin their second season under Head Coach Ed Cooley in 2007-08. The Stags women's basketball team starts its first season under Head Coach Joe Frager, who came to Fairfield after capturing the 2007 Division II National Championship at Southern Connecticut State University. The squad recorded a 15-15 overall slate and an 11-7 conference record.

"This is a special day for me, both on a personal and professional level," said SHU Director of Athletics, Don Cook. "I graduated from Fairfield during the Spanish-American War," he joked. "And I also had the privilege of being the Director of Athletics and baseball coach here many years ago."