For the third consecutive season, premier women's college basketball is coming to the Florida Keys. The third annual Holiday Isle Classic is slated for November 28-29 and features a pair of teams ranked in the top-10 in the final NCAA, Division II regular season poll last season, it was announced Tuesday by Drew Patey, president of Classic Sports Events. Games are scheduled at the Michael Lannen Gymnasium at Coral Shores High School in Islamorada, Fla.

"We couldn't be happier than to be in a position to again bring top-quality NCAA women's basketball to the Florida Keys," said Patey, whose company owns and promotes the Holiday Isle Classic. "We're confident that our third annual Holiday Isle Classic will be bigger and better than ever."

The Holiday Isle Classic has quickly earned a reputation nationally as one of the top non-conference events in the country and the 2005 field will do nothing to harm that standing. Shaw University, from Raleigh, N.C., was second in the final 2004-05 ESPN/WBCA regular season poll. Shaw reached the NCAA Elite Eight en route to a 32-2 overall record.

Emporia State, from Emporia, Kansas, was seventh in that final regular season poll. Emporia finished 27-6, losing to eventual national champion Washburn in the third round of the NCAA Championship. Emporia defeated Drury, the 2004 Holiday Isle Classic champions, in the NCAA second round.

Joining the top-10 duo are a pair of other quality teams. Nova Southeastern University, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was 17-12 last season. Coach Marilyn Rule's team is the only squad to compete in each of the previous two Holiday Isle Classic events. Midwestern State, from Wichita Falls, Texas., comes to the event after a 9-18 campaign in 2004-05.

For the third consecutive season, premier women's college basketball is coming to the Florida Keys. The third annual Holiday Isle Classic is slated for November 28-29 and features a pair of teams ranked in the top-10 in the final NCAA, Division II regular season poll last season, it was announced Tuesday by Drew Patey, president of Classic Sports Events. Games are scheduled at the Michael Lannen Gymnasium at Coral Shores High School in Islamorada, Fla.

"We couldn't be happier than to be in a position to again bring top-quality NCAA women's basketball to the Florida Keys," said Patey, whose company owns and promotes the Holiday Isle Classic. "We're confident that our third annual Holiday Isle Classic will be bigger and better than ever."

The Holiday Isle Classic has quickly earned a reputation nationally as one of the top non-conference events in the country and the 2005 field will do nothing to harm that standing. Shaw University, from Raleigh, N.C., was second in the final 2004-05 ESPN/WBCA regular season poll. Shaw reached the NCAA Elite Eight en route to a 32-2 overall record.

Emporia State, from Emporia, Kansas, was seventh in that final regular season poll. Emporia finished 27-6, losing to eventual national champion Washburn in the third round of the NCAA Championship. Emporia defeated Drury, the 2004 Holiday Isle Classic champions, in the NCAA second round.

Joining the top-10 duo are a pair of other quality teams. Nova Southeastern University, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was 17-12 last season. Coach Marilyn Rule's team is the only squad to compete in each of the previous two Holiday Isle Classic events. Midwestern State, from Wichita Falls, Texas., comes to the event after a 9-18 campaign in 2004-05.

For the third consecutive season, premier women's college basketball is coming to the Florida Keys. The third annual Holiday Isle Classic is slated for November 28-29 and features a pair of teams ranked in the top-10 in the final NCAA, Division II regular season poll last season, it was announced Tuesday by Drew Patey, president of Classic Sports Events. Games are scheduled at the Michael Lannen Gymnasium at Coral Shores High School in Islamorada, Fla.

"We couldn't be happier than to be in a position to again bring top-quality NCAA women's basketball to the Florida Keys," said Patey, whose company owns and promotes the Holiday Isle Classic. "We're confident that our third annual Holiday Isle Classic will be bigger and better than ever."

The Holiday Isle Classic has quickly earned a reputation nationally as one of the top non-conference events in the country and the 2005 field will do nothing to harm that standing. Shaw University, from Raleigh, N.C., was second in the final 2004-05 ESPN/WBCA regular season poll. Shaw reached the NCAA Elite Eight en route to a 32-2 overall record.

Emporia State, from Emporia, Kansas, was seventh in that final regular season poll. Emporia finished 27-6, losing to eventual national champion Washburn in the third round of the NCAA Championship. Emporia defeated Drury, the 2004 Holiday Isle Classic champions, in the NCAA second round.

Joining the top-10 duo are a pair of other quality teams. Nova Southeastern University, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was 17-12 last season. Coach Marilyn Rule's team is the only squad to compete in each of the previous two Holiday Isle Classic events. Midwestern State, from Wichita Falls, Texas., comes to the event after a 9-18 campaign in 2004-05.