Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Announces 2005-06 Schedule
9/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 1, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern announced the 2005-06 women's basketball schedule today.
The Wildcats begin season at home against Creighton on Saturday, Nov. 19. Tip is set for noon. NU then embarks on its longest road trip of the season -- a three-game stretch that includes contests at Missouri (Nov. 22), at UIC (Nov. 26) and at Valparaiso (Nov. 30).
On Dec. 2-3, Northwestern will host St. John's, Wake Forest and Miami (Ohio) in the Roger and Mildred White Invitational. NU is set to play Miami (Ohio) at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of the Invite on Dec. 2. Following a week off, the Wildcats play three of their next four contests at Welsh-Ryan, starting with Nebraska on Dec. 10. A lone road game at Western Michigan on Dec. 14 is followed by home contests against St. Mary's (Dec. 17) and inter-city foe DePaul (Dec. 22).
Northwestern's first conference contest will take place on Thursday, December 29 against Minnesota. The game will be the first of a women's basketball double-header held on the campus of Loyola (Ill.) University.
Following the opener, the Wildcats are home for five of the next eight contests -- the three road games coming at Illinois (Jan. 8), at Michigan (Jan. 26) and at Purdue (Jan. 29). During that stretch, Northwestern is home for four-consecutive games, beginning Jan. 12 against Indiana. NU will play Iowa Jan. 15 before matching up with UW-Milwaukee in a nonconference game Jan. 18. Penn State will come to Evanston, the site of last season's 59-48 season-highlighting upset, on Jan. 22.
The Wildcats open the month of February on the road, traveling to national runner-up Michigan State and Wisconsin. Four of the last five games will be played in the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena, with the lone road game against in-state rival Illinois (Feb. 16).
The Big Ten Tournament once again is being held at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and takes place March 2-6.
The Wildcats are looking to improve on last season's 5-25 season. Second-year head coach Beth Combs is optimistic about the upcoming campaign.
"I am excited about this year's schedule," said Combs. "With a young team, it will be nice to have so many games at home. Intentionally, it is not a big travel year for us which will give us ample time to initiate our young players as we ready for the Big Ten."
Northwestern's 2006 Big Ten Women's Basketball Schedule
Day, Date - Opponent, Time
Thursday, Dec. 29 - vs. Minnesota, TBA
Sunday, Jan. 1 - at Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 5 - Ohio State, 7p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 8 - at Illinois, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 12 - Indiana, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 15 - Iowa, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 22 - Penn State, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 26 - at Michigan, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 29 - at Purdue, 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 2 - Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5 - Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 9 - at Iowa, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12 - at Indiana, 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16 - Illinois, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 23 -- at Penn State, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 26 - at Minnesota, 2 p.m.
Thursday-Monday, March 2-6, Big Ten Tournament
Note: All times are Central
