Northwestern University Athletics
#B1GCats Announce 2016-17 Nonconference Schedule
7/14/2016 3:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Northwestern women's basketball team announced its nonconference schedule today, featuring ten home games, a tough West Coast trip and a Big Ten/ACC matchup.
Before the regular season tips off, Northwestern will host Illinois-Springfield in an exhibition game on Sunday, Nov. 6, to open the final season before Welsh-Ryan Arena undergoes a $110 million renovation.
The Wildcats officially begin the regular season on Friday, Nov. 11, with a home contest against Hampton. The two squads have met twice before as Northwestern came away with the win on both occasions.
Northwestern continues its three-game homestand with a matchup against Oral Roberts on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Wildcats defeated Oral Roberts in the only previous meeting in 2013.
NU closes out the homestand with a clash against Missouri State (Nov. 16). The Lady Bears earned their 14th NCAA tournament berth last year after winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament for the tenth time. Missouri State and Northwestern will meet for the first time.
The Wildcats then make a short trip to face cross-town rival DePaul on Saturday, Nov. 19. The Blue Demons made it to the Sweet 16 in last year's NCAA tournament and are one of six programs to make 14 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The all-time series stands at 17-15 in favor of DePaul. The Blue Demons claimed last year's meeting, 77-64, in Evanston.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Nov. 25 to face SEC foe Florida in the first of a four-game homestand. The late November matchup is the first ever between the two programs.
The Gators finished 22-9 last year and fourth in the SEC, while making their 15th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Florida was awarded a No. 5 seed in the tournament and also reached as high as No. 16 in the AP Top 25 poll last year.
The Wildcats welcome Evansville to Evanston for a game on Sunday, Nov. 27, for the first time ever.
Northwestern will host Virginia for this year's edition of the Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 1. This is the third all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Cavaliers as the all-time series is currently tied 1-1. These two squads last met during the 2004-05 season in the Roger L. White Invitational when the Cavaliers recorded a 76-55 win.
Virginia wrapped up a 2015-16 season that saw the squad reach the WNIT Round of 16. The Cavaliers finished the year with an 18-16 overall record and a 6-10 mark in ACC play.
The Wildcats will follow up against crosstown rival Chicago State on Sunday, Dec. 4. The 'Cats hold the upper hand with a 6-2 record in the all-time series.
Northwestern will then hit the road and travel north to face Milwaukee (Dec. 11). The Wildcats hold a 4-3 edge in the all-time series after defeating the Panthers 69-44 in Evanston last season.
NU will face its third and final crosstown rival of the season when it plays host to UIC (Dec. 13).
The Wildcats then head west as they face Santa Clara on Dec. 17, and Gonzaga on Dec. 19. The 'Cats will face Santa Clara for the first time in program history, but will square off against Gonzaga for the second time.
The Broncos closed out the 2015-16 season with a 23-9 overall record en route to the WNIT after falling in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference tournament.
The Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the WNIT last year after finishing the year 19-14 overall.
Northwestern closes out its non-conference schedule at home on Dec. 22 against UT-Martin. The Wildcats defeated the Skyhawks 79-69 in their only meeting in 2012.
Dates and tip times for Big Ten contests will be announced later this month as well as tip times for non-conference matchups.
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