COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball released its 13-game 2017 non-conference schedule on Wednesday, which features a pair of exhibition matchups, six home contests and a trio of tournaments.
Mizzou will potentially face eight opponents that advanced to the postseason in 2016-17 with four of those teams reaching the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers’ challenging slate includes seven matchups with programs that racked up at least 20 victories a season ago and five opponents that finished in the Top 70 of the final 2016-17 RPI.
After hosting exhibition games on Nov. 2 and Nov. 6, Mizzou officially opens the 2017-18 campaign Nov. 10 against Western Kentucky at the Hawkeye Challenge in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hilltoppers won 27 games in 2016-17 and claimed Conference USA regular season and tournament titles on their way to an appearance in the Big Dance. Reigning SEC Coach of the Year Robin Pingeton’s squad will face either Iowa or 2017 MAAC champion Quinnipiac the following day.
The Tigers’ home opener is set for Nov. 16 when Mizzou takes on Wright State. The Raiders are coming off a 25-win season and a trip to the WNIT. Three days later, Mizzou travels to Missouri State to face the Bears for the 28th time in program history.
Thanksgiving weekend, Mizzou heads to Berkeley, California, to compete in the Cal Classic. After a Nov. 24 matchup with Coppin State, the Tigers play California or Manhattan on Nov. 25.
Mizzou returns to Columbia on Nov. 30 to make its first appearance in the Big 12/SEC Challenge in program history and renew its rivalry with Kansas State. Both Mizzou and Kansas State clinched a No. 6 seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Second Round. It will be the 83rd meeting between the two programs.
The showdown with Kansas State launches a four-game homestand for the Tigers that also features matchups against New Orleans (Dec. 2), Saint Louis (Dec. 8) and SIUE (Dec. 10). Mizzou is a combined 24-2 all-time against those three opponents.
The Tigers then travel to their third of three nonconference tournaments on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, the West Palm Invitational in West Palm Beach, Florida. Mizzou opens the invite against Big 10 foe Indiana at 11 a.m. CT and takes on Xavier the following day at 4 p.m. CT.
The Tigers wrap up their nonconference schedule by squaring off against border rival Illinois at Mizzou Arena on Friday, Dec. 22. It will be the first meeting between the two programs since 2008.
SCHEDULE
Nov. 2 vs. Southwest Baptist (exh.)
Nov. 6 vs. McKendree (exh.)
Nov. 10 vs. Western Kentucky*
Nov. 11 vs. Iowa OR Quinnipiac*
Nov. 16 vs. Wright State
Nov. 19 at Missouri State
Nov. 24 vs. Coppin State^
Nov. 25 vs. California OR Manhattan^
Nov. 30 vs. Kansas State
Dec. 2 vs. New Orleans
Dec. 8 vs. Saint Louis
Dec. 10 vs. SIU-Edwardsville
Dec. 17 vs. Indiana#
Dec. 18 vs. Xavier#
Dec. 22 vs. Illinois
Bold denotes home
* Hawkeye Challenge
^ Cal Classic
# West Palm Invitational
— Mizzou Athletics —