The Boilermakers will host eight non-conference games next year
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue women’s basketball head coach Sharon Versyp revealed the bulk of the Boilermakers’ 2017-18 non-conference schedule Tuesday, announcing several of Purdue’s first 14 opponents for next season. The Boilermakers will play host to at least nine opposing teams in Mackey Arena at the end of 2017, beginning with the exhibition opener Nov. 5, 2017.
Purdue welcomes the University of Saint Francis to Mackey Arena for its exhibition opener, beginning the 43rd season of Purdue women’s basketball. The Cougars hail from Fort Wayne, Indiana and are members of NAIA Division II and the Crossroads League. They played in their 17th NAIA Division II Championship tournament in 2016-17, falling in the opening round.
The Boilermakers open the season on the road for the second straight season and 13th time in program history, heading to Central Michigan University on Nov. 10 for their first of four Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents in 2017-18. The Chippewas finished 23-9 last year, including a 15-3 MAC record, good for tops in their conference, but fell to the Boilermakers in Mackey, 62-51.
Purdue returns to Mackey Arena for the home opener on Nov. 15, hosting Miami (Ohio) in Mackey, marking the eighth meeting with the Redhawks all-time. They’ll follow up with Lamar University on the 18th, meeting for the first time in program history. The Cardinals finished 22-8 in 2016-17, winning 10 of their last 11 regular-season games.
The Boilermakers head west around the Thanksgiving holiday, heading to Utah for the first time in program history for a Nov. 20 tilt with the Fighting Utes before traveling to Hawai’I for the annual Rainbow Wahine Classic. In addition to facing the Rainbow Warriors, Purdue will also meet Southern California and Marist in O’ahu before returning to the mainland for the 2017 Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Opponent and date are yet to be announced for the annual event.
Purdue closes non-conference action with six straight home games in December, starting with Ball State on Dec. 3. The Boilermakers will play Valparaiso and Ohio in quick succession Dec. 8 and 10, and conclude the semester with a trio of home games in Basketball Travelers Invitational in West Lafayette. Purdue will host a pair of games Sunday and Monday, Dec. 17-18, facing Eastern Washington and UT Martin and conclude action Wednesday, Dec. 20, vs. Saint Mary’s before breaking for the semester. Purdue faces Eastern Washington for the first time since 1992, UT Martin for the first time since 2012, and takes on Saint Mary’s for the first time in program history.
For more information on Purdue women’s basketball and the 2017-18 season visit PurdueSports.com.
