Gophers Announce 2013-14 Women’s Basketball Schedule

The University of Minnesota women’s basketball program, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, announced today its schedule for the 2013-14 season. Game times and television rights will be released at a later date.

"We are looking forward to a challenging non-conference and Big Ten schedule this year,” said Minnesota head coach Pam Borton. “We scheduled quality BCS opponents again early in the season, because to be the best you have to play the best competition. Kansas, Auburn, UCLA, and Miami are just a few teams that we will host at Williams Arena.  The Barn is one of the most exciting venues to play in the nation and our fans will really enjoy the quality of our competition this year."

For the first time in four years, Minnesota will open the Big Ten season at home, facing Michigan State on Jan. 4, before heading to Iowa City, Iowa, for a road showdown with Iowa on Jan. 8. The Spartans and the Hawkeyes are two of five teams that Minnesota will play home-and-home series against, with the Maroon and Gold also taking on Northwestern, Indiana and Wisconsin twice over the course of the season.

Minnesota will host Illinois, Purdue and Ohio State in single-game action at Williams Arena, while traveling to Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan during the year.

The conference is entering into the second of a four-year agreement that will rotate the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament between Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Indianapolis, Ind. The 2014 and 2016 postseason tournaments are set to be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and the 2015 event will be contested at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Prior to entering Big Ten play, the Gophers will have 14 non-conference games under their belts, including their 2013-14 season opener at Northern Iowa on Nov. 9 and their home opener against UNC Charlotte on Nov. 13. 

After a road contest at Creighton on Nov. 17, Minnesota will play three-straight home games against Kansas, Navy and Loyola Chicago, before heading to Hawaii for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown over the Thanksgiving holiday.

While at the Showdown, the Gophers will face host Hawaii, Chattanooga and Colorado State.

Minnesota returns to Williams Arena on Dec. 5 for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge against Miami, which begins a six-game homestand. In that span, the Gophers will also face North Dakota (Dec. 8), UCLA (Dec. 20), Auburn (Dec. 22), Oakland (Dec. 29) and open the Big Ten slate against Michigan State.

In all, Minnesota will face 16 teams that competed in postseason play last season, including 12 teams that made appearances in the NCAA Tournament.   

The Gophers will also host a pair of exhibition contests at Williams Arena, with the Maroon and Gold taking on Winona State on Oct. 29 and Minnesota State, Moorhead on Nov. 2.

2013-14 Minnesota Women’s Basketball Schedule

Oct. 29 – Winona State (Exhibition) – Williams Arena

Nov. 2 – Minnesota State Moorhead (Exhibition) – Williams Arena

Nov. 9 – at Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls, Iowa

Nov. 13 – UNC Charlotte – Williams Arena

Nov. 17 – at Creighton – Omaha, Neb.

Nov. 20 – Kansas – Williams Arena

Nov. 24 – Navy – Williams Arena

Nov. 26 – Loyola Chicago – Williams Arena

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 – at Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown

(Hawaii, Chattanooga, Colorado State)

Dec. 5 – Miami – Williams Arena

Dec. 8 – North Dakota – Williams Arena

Dec. 20-22 – Subway Classic

Dec. 20 – UCLA – 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. – Williams Arena

Dec. 21 – UCLA vs. Auburn – 2:00 p.m.  – Williams Arena

Dec. 22 – Auburn – 2:00 p.m. – Williams Arena

Dec. 29 – Oakland – Williams Arena

Jan. 4 – Michigan State* – Williams Arena

Jan. 8 – at Iowa* - Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 12 – Northwestern*  – Williams Arena

Jan. 16 – at Nebraska* - Lincoln, Neb.

Jan. 19 – at Indiana* - Bloomington, Ind.

Jan. 23 – Wisconsin* – Williams Arena

Jan. 26 – at Penn State* - University Park, Pa.

Jan. 29 – Iowa* – Williams Arena

Feb. 1 – at Michigan* - Ann Arbor, Mich.

Feb. 9 – Illinois*– Williams Arena

Feb. 12 – at Wisconsin* - Madison, Wis.

Feb. 15 – at Northwestern* - Evanston, Ill.

Feb. 20 – Purdue* – Williams Arena

Feb. 24 – at Michigan State* - East Lansing, Mich.

Feb. 27 – Indiana* – Williams Arena

March 2 – Ohio State* – Williams Arena