Women's Basketball 9/7/2016 10:30:00 AM

RADFORD FINALIZES 2016-17 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

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2016-17 Schedule

RADFORD, Va. – The Big South Conference finalized its 2016-17 conference schedule Wednesday morning, which completes Radford's 29-game regular season women's basketball schedule, featuring 11 non-conference opponents, including three Power Five foes.

"Our non-conference schedule is as challenging as we have had in my four years at Radford. We open the season on the road against two Atlantic 10 schools, before we have an opportunity to play at home. We also have three programs on our schedule in Appalachian St., UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina, who have new head coaches or head coaches in their second season. Those programs are establishing their identities as well and we know they will be great challenges for us," said fourth year head coach Mike McGuire. "Towards to end of our non-conference schedule, we will face three Power Five opponents in a row in Wake Forest, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. This schedule provides many opportunities for us to prepare for the 18-game Big South schedule."

With the loss of Coastal Carolina to the Sun Belt Conference, Big South schools will play an 18-game conference schedule, featuring nine home and away contests. Conference play will begin on Jan. 3 and will play a schedule of Tuesday/Saturday games. The Highlanders carry the longest active Big South regular-season win streak at four games.

"We are excited that our conference schedule has been released. In my opinion, it is an exciting time to be a part of the Big South Conference as our league continues to grow and improve," McGuire noted. "The returning talent, incoming talent and coaching is excellent in the Big South. This should be another competitive season for women's basketball in the Big South Conference."

Before the Highlanders enter league play, they will open the season in-state Friday, Nov. 11 at George Mason. Radford captured a thrilling 66-63 overtime victory versus the Patriots to open last season. The Highlanders remain on the road as they visit Davidson (Nov. 19) for the first of four non-conference trips to the Tar Heel State.

In the home opener, Radford will host Tennessee Tech in a pre-Thanksgiving appetizer on Wednesday, Nov. 23. RU will close out November against Davis & Elkins on Nov. 26.

The month of December will see the Highlanders spend a majority of their time on the road, playing five of their seven games away from the Dedmon Center. Radford will kick off a four-game swing against North Carolina foes, traveling to UNC Greensboro (Dec. 2) and Appalachian St. (Dec. 4).

The Highlanders will return home to host Western Carolina in their annual Education Day, Thursday, Dec. 8. Before taking a week off for exams, Radford will take on the first of three Power Five opponents on the docket, traveling to Wake Forest for a Dec. 10 matchup.

Returning from an eight-day break, the Highlanders head to the horse capital of the world for matchup with Kentucky. The Dec. 18 game will mark the program's second trip to Lexington, Ky., with the other coming in 1988. Three days later, Radford will travel up Interstate 81 for a New River Valley showdown against Virginia Tech (Dec. 21), before the players head home for Christmas break.

Radford will begin its journey for a sixth Big South Regular Season Championship on Jan. 3, hosting Gardner-Webb. The Highlanders will host Longwood (Jan. 14), High Point (Jan. 17), Liberty (Jan. 24), Winthrop (Feb. 4), Charleston Southern (Feb. 11), Presbyterian (Feb. 18), UNC Asheville (Feb. 25) and Campbell (Feb. 27). In addition, RU will host two doubleheaders with the men's basketball team and one on the road at UNC Asheville on Jan. 28.

"Last season was an excellent season for us as we won the most games since 2007. It was also a challenging season with the number of injuries we had to work through," McGuire added. "With having 11 returners, I am confident that the lessons learned last season will help our 2016-17 team to prepare for a focused and determined season."

For the first time since 1998, the Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va. will host the Big South Women's Basketball Tournament, March 9-12. The champion will claim the league's automatic bid into the 2017 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

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