George Washington University Athletics
GW Women's Basketball Reveals Non-Conference Slate
9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
2016-17 Schedule
WASHINGTON - The two-time defending Atlantic 10 champion George Washington women's basketball team will face a minimum of eight postseason teams from last year as part of its challenging 2016-17 non-conference schedule under new head coach Jennifer Rizzotti.
The docket includes games against NCAA National Championship runner up Syracuse and a home game against NCAA Elite 8 participant Stanford.
"We will take on a challenging non-conference schedule this season which features a number of high-quality opponents that made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament and WNIT last season," said Rizzotti. "In order to get to where we strive to be, it is important for us to be challenged every time we step onto the floor."
The Colonials will open the 2016-17 season with a short crosstown trip to Georgetown, who went 16-14 overall last season with an appearance in the WNIT, on Friday, November 11. The Colonials won the last meeting between the District rivals, 72-60, in 2014 and lead the all-time series, 18-16.
GW will welcome 2016 NCAA Tournament participant Princeton to the Charles E. Smith Center for its home opener on Sunday, November 13. Princeton went 23-6 last season and fell in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament to West Virginia. The Colonials lead the all-time series 4-2 following a win in the last game during the 2008-09 season.
GW will face Coppin State, a team it has never lost to in five all-time meetings, on Wednesday, November 16, before traveling for the return game of a home-and-home series at Villanova on Sunday, November 20. The Colonials beat the Wildcats, 78-70, last December at the Smith Center and lead the all-time series, 8-3. Villanova made it to the second round of the WNIT last season before bowing out.
The Colonials will head to the Sunshine State for the Thanksgiving holiday when they compete at the previously announced Gulf Coast Showcase, November 25-27, in Estero, Florida. GW will face Final Four participant and NCAA Championship runner up Syracuse in the first game of the weekend on Friday, November 25, before a meeting with either Ohio State or Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday. Ohio State made it to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament last season while FGCU was the runner up in the WNIT Finals.
The other side of the bracket includes potential opponents Baylor (NCAA Elite 8), DePaul (NCAA Sweet 16), Western Kentucky (WNIT Quarterfinals) or Kent State.
"The Gulf Coast Showcase is going to be an amazing opportunity for this team," said Rizzotti. "First off, to be able to take on national runner up Syracuse in the first game will give our players a great benchmark on where we want to be. The Showcase is the same format as the Atlantic 10 Championship with three games in three days, so that is important for this team to get a feel for that accelerated schedule against quality opposition."
The Colonials conclude another home-and-home series when they welcome Illinois on Sunday, December 4. GW traveled to visit the Fighting Illini last season, pulling away with a second-half surge en route to a 70-57 win.
GW will face another District rival on December 7 when it travels to Bender Arena in Tenleytown to face off with American. The Colonials have won the past three meetings against the Eagles to pull ahead in the all-time series, 13-12.
The final road game of the non-conference schedule will take place on Sunday, December 11, when the Colonials visit South Dakota State for the second-ever meeting between the two schools. GW won the first game, 65-60, on November 23, 2007 at the Smith Center. The Jackrabbits are coming off of a 27-win season and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
GW returns home to face NCAA Elite 8 participant Stanford in the return game of a home-and-home series on Wednesday, December 21. GW traveled out west to face the Cardinal last season, falling 84-63. Stanford has won all three previous meetings.
The Colonials conclude the non-conference slate at home against Loyola (Md.) on Friday, December 23.
"We are excited to host Stanford, Illinois and Princeton, along with Coppin State and Loyola (Md.) at the Charles E. Smith Center," said Rizzotti. "We are going to take tremendous pride in protecting our home court and we want the Smith Center to continue to be recognized as the toughest collegiate venue in the District."
The full Atlantic 10 conference schedule will be released at a later date. The schedule pairings were announced in July.
Amongst GW's conference opponents are a quintet of postseason teams from a season go. St. Bonaventure and Duquesne each made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament while Saint Louis (WNIT Third Round), VCU (WNIT First Round) and Dayton (WNIT First Round) all competed in the WNIT.
GW will host Davidson, Fordham, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, VCU, Dayton, Duquesne and George Mason in home games at the Charles E. Smith Center. Road games will be played at La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Louis, Dayton, Duquesne and George Mason.
Date | Opponent | Time
Saturday, November 5 | vs. UMBC (Exh.) | 1 p.m.
Friday, November 11 | at Georgetown | TBA
Sunday, November 13 | vs. Princeton | TBA
Wednesday, November 16 | vs. Coppin State | 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 20 | at Villanova | TBA
Friday, November 25 | vs. Syracuse (Gulf Coast Showcase) | 5 p.m.
Saturday, November 26 | vs. Ohio State or Florida Gulf Coast (Gulf Coast Showcase) | TBA
Sunday, November 27 | TBA (Gulf Coast Showcase) | TBA
Sunday, December 4 | vs. Illinois | TBA
Wednesday, December 7 | at American | TBA
Saturday, December 10 | at South Dakota State | TBA
Wednesday, December 21 | vs. Stanford | 7 p.m.
Friday, December 23 | vs. Loyola (Md.) | 12 p.m.
Atlantic 10 Conference Home Games (Dates/Times TBA)
Davidson, Fordham, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, VCU, Dayton, Duquesne, George Mason
Atlantic 10 Conference Road Games (Dates/Times TBA)
La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Louis, Dayton, Duquesne, George Mason
