WBB Release 2015-16 Schedule
Aug 27 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women’s basketball unveiled its 2015-16 schedule, which features a rematch of last season’s first round NCAA match-up at in-state rival Seton Hall, a trip to the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, a meeting at Florida State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and the 18-game Big Ten Conference slate. Ten of RU’s 12 nonconference opponents and seven of the Scarlet Knights’ conference competition reached either the NCAA Tournament or WNIT last season.
The 2015-16 schedule gets underway with a pair of road games at St. Joseph’s on Friday, Nov. 13 and at Seton Hall on Monday, Nov. 16. Last season RU defeated St. Joseph’s 76-52 in the season opener while former Big East rival, Seton Hall, last tipped off against Rutgers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights advanced in postseason play following a 79-66 victory over the Pirates.
The home schedule, the first of 15 games on the hardwood of the RAC, begins with St. John’s on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Temple on Sunday, Nov. 22. Both teams played in the postseason WNIT with the Owls, former Atlantic 10 and American Athletic Conference foes, advancing to the semifinals, while the Red Storm, former rivals in the Big East, reached the third round.
Rutgers returns to the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas for the fourth time in history. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Scarlet Knights will take on Tulane on Thursday, Nov. 26, Virginia on Friday, Nov. 27 and Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday, Nov. 28. All three teams played in the postseason a year ago, with the Horizon League Champion Phoenix and Green Wave all reaching first round play of the NCAA Tournament and the Cavaliers appearing in the first round of the WNIT.
The nonconference schedule continues with the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, where RU will travel to Florida State for a meeting with the Seminoles on Thursday, Dec. 3. Last season, FSU reached the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights, meanwhile, will be looking to even their record in the challenge as a member of the Big Ten after being edged out in a double-overtime thriller against then-No. 6 North Carolina.
RU closes out the nonconference slate with four-straight home games, including three with teams that reached last season’s NCAA Tournament. Rutgers welcomes Arkansas on Sunday, Dec. 6, Iona on Wednesday, Dec. 9, Savannah State on Sunday, Dec. 13 and LSU on Saturday, Dec. 19. The Scarlet Knights picked up victories last season on the road against the Razorbacks, Gaels and Tigers, while the game with Savannah State’s Tigers, the 2015 MEAC Champions, will be a first between the two schools. Arkansas danced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, while LSU received an at-large bid to the 64-team NCAA bracket.
The Big Ten schedule features 18 games, including nine at the RAC. Last season, eight Big Ten women’s basketball squads advanced to the post-season.
The conference season gets underway at home against Minnesota (NCAA – First Round) on Thursday, Dec. 31 and continues with Wisconsin on Thursday, Jan. 7 and Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Ohio State (NCAA – Second Round) comes to the RAC on Sunday, Jan. 24 with Nebraska (NCAA – First Round) making the trip out East on Saturday, Jan. 30. February’s home Big Ten schedule features Northwestern (NCAA – First Round) on Wednesday, Feb. 10 and back-to-back home games with Michigan State on Thursday, Feb. 18 and NCAA Final Four participant Maryland on Sunday, February 21. The regular season comes to a close at the RAC on Sunday, Feb. 28 when RU hosts WNIT semifinalist, Michigan.
The road portion of the Big Ten schedule starts off right after the New Year with Iowa on Monday, Jan. 4 and continues with Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 10, Nebraska on Saturday, Jan. 16 and Michigan State on Tuesday, Jan. 19. RU visits Indiana on Wednesday, Jan. 27, Minnesota on Thursday, Feb. 4 and Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 7. The road schedule comes to close with games at Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 13 and Purdue on Thursday, February 25.
Times as well as television and radio information will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets - both renewals and new accounts - will be available for purchase beginning on Monday, August. 31.
2015-16 Rutgers Women’s Basketball Schedule
Fri. - Nov. 13 - at St. Joseph's
Mon. - Nov. 16 - at Seton Hall
Thu. - Nov. 19 - St. John's
Sun. - Nov. 22 - Temple
Thu. - Nov. 26 - vs. Tulane (Paradise Jam - St. Thomas)
Fri. - Nov. 27 - vs. Virginia (Paradise Jam - St. Thomas)
Sat. - Nov. 28 - vs. Green Bay (Paradise Jam - St. Thomas)
Thu. - Dec. 3 - at Florida State
Sun. - Dec. 6 - Arkansas
Wed. - Dec. 9 - Iona
Sun. - Dec. 13 - Savannah State
Sat. - Dec. 19 - LSU
Thurs. - Dec. 31 - Minnesota *
Mon. - Jan. 4 - at Iowa *
Thu. - Jan. 7 - Wisconsin *
Sun. - Jan 10 - at Ohio State *
Wed. - Jan. 13 - Illinois *
Sat. - Jan. 16 - at Nebraska *
Tue. - Jan. 19 - at Michigan State *
Sun. - Jan. 24 - Ohio State *
Wed. - Jan. 27 - at Indiana *
Sat. - Jan. 30 - Nebraska *
Thurs. - Feb. 4 - at Minnesota *
Sun. - Feb. 7 - at Penn State *
Wed. - Feb. 10 - Northwestern *
Sat. - Feb. 13 - at Illinois *
Thurs. - Feb. 18 - Michigan State *
Sun. - Feb. 21 - Maryland *
Thurs. - Feb. 25 - at Purdue *
Sun. - Feb. 28 - Michigan *
Home games in bold and played at the RAC
* - Big Ten Conference game
Dates and times are subject to change
Nonconference Knight Notes:
Arkansas: 18-14 overall, 6-10 SEC; SEC Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Second Round
Florida State: 32-5 overall, 14-2 ACC; ACC Tournament Runner-Up; NCAA Elite Eight
Iona: 15-15 overall, 12-8 MAAC; MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals
LSU: 17-14 overall, 10-6 SEC; SEC Tournament Semifinals First Round NCAA Tournament
St. John’s: 23-11 overall, 11-7 Big East; Big East Tournament Semifinals; WNIT Third Round
St. Joseph’s: 13-17 overall, 8-8 Atlantic 10; Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals
Savannah State: 21-11 overall, 13-3 MEAC; MEAC Champions; First Round NCAA Tournament
Seton Hall: 28-6 overall, 15-3 Big East; Big East Tournament Runner-Up; NCAA First Round
Temple: 20-17 overall, 12-6 American; American Tournament Quarterfinals; WNIT Semifinals
Tulane: 22-11 overall, 11-7 American; American Tournament Semifinals; NCAA First Round
Virginia: 17-14 overall, 7-9 ACC; ACC Tournament Second Round; WNIT First Round
Green Bay: 28-5 overall, 15-1 Horizon League; Horizon League Champions; NCAA First Round
Big Ten Conference Knight Notes:
Illinois: 15-16 overall, 6-12 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Second Round
Indiana: 15-16 overall, 4-14 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Second Round
Iowa: 26-8 overall, 14-4 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Semifinals; NCAA Sweet 16
Maryland: 34-3 overall, 18-0 Big Ten; Big Ten Champions; NCAA Final Four
Michigan: 20-15 overall, 8-10 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Second Round; WNIT Semifinals
Michigan State: 16-15 overall, 7-11 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals
Minnesota: 23-10 overall, 11-7 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA First Round
Nebraska: 21-11 overall, 10-8 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals: NCAA First Round
Northwestern: 23-9 overall, 12- 6 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Semifinals; NCAA First Round
Ohio State: 24-11 overall, 13-5 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Final; NCAA Second Round
Penn State: 6-24 overall, 3-15 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament First Round
Purdue: 11-20 overall, 3-15 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Second Round
Rutgers: 23-10 overall, 12-6 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Second Round
Wisconsin: 9-20 overall, 5-13 Big Ten; Big Ten Tournament First Round
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