Women's Basketball Announces 2016-17 Non-Conference Schedule

Blue Devils tip off season on November 11, host Hartford on November 13.

August 10, 2016

Head coach Beryl Piper and the Central Connecticut women's basketball team has released the non-conference schedule for the 2016-17 season it was announced Thursday. CCSU will tip the season off at Dartmouth on November 11. The Blue Devils will open at home on November 16 against intrastate rival, Hartford.

"We have the possibility of playing a diverse collection of schools across seven different conferences," Piper said. "We have a young team and it's going to be a challenge, but it will help us prepare for the Northeast Conference schedule. Every game we will look to get better and compete at a high level."

2016-17 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The Blue Devils' 11-game slate in preparation for Northeast Conference play features opponents from the ACC, America East, Atlantic 10, BIG EAST and Ivy League. Central could also potentially face either UT Arlington (Sun Belt) or San Diego State (Mountain West) at the SHU Thanksgiving Classic.

The Blue Devils will open the campaign against Dartmouth on Friday, November 11, in Hanover, NH. Following the opener, CCSU will play back-to-back games in Detrick Gymnasium. The first home game of the season will be against Hartford on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Central will then host Vermont on Friday, Nov. 18.

Central will play its next five games on the road, beginning with a trip to play the University of Massachusetts on Wednesday, Nov. 23. The Blue Devils will then play in the Seton Hall Thanksgiving Classic. CCSU will face Seton Hall, a 2016 NCAA Tournament team, on Saturday, Nov. 26. The other two teams in the field are San Diego State and UT Arlington, with the outcome of Saturday's games set to determine the matchups for Sunday, Nov. 27.

Three of CCSU's next four games will come against teams from the ACC beginning with last season's national runner-up, Syracuse. The Blue Devils will travel to the Orange on Sunday, Dec. 4. Central will then play at Virginia Tech on Wednesday, Dec. 7. CCSU will travel to Boston College on Sunday, Nov. 18.

Central will return to New Britain for its final non-league home game on Sunday, Dec. 11. CCSU will play its third team from the 2016 postseason when it hosts Stony Brook, which played in the Women's Basketball Invitational. The Blue Devils will conclude their non-conference slate at New Hampshire on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

"Playing schools like Syracuse, Seton Hall, Boston College and Virginia Tech will provide us with big challenges," Piper added. "It will give our team the opportunity to see what it's like to play ACC teams and BIG EAST teams and play in that environment and compete at that level."

Piper is set to begin her 10^th season at the helm of CCSU and ranks second on the Central Connecticut list for career wins. The Blue Devils will welcome back three seniors, including Aleah Epps who was the squad's second-leading scorer at 9.5 points per game.

The complete schedule and season ticket information for the men's and women's basketball season will be available at a later date.