Preseason WNIT, Strong Big 12 Schedule Highlight 2004-05 Season

Lincoln - The Nebraska women’s basketball team will face a powerful 2004-05 schedule that features at least one home game in the Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament and an eight-game Big 12 Conference home schedule that is highlighted by seven opponents that earned postseason berths in 2003-04.

 

The Huskers released their full 2004-05 women’s basketball schedule on Monday, which includes at least eight home games at the Bob Devaney Sports Center against teams that advanced to postseason play in 2003-04.  Overall, NU will play at least 17 games against squads that earned postseason bids last season.

 

Nebraska will open Coach Connie Yori’s third season in Lincoln with its first practice on Oct. 16, before a rare October exhibition game against Nebraska-Kearney at the Devaney Center on Oct. 31 at 2:05 p.m.  The Huskers conclude exhibition play against Nebraska-Omaha at the Devaney Center on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 2:05 p.m., before opening the regular season in the first round of the Preseason WNIT against Western Illinois on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:05 p.m.

 

Nebraska will make its first Preseason WNIT appearance since 1997, when NU advanced to the championship game of the tournament. If the Huskers can get past Western Illinois in the first round, the next three rounds of competition in the Preseason WNIT could feature matchups against 2004 postseason teams, including Notre Dame, Duke, Ohio State, Arizona, South Florida, Middle Tennessee State, Saint Joseph’s or Rice. 

 

The second round of the tournament is set for Nov. 14, while the semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 17.  The championship game will be played either Nov. 20 or 21.  All games will be played at home sites to be determined after the completion of each round.

 

Nebraska’s rugged non-conference schedule could include games against as many as nine postseason teams during the 2004-05 season.

 

“Potentially, more than half of our non-conference games are going to come against teams that played in the postseason last year, so it is going to be anything but easy for us,” Yori said.  “Obviously, being in the Preseason WNIT is a great opportunity for our team to play some quality competition. Ohio State, North Carolina State, Creighton, Louisville and Memphis will give us more postseason-caliber competition during the rest of our non-conference season.”

 

The Huskers are scheduled to play Northern Colorado on Friday, Nov. 19 at the Devaney Center, in what was originally slated to be NU’s home opener before its invitation to the WNIT.  Nebraska will also play host to Washington State at the Devaney Center on Monday, Nov. 22.

 

The Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, will give the Huskers two more matchups against 2004 postseason competitors.  NU will open the four-team tournament against North Carolina State on Friday, Nov. 26.  The Wolfpack earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament last season.  The Huskers will face either NCAA Tournament-qualifier Hampton or 2004 postseason WNIT participant Louisville on Saturday, Nov. 27.

 

After squaring off against Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 1) and Tennessee-Martin (Dec. 7) at the Devaney Center, the Huskers hit the road for a pair of tough tests.  The Huskers will take on Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio (Dec. 11) before battling 2004 Postseason WNIT champion Creighton in Omaha on Dec. 18.  NU defeated a top-25 Ohio State squad, 60-55, in Lincoln last year, before the Buckeyes advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.  NU also defeated Creighton at the Devaney Center last season, before the Bluejays went on to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference race and win the WNIT crown.

 

Nebraska will wrap up its non-conference schedule at home by battling the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette on Monday, Dec. 20, before taking on 2004 Postseason WNIT participant Memphis on Thursday, Dec. 30.

 

The Huskers’ road for a return trip to postseason play gets even tougher in January when Big 12 play begins.  Nebraska’s first five Big 12 opponents earned NCAA Tournament bids in 2004, including Colorado (Jan. 5, Lincoln), Missouri (Jan. 8, Columbia, Mo.), Baylor (Jan. 12, Lincoln), Kansas State (Jan. 15, Manhattan, Kan.) and Texas Tech (Jan. 19, Lincoln).  Nebraska’s sixth league game will come at 2004 Postseason WNIT semifinalist Iowa State on Jan. 22, before facing Kansas at the Devaney Center on Jan. 29 and traveling to Oklahoma State on Feb. 1.

 

Nebraska will make its first appearance on Fox Sports Net against 2004 NCAA Tournament qualifier Oklahoma at the Devaney Center on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 3 p.m., before traveling to NCAA qualifier Texas on Feb. 9.  The Huskers close their season series against Iowa State in Lincoln on Feb. 12, before heading to College Station to tangle with Texas A&M on Feb. 16.  NU wraps up its season series with Kansas with a second appearance on Fox Sports Net on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. in Lawrence, Kan.

 

The Huskers will then close the season against a trio of 2004 NCAA Tournament qualifiers from the North Division of the Big 12 with Kansas State on Feb. 23 and Missouri on Feb. 26 in Lincoln.  Nebraska ends the regular season at Colorado on March 2, before heading to Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament March 8-12.

 

The Huskers finished the 2003-04 season with an 18-12 overall record after closing the Big 12 Conference season with a 7-9 mark to tie for seventh place.  The Big 12 sent nine teams to postseason play last year with seven teams in the 64-team NCAA Tournament and two more, including Nebraska, in the 32-team Postseason WNIT field.

 

For season ticket information please contact the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-8BIGRED or visit Huskers.com.