PDF Schedule

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne women's basketball head coach Dan Burt has released the non-conference schedule for the 2016-17 season. Out of the 14 non-conference teams, nine saw post-season play last season in either the WNIT or the NCAA Tournament. Three teams won titles in their respective conference tournaments.

"We believe that this is the most difficult schedule in Duquesne history," said Burt. "Our opponents have incredible depth and are extremely talented. This ambitious schedule will prepare our players very well for the challenges ahead."

Duquesne will open up Nov. 11th at Ohio State (26-8, 15-3 Big Ten). Last season, OSU finished 6th in the PRI and advanced to the Sweet 16. The Buckeyes were the only team in the country to play the top-3 ranked teams in the county (UConn, South Carolina, Notre Dame). Ohio State returns all five starters including First-Team All-Big Ten and First-Team All-American junior guard Kelsey Mitchell (26.1 ppg). In their last meeting, Duquesne defeated the #12 Buckeyes in Columbus 71-67 on Dec. 28, 2010.

The Dukes will open their season at home against Lehigh (18-13, 10-8 Patriot League) on November 13th. Lehigh returns sophomore guard and 2016 Patriot League All-Rookie Team member Hailey Pascoe. The Mountain Hawks also return junior guard Quinci Mann, a Second-Team All-Patriot League selection. Duquesne is 4-1 all-time against Lehigh, picking up an 82-75 win in their last meeting in 2014.

November 17th Duquesne will hit the road to face St. John's (18-13, 10-8 Big East), who won its first conference title in 28 years last season. The Red Storm were ranked 42nd in the RPI last year, and fell to Auburn in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. St. John's graduated all-time leading scorer, Aliyyah Handford (2,058 total points) and senior guard Danaejah Grant, a top 10 all-time leading scorer (1,498 total points). Last season was Duquesne's first-ever meeting against then No. 25 St. John's, where they topped the Red Storm 76-57 on December 18, 2015.

The Dukes will leave St. John's travelling from Queens, N.Y. to New Rochelle, N.Y. for a matchup against Iona (23-12, 16-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) on November 19th. Last season the Gaels won their first-ever MAAC title, and fell to No. 2 Maryland in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Iona coach Billi Godsey is ranked third amongst coaches hired before the 2013-14 season in total wins (64), behind only Burt (71) and Washington's Mike Neighbors (69). This will be the first meeting between Iona and Duquesne.

On November 22nd, Duquesne will return to the Palumbo Center to compete against Buffalo (20-14, 8-10 Mid-American Conference), who had its best season in program history in 2016. The Bulls made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, falling to No. 3 Ohio State in the First Round. The Bulls return All-MAC First Team player, senior guard Joanna Smith and junior guard Stephanie Reid, who received 2016 MAC Tournament MVP honors. Duquesne leads the series against Buffalo, 5-2, with their most recent victory being last season where they topped the Bulls 79-62.

The Cal Classic in Berkeley, California will take place between November 25-26th, where the Dukes will open with Western Carolina (7-22, 3-11 Southern Conference) and play either the University of California (15-17, 4-14 Pacific-12 Conference) the University of San Francisco (21-12, 9-9 West Coast Conference).

Western Carolina did not compete in the post-season, as it lost in the first round of the SoCon Tournament last year. The Catamounts return leading scorer junior guard Ace Easter (11.6 ppg) and All-Freshman selection sophomore guard Raziyah Farrington (8.7 ppg).

San Francisco made it to the First Round of the NCAA Tournament last season, where they were defeated by Stanford. The Don return senior guard Zhane Dikes (14.2 ppg, 7.1 apg) who was named to the All-WCC Second-Team.

Cal returns sophomore center Kristine Anigwe (20.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg) who was the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Year, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention selection.

After returning from California, the Dukes will make the trip to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio University (26-7, 16-2 MAC) on December 3rd. The Bobcats competed in the WNIT for the first time in program history in 2016, where they topped Marshall and Virginia Tech before falling to Temple in the Third Round. The team graduated guard Kiyanna Black, who earned First-Team All-MAC honors last year. The Bobcats also return 2016 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-MAC selection senior guard Quiera Lampkins. The Dukes defeated the Bobcats 64-47 last season and lead the all-time series between the two, 9-2.

December 6th, the Dukes will tipoff against a former Atlantic 10 member Charlotte (19-12, 12-6 Conference USA) at home. The 49ers finished the 2015-16 season 89th in the RPI, falling to Wake Forest in the First Round of the WNIT. The 49ers return senior guard Lefty Webster (13.9 ppg), a member of the 2016 Conference USA Second-Team. Charlotte graduated forward Alexis Alexander, also a Conference USA Second-Team member. The last meeting between the two schools was in February 2013.

The Dukes will remain on campus to take on Lafayette (6-23, 14-4 Patriot League) on December 11th. This year Lafayette returns senior guard Maia Hood, who was ranked second on the squad in points per game (9.6 ppg). In the matchup between the two teams last season, Duquesne topped Lafayette 73-65. The Dukes lead the all-time series 2-0.

On December 17th, the Dukes will head to Akron (19-14, 11-7 MAC), who fell to Bucknell in the first round of the WNIT last year. The team graduated guard Anita Brown, who averaged 21.9 points per game and was an All-MAC First-Team pick. The Zips return senior guard Hannah Plybon, a Second-Team All-MAC selection. Duquesne has not competed against Akron since the 2013 WNIT, where the Dukes won 71-66, improving its all-time record against the Zips to 5-1.

Duquesne will return to Palumbo on December 21 to take on ACC powerhouse Maryland (31-4, 16-2 Big 10) who also participated in a foreign tour over the summer, travelling to Italy. Last year, the Terrapins were ranked 8th in the RPI and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins return Associated Press and ESPNW Third-Team All-American Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (19.5 ppg), a graduate of Hopewell High School. Maryland graduated guard Brene Moseley, who was selected 21st overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. This will be the first meeting between Duquesne and Maryland.

In conclusion of the non-conference schedule, the Dukes will face cross-town rival Pittsburgh (13-18, 4-12 Atlantic Coast Conference) at home December 29th in The City Game. The Panthers return sophomore guard Brenna Wise, an ACC All-Freshman Team honoree, who led the team in points (10.7) and rebounds per game (10.7) last season and their second-leading scorer, junior forward Yacine Diop (10.4 ppg).

"This schedule will be very challenging to our young team," added Burt. "The level of our competition - from Maryland to Ohio State to Cal Berkley - is going to be a great challenge. The goal for our program every season is to win the A-10 Conference and receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament."

QUICK NOTES

• Nine of the 14 potential non-conference opponents saw postseason play last season

• Buffalo, Iona, Maryland, Ohio State, San Francisco and St. John's played in the NCAA

• Akron, Charlotte and Ohio played in the WNIT

• The opponents combined 2015-16 record is 262-189 (.580)

• Cal, Iona, Maryland, San Francisco and Western Carolina are first-time opponents

• Duquesne was 5-0 last season against this season's non-conference opponents

• Seven of the 14 non-conference opponents had a top 100 RPI last year