WIU Announces 2016-17 Women's Basketball Schedule

The Leathernecks will play host to 16 games at Western Hall this season under sixth-year head coach JD Gravina.

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's basketball head coach JD Gravina announced the 2016-17 schedule Monday, July 25, which includes 16 home contests and 15 on the road.

"We've really worked to build a schedule around regional rivalry games. Not only does this make sense economically, but it also helps increase fan support in our community and around the state of Illinois," said Gravina. "We really feel this schedule will allow us to continue solidifying our reputation as one of the top teams in the state."

The Purple and Gold concluded last season with a postseason quarterfinals appearance at the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI). The 2016-17 schedule features five teams with postseason appearances from last season, including Missouri (NCAA Second Round), South Dakota State (NCAA Second Round), South Dakota (WNIT Champions), IUPUI (WNIT Second Round) and Milwaukee (WNIT First Round).

The Leathernecks begin the season with two exhibition matchups inside Western Hall against William Jewell (Oct. 25) and William Penn (Nov. 2). Western will officially begin the regular season with a Nov. 11 home matchup against Monmouth, followed by two straight road games at Milwaukee (Nov. 13) and Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 16).

A Nov. 19 in-state home matchup against Northern Illinois precedes four straight games on the road. The Purple and Gold travel for away contests against Kansas City (Nov. 22) and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (Nov. 27), before a Nov. 29 road meeting against SEC opponent Missouri Tigers, who are coming off a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance last season. WIU takes on Marquette Friday, Dec. 2, to close out the four-game road slate.

Western plays hosts to Bradley on Dec. 5 for the first of three straight home contests. Two days later, Graceland makes the trip to Macomb, followed by in-state rival Eastern Illinois on Dec. 10, where the Leathernecks have won five out of the last seven meetings against the Panthers. WIU then travels to Chicago State Saturday, Dec. 17, before returning back to Western Hall against Illinois State (Dec. 20) for the final non-conference regular season game.

Summit League play tips off just before the New Year with two straight road matchups against Fort Wayne (Dec. 28) and IUPUI (Dec. 31). The Leathernecks return home for back-to-back Summit League games against Denver (Jan. 5) and Oral Roberts (Jan. 7), followed by a Jan. 12 road trip to Omaha. The Leathernecks welcome North Dakota State Jan.14, and will be back on the road for an away matchup against South Dakota State (Jan. 21), before returning back home against IUPUI Jan. 26.

Western then plays four of its next five games on the road, including a pair of away trips to South Dakota (Jan.28) and Oral Roberts (Feb. 1), a home matchup against Omaha (Feb.4), capped off by another two-game road stretch at North Dakota State (Feb. 8) and Denver (Feb. 11).

Three straight games in Western Hall conclude the regular season for Gravina's team. WIU faces off against South Dakota State Thursday, Feb. 15, IPFW on Wednesday, Feb.22, and South Dakota on Saturday, Feb. 25, for the final home game.

Western will then shift its focus to the Summit League Basketball Championships, where it will travel to the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The tournament will take place from March 4-7.

To view the 2016-17 schedule complete with game times, click HERE.

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