Women's Basketball Announces 2018-19 Slate

The Leathernecks will host Missouri Nov. 6

MACOMB, Ill. - Head coach JD Gravina announced the release of the 2018-19 women's basketball schedule, which includes a total of 13 non-league games and 16 games against Summit League opponents. In total, seven opponents this season have an RPI that ranks in the top 65 in the nation.

"We put together an incredibly challenging schedule that will undoubtedly prepare our young team for conference play," Gravina said.

The Leathernecks play a total of 15 home contests, beginning with an exhibition game against Truman State on Oct. 28 followed by another home exhibition versus William Jewell on Nov. 1. Western Illinois plays host to a Power-5 school for the first time since Dec. 11, 1997 against Missouri when the Tigers return to Macomb on Nov. 6 in the season opener.

"I'm really excited to have a team like Mizzou come to Western Hall," Gravina said. "People around the region will get to see basketball played at the highest level."

That game precedes a pair of home contests against NCAA Tournament qualifier Drake (Nov. 10) and MacMurray College (Nov. 12) before a three-game road slate: at Big 10 Conference opponent and WNIT qualifier Purdue (No. 15), Big East foe Butler (Nov. 17), and Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 20).

The Purple and Gold return home for two straight games- William Woods (Nov. 26) and Austin Peay (Dec. 2) for the final non-league home matchup before visiting in-state rival Bradley in Peoria on Dec. 4.The Leathernecks face two more in-state foes Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois Dec. 7-8.

Western Illinois is off until the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic from Dec. 20-22 against UTEP and Furman, who made the WBI last season.

The Leathernecks cap off 2018 with two home games including the Summit League opener against reigning Summit League Tournament champion South Dakota State (Dec. 28) and a matchup with Denver (Dec. 30). Three straight road games kick off the new calendar year at Oral Roberts (Jan. 5), North Dakota State (Jan. 11) and recently added Summit League member North Dakota (Jan. 13).

Western returns home on Jan. 16 versus Omaha and Jan. 19 against Fort Wayne before a week off. The action resumes with a visit to Vermillion, S.D. for the first matchup of the season at last year's Summit League regular season champ South Dakota on Jan. 26. The month of February opens up with two straight games in Macomb against North Dakota (Feb. 1) and North Dakota State (Feb. 3).

The road trips continue with a road contest at Fort Wayne (Feb. 7) followed by Omaha (Feb.9) before taking two week-long breaks in between home games against South Dakota (Feb. 16) and on senior night against Oral Roberts (Feb. 23). The Purple and Gold finish its final two contests at Denver (Feb. 28) and South Dakota State (Mar. 2).

The Summit League Women's Basketball Tournament will take place from March 9-12 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

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