Kansas Unveils Women’s Basketball Non-Conference Slate

Kansas Women’s Basketball Tickets | Non-Conference Schedule |

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas women’s basketball 2014-15 non-conference schedule features eight teams that appeared in the 2014 postseason, headlined by national runner-up Notre Dame.

The schedule, announced Monday by head coach Bonnie Henrickson includes three conference champions, seven squads that reached the 20-win plateau and at least one opponent from each of the “big five” conferences. KU will play 10 of its 13 non-conference games in Allen Fieldhouse, and four games will be against first-time opponents.

“We’re excited about next season,” said Henrickson. “We have another great non-conference schedule, where we’ll face competitive teams, both in Allen Fieldhouse and on the road, which will challenge us and prepare us for the Big 12 Conference season. We are looking forward to getting back on the court and getting to work.” 

Kansas’ game against the ACC’s Notre Dame on Nov. 30 will conclude the Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge. The Fighting Irish lost to UConn in the 2014 national title game. The contest will be played at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where former KU All-American Danielle McCray currently plays for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

Leading up to the Notre Dame game, the Jayhawks will play three other games in the HOF Women’s Challenge from Nov. 21-23, all in Allen Fieldhouse. Those games feature Alabama from the SEC, Temple from the American Athletic Conference and Georgetown from the Big East. 

“We’re excited about the opportunity to play three quality teams in Alabama, Georgetown and Temple inside Allen Fieldhouse,” Henrickson said. “We’ll certainly have our hands full with great games here and then an opportunity to play Notre Dame on a neutral court. Being able to play at Mohegan Sun is a great opportunity for our players and from an exposure standpoint.”

Kansas will host the Pac 12’s California on Dec. 7. Cal advanced to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament with a 22-10 record. The Jayhawks will also host Arkansas State, which won the Sun Belt Conference Championship and reached in the 2014 WNIT with a 22-12 mark. 

The Jayhawks will travel to the Big Ten’s Purdue on Dec. 11 and the Big East’s Creighton on Dec. 22 in non-conference road games. The Boilermakers finished 2013-14 with a 22-9 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, while Creighton was 20-14 last season and advanced to the second round of the WNIT.

Kanas will open the regular season with South Dakota on No. 16 and Texas Southern on Nov. 18. Last season, KU defeated Texas Southern, which went on to appear in the 2014 WNIT. It will be the first time since 2010 that KU has faced South Dakota.

The season gets underway with exhibition games in Allen Fieldhouse against Fort Hays State (11/2) and Washburn (11/9). Kansas returns three starters in 2014-15 including All-Big 12 selections Chelsea Gardner and Natalie Knight. The Jayhawks welcome back a total of seven letterwinners, while adding five newcomers to the roster.

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