Women's Basketball Announces 2016-17 Non-Conference Schedule

2016-17 Women's Basketball Schedule | Printable Schedule (PDF)
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham women's basketball team announced its 2016-17 non-conference schedule on Wednesday, featuring nine home contests and three tournaments over the course of the campaign's opening two months. The schedule totals 14 out-of-conference match-ups.
 
"This year's non-conference schedule will be the most difficult schedule we have faced in my time at Fordham," head coach Stephanie Gaitley remarked, "These early 'battles' will prepare us for the 'wars' of the Atlantic 10. You need to win the 'battles' to win the 'wars'."
 
Fordham will prepare itself for the upcoming season with an exhibition contest on Friday, November 4 inside the Rose Hill Gymnasium against Muhlenberg with a 7 p.m. tip. The Rams will then start their season by making their first-ever appearance in the preseason WNIT.
 
A week later on Friday, November 11, in the first round of the preseason WNIT, Fordham will host Furman at 7 p.m. in the Bronx. With a win, the Rams would then travel to the winner of the Notre Dame/Central Michigan match-up on Sunday the 13^th. Fordham is guaranteed at least three games in all, with potential consolation locations, dates, and times to be determined.
 
"Being selected as the Atlantic 10 representative for the preseason WNIT is a great honor. It will be a great opportunity to see early on where we stand as a team." Gaitley said.  
 
The Rams next host Albany on Tuesday, November 22, with a 7 p.m. start time, before flying down to Miami for their Thanksgiving Tournament. Fordham will face Texas Tech on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and will then face either the Hurricanes or Grambling State two days later on Sunday, November 27, with another 2 p.m. tip-off.
 
"Miami is an opportunity to get Tiff [Suarez] back home while also playing high-level basketball," Gaitley added, "This will be the second straight year that we will open up with Texas Tech at Thanksgiving and we will see how much we have grown as a program in the past year."
 
Fordham's non-conference home slate continues with Boston College visiting the Rose Hill Gym on Sunday, December 4 with a 2 p.m. start time, as well. The Rams won't have to travel far for their next contest as they'll visit nearby Iona College three days later on Wednesday, December 7. That contest is set to begin at 7 p.m.
 
After the Gaels, Fordham remains in the Bronx for the remainder of its out-of-conference schedule. The Rams will host Princeton, St. John's, Manhattan, and Niagara all in a two-week span beginning on Saturday, December 10^th against the Tigers at 2 p.m., hosting the Red Storm on Tuesday, then December 13^th at 7 p.m., hosting the Battle of the Bronx with the Jaspers on Saturday, December 17^th at 5 p.m., and the Purple Eagles on Thursday, December 22^nd at 2 p.m.
 
"Traditionally we have had great success inside the Rose Hill Gym. We have a challenging home schedule and feel that playing in the comforts of our gym will be an added advantage that we'll need." Gaitley said.
 
The Rams round out their non-conference slate with the 10^th edition of the Fordham Holiday Classic, set for December 29-30 in the Bronx. Fordham will take on Buffalo on the 29^th at 12 p.m. and face either UNC Asheville or Harvard the following day.
 
"The Holiday Classic has always been a great springboard into Atlantic 10 play.  We have 3 postseason teams in this year's field and this will be a great opportunity to round out our most competitive out-of-conference season in recent years." Gaitley added.
 
The 2016-17 Atlantic 10 conference schedule and all encompassed information (dates, times, locations, and national broadcasts) will be announced next week. The 2017 A-10 Women's Basketball Championship will be played in Richmond, Va. between March 3-5, at the Richmond Coliseum, while opening round match-ups will occur at various campuses between February 25-26.
 
All home contests will be broadcast live on the A-10 Digital Network.