University of Colorado Athletics
Women's Basketball Unveils 2015-16 Nonconference Schedule
July 20, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER ? Finding the right mix to a nonconference basketball schedule can be difficult, but the University of Colorado women's basketball team believes it has the right ingredients to prepare for the Pac-12 Conference season.
Three teams from the Front Range, and three more from the storied Southeastern Conference, including a marquee first-time matchup with Kentucky, highlight the 2015-16 Colorado nonconference schedule.
Eight of Colorado's potential 12 opponents had records above .500 last season with six advancing to postseason play.
"This nonconference schedule will challenge our squad to compete at a high level both in the friendly confines of the Coors Events Center and also on the road in hostile environments,” head coach Linda Lappe said.
After an exhibition with USC-Aiken on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Coors Events Center, the Buffaloes will officially tip off the 42nd season of varsity women's basketball at home against Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Nov. 19. CU will then host Northern Colorado for the first time in a regular season game since 2007, as the 2015 Big Sky Conference Tournament runners-up enter the Coors Events Center on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Colorado's first road test comes early, and it's a big one. A first-ever meeting with the Kentucky Wildcats will take place on Sunday, Nov. 22, in Lexington. The Wildcats, ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation last year, are coming off their sixth straight NCAA Tournament. Kentucky was the No. 2 seed in the Albany Region last year before, bowing out to Dayton in the second round.
For the 29th straight year Colorado will host a four-team tournament over the Thanksgiving holiday. Tabbed the Omni Hotels Classic for the seventh time, the Buffaloes welcome Florida, UMass and Ball State to Boulder, Nov. 27-28. Defending Mid-American Conference East Division champion Ball State and Florida are first time Omni Classic participants and will meet in a first round game on Friday, Nov. 27, followed by the Buffaloes and UMass. The consolation and championship games will be played on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Colorado heads back on the road for its next two, beginning at defending Mountain West Conference regular season champion Colorado State on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The Buffaloes will then travel to 2015 Postseason WNIT participant Long Beach State on Sunday, Dec. 6, in the team's only appearance in Southern California this season. The Buffaloes play UCLA and USC only once during the Pac-12 schedule this year with those games in Boulder.
With finals on the horizon, the Buffaloes play their next three at home. Northern Arizona visits on Wednesday, Dec. 9, followed by the return of former Big Eight/Big? 12 foe Missouri on Saturday, Dec. 12. After a one-week break for finals, the Buffaloes end the three-game home stand by hosting Presbyterian College on Saturday, Dec. 19.
Colorado wraps up the nonconference portion of its schedule with its final regional game, a date with Wyoming in Laramie on Monday, Dec. 21.
“With three teams from the Front Range and three SEC teams, our fans will enjoy following our team's progress,” Lappe said. “We will be tested and well prepared for a tough Pac-12 Conference schedule.”
All dates are subject to change and times will be announced at a later date.
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| Saturday, Nov. 7 | USC-AIKEN (Exhibition) | BOULDER |
| Saturday, Nov. 14 | LOYOLA MARYMOUNT | BOULDER |
| Thursday, Nov. 19 | NORTHERN COLORADO | BOULDER |
| Sunday, Nov. 22 | at Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. |
| Nov. 27-28 | &-29th ANNUAL OMNI HOTELS CLASSIC | |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | &-Ball State vs. Florida | BOULDER |
| &-UMASS | BOULDER | |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | &-Consolation | BOULDER |
| &-Championship | BOULDER | |
| Wednesday, Dec. 2 | at Colorado State | Fort Collins, Colo. |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | at Long Beach State | Long Beach, Calif. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 9 | NORTHERN ARIZONA | BOULDER |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | MISSOURI | BOULDER |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | PRESBYTERIAN | BOULDER |
| Monday, Dec. 21 | at Wyoming | Laramie, Wyo. |
