Iowa women's basketball non-conference schedule released

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeyes didn't make the NCAA women's basketball tournament last year.

But next season, they'll face 11 teams that did, including seven in the non-conference portion of their schedule.

Iowa released its non-conference slate for the 2017-18 season Tuesday, and it's an ambitious one. The Hawkeyes open the regular season Nov. 10 against Quinnipiac in a semifinal of fhe Hawkeye Challenge.

Quinnipiac reached the Sweet 16 in March.

Other NCAA opponents include in-state rivals Iowa State (away, Dec. 6), UNI (away, Dec. 17) and Drake (home, Dec. 21).

The Big Ten schedule will be released at a later date. The Hawkeyes will face four Big Ten teams that made the 2017 NCAA — Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State — once each.

Iowa is coming off a 20-14 season in 2016-17, including 8-8 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes reached the WNIT quarterfinals.

Here's the non-conference slate:

Nov. 5 — Minnesota State-Moorhead (exhibition)

Nov. 10 — Quinnipiac (Hawkeye Challenge)

Nov. 11 — Missouri/Western Kentucky (Hawkeye Challenge)

Nov. 15 — Northern Illinois

Nov. 19 — Western Michigan

Nov. 22 — Morgan State (Puerto Rico Classic)

Nov. 23 — Elon (Puerto Rico Classic)

Nov. 24 — UNC Charlotte (Puerto Rico Classic)

Nov. 29 — Florida State (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)

Dec. 3 — Samford

Dec. 6 — at Iowa State

Dec. 9 — Arkansas Pine Bluff

Dec. 17 — at Northern Iowa

Dec. 21 — Drake

Big Ten assignments:

Home — Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue

Away — Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Rutgers

Home/Away — Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin

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