HIGH POINT, N.C. – Head coach DeUnna Hendrix of the High Point University women’s basketball program has announced the team’s non-conference schedule for the 2016-17 season.
The non-conference schedule features three postseason qualifiers as well as three power-5 opponents. The Panthers return 95 percent of their scoring from last season including the Big South’s leading scorer in senior Kaylah Keys.
“I am very pleased with our non-conference schedule this season,” Hendrix said. “We are fortunate to be able to play six of our 11 games at home in the Millis Center. This year’s schedule is, once again, very competitive in order to prepare us to compete for a conference championship.”
High Point opens the season at home against Ohio University (26-7), the defending MAC East Champion, on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Bobcats return three starters from a squad that advanced to the third round of the WNIT in 2015-16. Then, the Purple & White are back at home on Nov. 17 to host their first of four in-state foes in Brevard College (1-25).
From there, the Panthers leave the state for a three-game road trip with their first stop in Oxford, Miss. to take on Ole Miss (10-20) on Sunday, Nov. 20. Two days later, the team is back in action at UAB (15-16), which is the first of three repeat non-conference opponents from 2015-16.
The road trip comes to an end on Sunday, Nov. 27 against West Virginia. The Mountaineers are coming off a 25-10 season, which ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
HPU finally returns home on Wednesday, Nov. 30 to entertain Norfolk State (3-24) and then Stetson (20-12) on Saturday, Dec. 3.
On the following Wednesday, HPU will visit Davidson (11-19). Last season, the rivals took part in a thrilling, double-overtime contest that the Wildcats claimed by a score of 62-60.
The Panthers will then dip into conference play the following week – the official conference schedule will be released at a later date – before hosting Spring Hill College (10-16) on Saturday, Dec. 17.
The final road trip of the non-conference slate comes on Dec. 21 when the Purple & White travels west to take on Western Carolina (7-22). The non-conference slate then comes to end on Dec. 30 when the Panthers play host to UNCG (8-22) in a pre-New Years Eve showdown.
OPPONENT CAPSULES:
Ohio University
• All-Time Record: 0-1
• Last Meeting: Dec. 29, 2005 in the FAU Invitational – Lost 82-70
• 2015-16 Record: 26-7 (16-2 1st in MAC), WNIT Third Round
Brevard
• All-Time Record: 1-0
• Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2014 at HPU – Won 72-65
• 2015-16 Record: 1-25 (0-22, South Atlantic Conference)
Ole Miss
• All-Time Record: First Meeting
• Last Meeting: Never
• 2015-16 Record: 10-20 (2-14 SEC)
UAB
• All-Time Record: 0-3
• Last Meeting: Nov. 27, 2015 Cancun Challenge – Lost 56-46
• 2015-16 Record: 15-16 (7-11 C-USA)
West Virginia
• All-Time Record: 0-1
• Last Meeting: Dec. 4, 2010 at WVU – Lost 57-89
• 2015-16 Record: 25-10 (12-6 Big 12) – NCAA Tournament Second Round
Norfolk State
• All-Time: 1-1
• Last Meeting: Jan. 10, 2000 at HPU – Won 66-62
• 2015-16 Record: 3-24 (3-13 MEAC)
Stetson
• All-Time: Never Met
• 2015-16 Record: 20-12 (9-5 Atlantic Sun), Second Round of WBI
Davidson
• All-Time Series: 5-5
• Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2015 at HPU – Lost 62-60 (2OT)
• 2015-16 Record: 11-19 (5-12 A10)
Spring Hill
• All-Time Series: Never Met
• 2015-16 Record: 10-16
Western Carolina
• All-Time Series: 8-11
• Last Meeting: Dec. 19, 2005 at HPU – Won 89-87
• 2015-16 Record: 7-22
UNCG
• All-Time Series: 14-13
• Last Meeting: Nov. 21, 2015 at UNCG – Lost 72-82
• 2015-16 Record: 8-22