Challenging Non-Conference Schedule Awaits Women's Basketball

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the 25th anniversary of its program, University of North Florida women's basketball announced a 2016-17 schedule that features games against BIG EAST, American and Atlantic Coast Conference teams, hosting 14 games and facing off with seven teams that reached the postseason last year.

"This schedule will present our team with some exciting opportunities," said second-year head coach Darrick Gibbs. "I'm really looking forward to seeing how this group comes together and responds to the challenges we will face."

The Ospreys open their season at home against Florida A&M on Friday, Nov. 11. It will be just the second time in 11 years where the team opens in front of the home crowd. North Florida then fallows with an away game at USF who made it to the NCAA Second Round.

UNF then hosts Webber (Nov. 18) for Elementary School Day with a quick turnaround to face off with FAU on Sunday, Nov. 20. The Ospreys travel north to play at Xavier of the Big East right before Thanksgiving before coming back to Florida to travel across town to play South Alabama (Nov. 25) and Nicholls State (Nov. 26) in Jacksonville's tournament.

A road trip to College of Charleston wraps up November before the Ospreys go to NC State on December 4. After taking a short break from finals, UNF plays four of its next six games at home beginning with back-to-back contests against Edward Waters and Morehead State on December 10 and 13, respectively. Trips to both Bethune-Cookman (Dec. 14) and Florida State (Dec. 19) are on tap before the Ospreys take time off for the holidays.

North Florida once again hosts a Holiday Tournament with Wofford and Warner coming to town to close out the non-conference slate on December 30 and 31, respectively.

"We try to play non-conference games that will prepare us for our conference and we have been able to accomplish that," added Gibbs. "The schedule is highlighted by games against the American, ACC & BIG EAST opponents and the overall strength will definitely prepare us for conference play."

Atlantic Sun play begins with three straight road games for UNF. The River City Rumble opens ASUN action again this year with a short trip to Jacksonville on January 7. Hoping for better weather than the 2016 trip to New Jersey, the Ospreys travel north to play NJIT on January 14 followed by USC Upstate at their respective arenas. Last season, UNF was stranded in New Jersey for two extra days thanks to a massive snow fall across the northeast.

Travelling back home, the Ospreys' first conference game is set with Lipscomb on January 21 at 1 p.m. followed by Kennesaw State on Monday, Jan. 23. Similar to last year's schedule, the Ospreys will see Stetson and FGCU in back-to-back weeks beginning with a quick trip to DeLand on January 28. The WNIT runner-up FGCU Eagles come to Jacksonville on February 2 followed by the Hatters return trip two days later. The Ospreys will swing down to Fort Myers six days after the first meeting to play FGCU in Alico Arena on February 8.

USC Upstate and NJIT make their return to Jacksonville on February 11 and 13 before UNF takes to the road again for Kennesaw State (Feb. 18) and Lipscomb (Feb. 20). Ending the season against crosstown rival, the second game against Jacksonville takes place on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.

"The ASUN is coming off of a very exciting and competitive year," said Gibbs. "I don't expect that to be any different this season. Every game will be a fight and I look forward to seeing how our group will embrace the challenge of competing in a conference which had half of its teams participate in the postseason last year."

The Atlantic Sun Tournament spans March 3-12 and will be held on campus sites. The quarterfinals open on March 3 before the semifinals on the 8^th. The 2017 Tournament Champion will be crowned on March 12.

Season tickets are currently on sale. An adult women's basketball season ticket is $35, while a combined men's and women's basketball season ticket is $160. For more information about season tickets, visit www.UNFOpsreys.com or call (904) 620-BIRD (2473).

Challenging Non-Conference Schedule Awaits Women's Basketball

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