University of Akron Women's Basketball Zip Zone

We are pleased to annouce our 2010-2011 schedule. This year we will face as many as six non-conference opponents that competed in the postseason last year. Of those six, the Zips will face three – Robert Morris (Nov. 23), Cleveland State (Dec. 11) and Providence (Dec. 28) – at Rhodes Arena as part of a seven-game home non-league schedule. Other noteworthy home dates include a visit by local rival Kent State (Mar. 2), MAC Tournament champion Bowling Green (Feb. 22) and West Division winner Toledo (Feb. 2).

"This year's non-conference schedule provides a lot of exciting challenges for our very young team," said Kest, the 2009-10 MAC Coach of the Year. "After losing a lot of production from some key individuals - including two senior starters - our hope is our non-conference competition will allow us to gain valuable experience before we embark on our competitive Mid-American Conference schedule."

UA will spend the holiday in the Lone Star State when the SMU Thanksgiving Tournament gets underway in Dallas. Akron is guaranteed two games at the event with the first coming against Georgia Southern (Nov. 26) in the first meeting between the Zips and Eagles since 1987-88. The winner of that contest will then advance to meet the winner of the SMU, a WNIT qualifier in 2010, and Arkansas State match-up the following day (Nov. 27). Next, the Zips finish up their non-league slate with five of their last seven contests in Akron starting with a three-game homestand against Duquesne (Dec. 1), Wright State (Dec. 4) and Cleveland State. The Dukes were defeated by Northwestern in the first round of the WNIT a year ago while the Vikings, who won the Horizon League championship, fell at Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Akron will host Providence before ringing in the New Year with a final non-conference contest at Temple (Jan. 2). This will be the first time UA will play Providence, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT in 2009-10. The Owls, who edged the Zips, 55-43, last year at Rhodes Arena, were defeated by UCONN in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last March.

2010-11 Akron Women's Basketball Schedule

Sat., Nov. 6 - Ashland (Exh.)

Mon., Nov. 15 - at IPFW

Wed., Nov. 17 - at IUPUI

Sun., Nov. 21 - Niagara

Tues., Nov. 23 - Robert Morris

Fri., Nov. 26 - vs. Georgia Southern^ (Dallas, Texas)

Nov. 27 - vs. SMU/Arkansas St.^ (Dallas, Texas)

Wed., Dec. 1 - Duquesne

Sat., Dec. 4 - Wright State

Sat., Dec. 11 - Cleveland State

Thurs., Dec. 16 - at Youngstown State

Sun., Dec. 19 - Ursuline College

Tues., Dec. 28 - Providence

Sun., Jan. 2 - at Temple

Wed., Jan. 5 - Buffalo

Sat., Jan. 8 - Ohio

Wed., Jan. 12 - at Bowling Green

Sat., Jan. 15 - Miami (Ohio)

Wed., Jan. 19 - at Kent State

Sat., Jan. 22 - Eastern Michigan

Wed., Jan. 26 - at Western Michigan

Sat., Jan. 29 - at Central Michigan

Wed., Feb. 2 - Toledo

Sat., Feb. 5 - at Northern Illinois

Sat., Feb. 12 - Ball State

Wed., Feb. 16 - at Buffalo

Sat., Feb. 19 - at Ohio

Tues., Feb. 22 - Bowling Green

Sat., Feb. 26 - at Miami (Ohio)

Wed., Mar. 2 - Kent State