RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada women's basketball team released its 2010-11 schedule today, third-year head coach Jane Albright announced Monday.
The Pack's schedule will feature seven post-season teams from a year ago including four that played in the NCAA Tournament. Nevada's schedule also features 15 home games including the annual Nugget Classic which will feature two NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, San Diego State (Sweet 16), NC State (First Round) and a Big 10 team in Minnesota.
"I am very excited about this year's schedule," Albright said. "It is a challenging schedule with several postseason opponents from last year but it will prepare us well for conference play and for our goal of winning the WAC and playing in the NCAA tournament."
After an exhibition game against an opponent and date to be determined at home, Nevada will open the 2010-11 regular season with back-to-back home games against Chico State and Pepperdine November 12 and 14. The Pack's first road game will be at Sacramento State on November 17 followed by a game in Las Vegas against intra-state rival UNLV on November 21.
The annual Nugget Classic will be held November 26-27 at Lawlor Events Center. In addition to Nevada, the field also includes NC State, San Diego State and Minnesota. The first-round pairings will have Nevada playing NC State on November 26 in a "Wolf Pack vs. Wolfpack" battle while Minnesota and San Diego State will face each other in the first round game. The championship and consolation games will be played on November 27.
Nevada will play back-to-back games against Pac-10 opponents, hosting Arizona on December 2 before playing at Washington State on December 5. The Pack will play host to Portland State on December 16.
Nevada will play in the Caribbean Challenge in Cancun, Mexico December 20-21. Including Nevada the other teams in the tournament are Ball State, Illinois State and UAB. Matchups have not yet been announced.
The Pack will closeout non-conference play at Weber State on December 30 followed by a home game against BYU on January 1.
Nevada will open conference play at home hosting Idaho and Boise State on January 6 and 8. The Pack will then play three straight WAC road games starting at New Mexico State on January 12 followed by a game at Utah State on January 15 and at LA Tech on January 22.
The Pack will host Fresno State on January 29 before hitting the road again to play at Hawai'i on January 31. Nevada will host Utah State on February 3 before traveling to San Jose State on February 5.
The Pack will turn around and host the Spartans on February 10 and will host Hawai'i on February 12. Nevada will then travel to Idaho and Boise State on February 17 and 19 before hosting New Mexico State and LA Tech on February 26 and 28 for its last home stand of the regular season.
Nevada will play at Fresno State on March 5 for its last regular-season WAC game. The WAC Tournament will be played March 9-12 at the Orleans in Las Vegas, Nev., with the winner of the tournament earning the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Season tickets are on sale now. Prices are $40 for adults and $20 for students, 12 and under, and fans 65 years and older. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets should call or email Meredith Montoya at 775-682-6904 or mmontoya@unr.edu.
2010-11 opponents who played in the postseason last year:
NCAA tournament:
San Diego State (Sweet 16)
NC State (First Round)
LA Tech (First Round)
Fresno State (First Round)
WNIT:
Illinois State (Final Four)
BYU (Quarterfinals)
Pepperdine (First Round)
