A home tournament in the first week of December and potentially four contests against teams which advanced on to post-season play last winter highlight the non-conference portion of head coach Misty Murphy’s University of Evansville women’s basketball 2010-11 schedule announced on Thursday. 

Evansville will welcome in-state rival Valparaiso, Mid-American Conference member Central Michigan, and Big South Conference member Coastal Carolina to Roberts Stadium on Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4 for the 2010 Aces Winter Classic co-sponsored by the Dunn Hospitality Group.  It marks the first home tournament for the Purple Aces since the 1986-87 Evansville Invitational.

“We are thrilled to be able to host what we hope will turn into an annual event, thanks to the support of Dunn Hospitality and our other sponsors,” said Murphy.  “This tournament will give our fans the additional opportunity to watch our team, as well as other quality Division I programs. 

“This tournament will be great for our program, as well as the game of women’s basketball in the Evansville area.  We are very appreciative for the support of our administration in helping make this tournament a reality.”

Following an exhibition contest against Oakland City University on Saturday, November 6, the 2010-11 regular-season kicks off with the first of potentially four post-season opponents from a year ago, as six-time defending Mid-American Conference champion Bowling Green State will visit Roberts Stadium on Friday, November 12.  UE will host Murray State on Wednesday, November 17 and travel to in-state rival Ball State on Saturday, November 20, before venturing west to Boulder, Colorado to take part in the Omni Hotels Classic the weekend following Thanksgiving, where UE could potentially meet Big 12 member Colorado, 2010 Postseason WNIT participant Eastern Washington, or old Midwestern Collegiate Conference rival Loyola of Chicago.

The month of December begins with the Aces Winter Classic at Roberts Stadium, before UE hosts 2010 Postseason WNIT member Butler on Tuesday morning, December 7 in the annual Future Purple Aces Fast B.R.E.A.K. (Basketball Reinforcing Education to Area Kids) contest.  Evansville will host Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee-Martin on Saturday, December 11, before concluding the non-conference schedule with road contests at 2010 NCAA Tournament second round participant Wisconsin-Green Bay (Saturday, December 18) and Saint Louis (Wednesday, December 22).

“Our non-conference schedule remains challenging this year, as we have not backed away from playing tough competition,” said Murphy.  “As always, our desire is to prepare our program for the intensity we will face in the highly competitive Missouri Valley Conference, while facing a variety of styles of play.  We feel like this schedule will definitely help us prepare for the rigors of the MVC.”

UE’s full women’s basketball schedule with finalized game times and Missouri Valley Conference contests included is expected to be available by late August.  The Purple Aces return seven letterwinners from last year’s team, including senior Stephanie Bamberger (5.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), juniors Chelsea Falkenstein (5.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Jordan Lewis (6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg), and sophomores Amber Boyd (3.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg), Meagan Collins (4.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Samantha Heck (7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Taylor Ware (2.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg).  UE will also welcome University of Miami transfer Briyana Blair (Orlando, Fla.), junior college All-America selection Staci Gillum (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood C.C.) and true freshmen Khristian Hart (Evansville, Ind./Harrison), Katie Ellerson (Muskego, Wis./Muskego), Miranda Liles (Killen, Ala./Brooks) and Hannah Weedman (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville), all of whom earned state all-star status in their respective state this past year as high school seniors.

2010-11 UE Women’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
(full game times and the Missouri Valley Conference portion of the schedule to be announced)

Saturday, Nov. 6          OAKLAND CITY (Exh.)   
Friday, Nov. 12             BOWLING GREEN STATE   
Wednesday, Nov. 17    MURRAY STATE   
Saturday, Nov. 20          at Ball State
Friday, Nov. 26              vs. TBA (Omni Hotels Classic - Boulder, Colo.)
Saturday, Nov. 27          vs. TBA (Omni Hotels Classic - Boulder, Colo.)
Friday, Dec. 3               VALPARAISO (2010 Aces Winter Classic - Roberts Stadium)
Saturday, Dec. 4          2010 ACES WINTER CLASSIC Championship/Consolation Game
Tuesday, Dec. 7           BUTLER
Saturday, Dec. 11        TENNESSEE-MARTIN
Saturday, Dec. 18         at Wisconsin-Green Bay
Wednesday, Dec. 22    at Saint Louis