•  To view the full 2010-11 UE Women's Basketball Schedule, click here

University of Evansville women’s basketball head coach Misty Murphy released her full 2010-11 schedule on Monday, which features 16 home games, including the inaugural 2010 Aces Winter Classic co-sponsored by the Dunn Hospitality Group.

In all, Murphy’s Purple Aces will play 16 of its 30 regular-season games at Roberts Stadium, with eight of the 16 home contests coming against teams which advanced on to post-season play a year ago.  The home schedule will kick off with the lone exhibition game of the 2010-11 campaign on Saturday, November 6 against Oakland City at 4:00 p.m.  The regular-season schedule begins with a home contest against 2010 NCAA Tournament participant Bowling Green State on Friday, November 12.

“We feel as though our fans will really enjoy our home schedule this year,” said Murphy.  “Not only are there eight post-season teams from a year ago on our home schedule, but there are also a lot of good regional rivalries in non-conference play.”

Following the match-up with Bowling Green, UE will battle Murray State on Wednesday, November 17 at 5:00 p.m. in a UE women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader.  After a road contest at Ball State (Saturday, November 20) and a tournament at Colorado (Friday, November 26-Saturday, November 27), the Purple Aces will return home to host the Aces Winter Classic co-sponsored by the Dunn Hospitality Group on Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4.  The Purple Aces will face in-state rival Valparaiso in Friday night’s tournament opener at 7:30 p.m. before battling either Coastal Carolina or Central Michigan in Saturday’s final round of tournament play.

“We are thrilled to be able to host the Aces Winter Classic,” said Murphy.  “This tournament will give our fans not only an additional opportunity to watch our team, but also an opportunity to see other quality Division I programs.  This tournament will be great for our program and great for the sport of women’s basketball in the Evansville area.”

Home contests against Butler (Tuesday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m.) and Tennessee-Martin (Saturday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m.) will round out the December home schedule for UE, before the Purple Aces end the non-conference season with road contests at NCAA Tournament participant Wisconsin-Green Bay (Saturday, December 18) and Saint Louis (Wednesday, December 22).

The Missouri Valley Conference season will begin with a pair of road contests against teams which advanced to post-season play a year ago, as UE will ring in the New Year with contests at Women’s Basketball Invitational participant Wichita State (Friday, December 31) and Postseason WNIT member Missouri State (Sunday, January 2).  Evansville will then return home to host five home games during the month of January, beginning with a January 6 match-up with Postseason WNIT member Creighton at 7:00 p.m.  UE will also host Drake (Sunday, January 9) in another Purple Aces’ basketball doubleheader, long-time rivals Southern Illinois (Saturday, January 15 at 2:00 p.m.) and Indiana State (Thursday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m.), and 2010 Postseason WNIT semifinalist Illinois State (Saturday, January 29 at 2:00 p.m.) in the month of January.

UE will host just two home games in the month of February, as 2010 post-season participants Bradley (Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m.) and Northern Iowa (Saturday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m.) visit Roberts Stadium.  UE will then play its final two games ever at Roberts Stadium in March, as the Purple Aces will conclude the Valley season with home contests against Missouri State (Thursday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m.) and Wichita State (Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m.).  Evansville will then participate in the 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Charles, Missouri on March 10-13.

“The Missouri Valley Conference will be very challenging once again this year,” said Murphy.  “Last year, six of our teams made it to post-season play, and a lot of good players are returning this season.  Our players are working extremely hard right now to meet that challenge, and we feel like our non-conference schedule this year will definitely help prepare us for the rigors of Valley play.”