INDIANAPOLIS -- The Horizon League women’s basketball regular season will begin on Thursday, December 29, 2016, the conference office announced on Thursday.
Over the course of nine weeks, each of the 10 programs will play each other twice with the 18-game conference season culminating on Sunday, February 26.
The first day of League competition features eight teams in action highlighted by Wright State at Milwaukee and Northern Kentucky at Green Bay. The Raiders were the No. 3 seed in last year’s Championship while Milwaukee claimed the No. 2 seed. The two squads squared-off in the semifinals, with the Panthers claiming the 68-60 edge in the contest. The Phoenix and Norse also faced in the semifinals and a last second shot by Green Bay forced the game into overtime where the team got the eventual victory, 80-78.
Green Bay, the 2016 regular season and tournament champions, will begin its title defense with two home games before heading to the Chicago area to take on Valparaiso and UIC. The Phoenix host in-state rival Milwaukee on Jan. 21 at the Kress Center. The Panthers are coming off of a WNIT berth and the best season the program has had in a decade.
Two new head coaches join the Horizon League this year. Katrina Merriweather will lead Wright State as the team is fresh off a WNIT berth and Camryn Whitaker takes over at Northern Kentucky to guide her team in the first year as an active Division I member.
The 2017 Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship will be held in Detroit, Mich. at Joe Louis Arena. The tournament will include all ten teams in a five-day format from Friday, March 3 to Tuesday, March 7. The 2017 Championship will mark the last year at Joe Louis Arena before the Little Caesars Arena opens.
Information regarding women’s basketball contests on ESPN networks will be released next week on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
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