PULLMAN, Wash. – Highlighted by home games against Wisconsin, BYU and Ohio State, Washington State University Women's Basketball Head Coach June Daugherty announced the Cougars 2012-13 nonconference schedule Friday.
WSU will face nine postseason teams, including six NCAA Tournament teams and last year's WBI Champions during this season's nonconference slate. Washington State will host Western Oregon for an exhibition contest Nov. 3.
The Cougars open the season at the Opening Tournament hosted by the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis Nov.10-11. WSU will face the Gophers, the defending Women's Basketball Invitational champions, in the season opener before matching up against the winner/loser of the Villanova/South Dakota State matchup the following day. Both teams went to the postseason last year with SDSU appearing in the NCAA Tournament while Villanova advanced to the third round of the WNIT.
Washington State will play its next three games at Beasley Coliseum, hosting Monmouth University, Nov. 16, University of Wisconsin, Nov. 18 and Brigham Young University Nov. 24. Washington State posted a 69-51 victory over the Badgers in Madison last year while BYU is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance after it claimed the West Coast Conference Tournament title last season. The game against BYU will also be a doubleheader with the Cougars men's basketball team and will be a day after the Apple Cup.
The Cougars head to California the final week of November to take on UC Riverside, Nov. 28 and NCAA Tournament participant Fresno State University, Nov. 30. The Bulldogs are the defending Western Athletic Conference champions.
Following a two-week break for finals, WSU will host The Ohio State University, Dec. 15. The Buckeyes make the return trip to Pullman after the Cougars traveled to Columbus last season. Both Daugherty and associate head coach Mike Daugherty played basketball for the Buckeyes with Daugherty (June) a member of the OSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Washington State will close out its nonconference schedule with three road contests, heading east to face the University of Louisville, Dec. 18 in Kentucky. The Cougars dropped a 75-71 decision to the Cardinals in Beasley Coliseum last season. WSU will wrap up its road trip with a stop in New York to face 2012 WNIT semifinalist Syracuse University, Dec. 21.
The Cougars close out the 2012 calendar heading 75 miles north to Spokane, Wash. for a matchup against NCAA Tournament sweet 16 participant Gonzaga University, Dec. 30. Washington State dropped a two-point contest to the Bulldogs in Pullman last season after Gonzaga scored the game-winner in the final seconds.
WSU's Pac-12 Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.
2012-13 Schedule
Nov. 3 Saturday (X) Western Oregon Pullman
Minnesota Tournament
Nov. 10 Saturday Minnesota # Minneapolis
Nov. 11 Sunday Villanova / South Dakota State # Minneapolis
Nov. 16 Friday Monmouth Pullman
Nov. 18 Sunday Wisconsin Pullman
Nov. 24 Saturday BYU % Pullman
Nov. 28 Wednesday UC Riverside Riverside, Calif.
Nov. 30 Friday Fresno State Fresno, Calif.
Dec. 15 Saturday Ohio State Pullman
Dec. 18 Tuesday Louisville Louisville, Ky.
Dec. 21 Friday Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y.
Dec. 30 Sunday Gonzaga Spokane, Wash.
