Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra Women's Basketball Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey released the Pride's non-conference schedule on Monday. The 11-game slate is highlighted by a trip to Las Vegas to play in the Lady Rebel Round-Up hosted by UNLV.
"I am excited to announce the 2017-18 non-conference schedule," said Kilburn-Steveskey. "We will be facing a challenging non-conference slate with this young sophomore-laden team, which will be a great test to prepare us for our conference schedule."
After going 8-5 in non-conference play last season, the Pride will see some relatively unfamiliar faces this season, including a slew of local rivals from the tri-state area.
Hofstra will square off with two teams it faced last season, Stony Brook and Hartford, but the remaining nine teams are sides that the Pride hasn't seen for at least eight years. The schedule features four teams (UMBC, Holy Cross, Siena and St. Bonaventure) that Hofstra hasn't faced off against since the 1990s.
Hofstra opens at home at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Nov. 12 against UMBC. The Retrievers advanced to the Women's Basketball Invitational last season. The Pride then stays at home to do battle with Long Island rival Stony Brook on Nov. 14. Hofstra edged the Seawolves, 67-64, on the road last season, bringing the Pride's lead in the all-time series to 7-1.
Hofstra plays its first road game of the season at Hartford on Nov. 18. The Pride will be looking to avenge last season's 69-67 overtime loss to the Hawks.
Holy Cross comes to town for Hofstra's final home game of the month on Nov. 21. Though the Crusaders hold a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series, the teams haven't met since the 1994-95 season.
The Pride then heads to the desert for the Lady Rebel Round-Up hosted by UNLV on Nov. 25 and 26, a tournament which includes two 2016 Women's National Invitation Tournament participants in UNLV and Wake Forest and also features Big Ten school Minnesota. Hofstra takes on the host Rebels in the first game of the tournament, with the Gophers and Deacs squaring off in the second contest. The winners of each game advance to the championship game the next day with the losers playing in a consolation contest.
Hofstra closes November at Sacred Heart on Nov. 30. The Pioneers finished last season 17-15, advancing to the Women's National Invitation Tournament. Sacred Heart Head Coach Jessica Mannetti previously served as an assistant coach at Hofstra on Kilburn-Steveskey's staff for four seasons.
The Pride opens December with a pair of opponents from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, beginning with a home tilt against Siena on Dec. 4 before travelling to Iona on Dec. 7. Hofstra then heads to local foe Columbia on Dec. 11 and closes nonconference play at home against St. Bonaventure on Dec. 21 after a 10-day hiatus for final exams.
Season ticket and individual game ticket information for Hofstra Men's Basketball games will be available in the coming weeks. Hofstra fans are encouraged to contact the Hofstra Athletics Box Office at athletictickets@hofstra.edu or (516) HOF-TIXX to reserve your spot or inquire about receiving additional information when it becomes available.
