Women's Hoops Announces Nonconference Schedule

USC Upstate (Nov. 14 – Iowa City)

Iowa opens the 2014-15 campaign in Iowa City, hosting USC Upstate in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Spartans finished 17-15 a year ago and competed in the WBI Tournament.

Robert Morris (Nov. 16 – Iowa City)

The Hawkeyes welcome Robert Morris to Iowa City two days later. The Colonials went 21-12 in 2014 and won the Northeast Conference tournament and regular season championship before falling to Notre Dame in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa claimed the only meeting between the two schools two years ago in Iowa City.

UT-Martin (Nov. 21-22 – Hawkeye Challenge – Iowa City)

The University of Tennessee at Martin received votes in the final USA TODAY Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, after winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Skyhawks won a program-record 24 games before falling to North Carolina in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa and UT-Martin have never met.

Dayton (Nov. 21-22 – Hawkeye Challenge – Iowa City)

Dayton will travel to Iowa City to compete in the Hawkeye Challenge for the second-straight year. The Hawkeyes defeated the 14th-ranked Flyers in the Hawkeye Challenge last season, 97-93, in overtime in the first ever meeting between the two schools. Dayton won at least 20 games a year ago for the seventh-straight year (23-8), claimed the Atlantic 10 regular season title for the second-straight year, and earned an NCAA Tournament berth for the fifth-straight year.

Pepperdine (Nov. 21-22 – Hawkeye Challenge – Iowa City)

Pepperdine finished the 2013-14 campaign with a 6-25 mark. The Hawkeyes and Waves have never met.

Northern Iowa (Nov. 25 – Iowa City)

Prior to traveling to Las Vegas, the Hawkeyes will host the Panthers (17-13 last season) on Nov. 25. Iowa won at UNI last year, 67-60, and leads the all-time series 17-2.

Arkansas (Nov. 28 – South Point Thanksgiving Shootout – Las Vegas)

Arkansas finished 19-11 in 2013-14. The Razorbacks, who will be led by first-year head coach Jimmy Dykes, have won both prior meetings against the Hawkeyes (1997-98, 1999-00).

Gonzaga (Nov. 29 – South Point Thanksgiving Shootout – Las Vegas)

Gonzaga finished 29-5 in 2014 and advanced to its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs will be led by first-year head coach Lisa Fortier. Iowa is 2-1 all-time against Gonzaga, falling in the last meeting at Gonzaga in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Louisville (Dec. 4 – ACC/Big Ten Challenge – Louisville, Ky.)

Iowa will travel to Louisville as part of the eighth annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 4, at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. Louisville begins a new era as a first-year member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This will mark the second meeting between the Hawkeyes and Cardinals, and the second in as many years. Fourth-ranked Louisville defeated Iowa in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 25 in Iowa City. Louisville is coached by Jeff Walz. Walz enters his eighth year at the helm of the program in 2014-15. In his first seven seasons, he has guided the Cardinals to two Final Four appearances, National Runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2013, and five Sweet 16 appearances. Louisville advanced to the Elite Eight last year before falling to Maryland.

Colorado (Dec. 7 – Iowa City)

For the second-straight year, Iowa and Colorado will square off. The Hawkeyes dropped a 90-87 decision in Boulder, Colo., last season to the 16th-ranked Buffaloes. Colorado leads the all-time series, 3-1. Last season, the Buffaloes finished 19-15 and advanced to the third round of the WNIT.

Iowa State (Dec. 11 – Iowa City)

The Hawkeyes resume intra-state play, hosting Iowa State in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The Cyclones competed in the NCAA Tournament last year, and the Hawkeyes hold a 23-21 advantage in the all-time series. Iowa defeated Iowa State in the last meeting in Iowa City, 50-42, in 2012. The contest marks the Hawkeyes’ final nonconference home game.

Drake (Dec. 21 – Des Moines, Iowa)

Iowa finishes intra-state play and nonconference action against Drake. Former Hawkeye Jennie (Lillis) Baranczyk enters her third season as Drake’s head coach. Drake finished 17-15 in 2014. Iowa is 22-24 against the Bulldogs, and has won the last 12 meetings in the series. Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder served as head coach at Drake for 10 seasons. Hawkeye associate head coach Jan Jensen and assistant coach Jenni Fitzgerald both played and coached at Drake.