IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Department of Athletics and head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder announced the 2016-17 nonconference schedule Monday. The Hawkeyes will play nine nonconference games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including the long-standing Hawkeye Challenge tournament and Big Ten/ACC Challenge contest against Notre Dame.
The nonconference slate features matchups with five NCAA Tournament and two WNIT participants.
Iowa returns nine letterwinners and four starters, including senior Ally Disterhoft who became the program’s highest-scoring junior after netting 565 points last season. She averaged a team-best 17.1 points per game and scored double figures in every contest.
Iowa fans will have the opportunity to see the roster in action early on Nov. 6, when the Hawkeyes host an exhibition with Lewis University. The team opens the regular season inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena five days later against Oral Roberts on Nov. 11 and continues its home set against Hampton on Nov. 13.
Following a midweek matchup at North Dakota on Nov. 16, Iowa hosts UMass, Montana, and South Dakota State its annual Hawkeye Challenge, Nov. 19-20.
The Hawkeyes then return to the 2016 Cancun Challenge in Riviera Maya, Mexico, for the fourth time in program history. The squad, which owns a 6-1 all-time record at the tournament, will meet UCLA on Nov. 24 and James Madison on Nov. 25 in the Riviera Division.
Iowa is back home for a four-game stretch, beginning with its Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup with Notre Dame on Nov. 30. The Hawkeyes will also host UNI on Dec. 4, Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series foe Iowa State on Dec. 7, and Robert Morris on Dec. 9.
After a road contest at Drake on Dec. 18, the Hawkeyes wrap up their nonconference slate inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 20 against Kent State.
Iowa’s Big Ten Conference schedule and television information will be announced at a later date. To view the nonconference schedule, visit hawkeyesports.com.