Printable Schedule in PDF Format

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Sept. 10, 2009) - Home games with all three Division I schools in the state of Wisconsin and eight postseason teams highlight the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team's 2009-10 schedule, which head coach Sandy Botham released today.

Wisconsin comes to the Klotsche Center Nov. 19, while Marquette visits as UWM's non-league finale Dec. 29. The Panthers also host Green Bay as part of their Horizon League schedule Jan. 16.

"I'm really excited to get Wisconsin and Marquette at the Klotsche Center," Botham said. "It's been a long time since we had both teams at home. It will be great to get them here and exciting for our fans to have a Big East and Big Ten opponent here."

The 2009-10 season gets underway on the road at Evansville Nov. 13, followed by a contest at SIU Edwardsville Nov. 15. The Purple Aces won the Missouri Valley Tournament last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars, meanwhile, remain in transition to Division I.

Wisconsin's visit marks the home opener and Northern Illinois follows the Badgers to town Nov. 25. UW played in the WNIT last season, advancing to the Sweet 16.

Milwaukee returns to the road over the Thanksgiving holiday in Seattle, Wash. Seattle University hosts the SeattleU Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 28-29. The Panthers take on a pair of 20-win teams from last season in South Alabama (20-9) Saturday and the host Redhawks (21-11) Sunday.

UWM remains on the road for two more games before a three-game homestand to close out its non-league schedule. Milwaukee plays at Dayton Dec. 4 and Northern Iowa Dec. 10. The Flyers won 21 games and advanced to the WNIT Second Round.

The homestand gets underway with Chicago State Dec. 13, Illinois State Dec. 15 and the Golden Eagles. Chicago State won 16 games last season, while ISU went 27-8 and played its way to the WNIT Semifinals. Marquette was another WNIT team, playing its way into the third round.

"Every season we like to break down the schedule down into three seasons, with one being the non-conference season," Botham said. "It's really important to challenge our players and try to get the best competition on the road and, more importantly, at home.

"The non-conference is preparing us for a great Horizon League year. Our league finished with its highest RPI finish in a while. Our league continues to get stronger and stronger and that's why a good non-conference schedule is important to prepare us for that."

The Panthers open their league schedule on the road in northeast Ohio, taking on Youngstown State Jan. 2 and Cleveland State Jan. 4. The home portion starts the following weekend with Detroit Jan. 7, Wright State Jan. 9 and GB on the 16th. The Phoenix represented the league in the NCAA Tournament last season after topping UWM in the league championship game.

Milwaukee heads to Chicago for games Jan. 21-23, playing at UIC on that Thursday and Loyola Saturday. Valparaiso (Jan. 28) and Butler (Jan. 30) then come to the Klotsche Center to round out the first half of the league schedule. The Bulldogs qualified for the post-season last year, advancing to the WNIT Second Round.

The highlight of the second half of the league slate is a return trip to Green Bay Feb. 13 and a doubleheader with the Panther men Feb. 18 at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The GB game will be carried on ESPNU.

UWM will open get ready for the season with a pair of exhibition games UW-Parkside and UW-Stevens Point. The Rangers visit Nov. 1, while the Pointers come to town Nov. 5. UWSP went 26-4 last season and played their way into the NCAA Division III Sweet 16.