Head coach Julie Goodenough announced the women’s basketball program’s schedule for the 2015-2016 season Monday morning. The schedule is highlighted with Big 12 conference opponents Kansas State and Texas Tech.
This is the second consecutive year the Wildcats play the Kansas State Wildcats and the third year in a row ACU and Texas Tech square off. The Wildcats recorded a 53-68 loss to K-State, and lost 44-61 last year to the Red Raiders. ACU however defeated Texas Tech two years ago, with a 58-57 win in Lubbock.
“The fall semester schedule is challenging as always, and we have some good games at home.” said Goodenough. “I’m happy with how everything lined up.”
The Wildcats will open up the season with four of their first five games at home. Wayland Baptist tips off the year on Nov. 14, followed by a trip to Manhattan, Kansas to face Kansas State. ACU returns home for three games in Moody before taking off for Lubbock on Dec. 2.
Following the Wildcats trip to Lubbock, ACU will visit the Air Force Academy the weekend of Dec. 4-5 for games against Grand Canyon and Eastern Michigan. The Falcons lost 80-44 at Moody Coliseum last season and will not face ACU this year. The Wildcats will face the Antelopes and Eagles for the first time in program history, and like ACU, Grand Canyon is in the midst of its transition into NCAA Div. I athletics as members of the WAC.
The Wildcats begin conference play on Jan. 2 against the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. ACU, who finished last season a mediocre 9-9 in conference last season, welcomes McNeese State (18-14, 11-7) to Abilene in its first home conference matchup of the year. The Wildcats wrap up January with a road trips to Nacogdoches to play conference champion Stephen F. Austin (23-8, 16-2), Huntsville against Sam Houston State (6-22, 5-13) and San Antonio to face Incarnate Word (5-24, 2-16).
ACU won twice as many games as it lost last year at home (10-5), but went below .500 on the road (5-7). In the last month of the season, the Wildcats play five of its final seven games in Moody Coliseum. SHSU (Feb. 10) and Southeastern Louisiana (Feb. 21) will travel to Abilene, before the Wildcats finish the year with a three-game home stand with New Orleans (Feb. 27), UIW (March 2) and Texas A&M- Corpus Christi in the finale on March 5.
