NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College women’s basketball head coach Billi Godsey has announced the program’s 2015-16 non-conference schedule. The 11-game slate is road heavy, featuring just three home games at the Hynes Athletics Center. The eight remaining are scheduled away from New Rochelle, including three against 2014-15 NCAA tournament participating teams.
“We have a young group this year and it is imperative that we are tested early in the season in order to prepare for a challenging MAAC schedule,” said Godsey. “I am excited about the level of competition our non-conference slate provides. “
The Gaels take to the hardwood against experienced postseason competitors North Carolina, George Washington, and Rutgers. In last year’s NCAA championship, UNC made it to the Sweet 16 as a No. 4 seed before falling shy of besting top seeded South Carolina. GW fell in the first round number as the No. 6 seed to the upset-minded Gonzaga, and Rutgers advanced into the Round of 32 with the No. 8 seed before falling to eventual National champion, Connecticut.
In addition, Coach Godsey leads her team in the 2015 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge. Sponsored by the MAAC, the event takes place Sunday, Nov. 29, when the Gaels go up against the USC Trojans at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
As a lead into the main event at Mohegan Sun, Iona will play in a pair of neutral site games. The Gaels face Yale and Fairleigh Dickinson at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC on Nov. 20and 22. The two contests sandwich a matchup where the Maroon & Gold will take to the court against the Tar Heels.
Coach Godsey sees great opportunity for her in taking part in the Hall of Fame Challenge.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to be the MAAC representative in the event. Along with tough competition, the three games in three days will provide us with early MAAC tournament style preparation.”
Iona opens the 2015-16 season on the road on Monday, Nov. 13, against Stony Brook. The Gaels bested the Seawolves at the Hynes Center last season, 73-62.
Soon after, Iona hosts VCU in its home opener on Nov. 17. The Rams finished 16-14 overall last season, falling in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Following the Hall of Fame Challenge and the opening weekend of MAAC play, Iona travels to Rutgers on Dec. 9. Last year the Gaels fell to the then No. 17/19 ranked team, 66-58 at the Hynes Center.
Among the final four games of the non-conference slate, Iona takes on North Texas and East Tennessee State at home on Dec. 13 and 29. This will be the first ever matchup between the Mean Green and Gaels. East Tennessee defended its home court last season, defeating the Maroon & Gold, 76-64.
In between the two home bouts, the Gaels are on the road in Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC, taking the court against Saint Joseph’s and George Washington.
The Hawks finished 2014-15 with a 15-17 record, falling in the second round of the A-10 tournament. The Gaels last travelled to Philadelphia and Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse during the 2005-06 season to partake in the Hawk Classic; Iona took the loss, 52-50.
The Colonials are coming off a very successful season with both Atlantic 10 regular season and conference championships. They finished the year with a 29-4 overall record following their NCAA tourney loss and were 14-1 record at home. The lone loss in the Smith Center came to the then No. 9/8 Maryland Terrapins.
The 2015-16 MAAC schedule is slated to be released mid-September.
