ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team has announced the 2016-17 regular season schedule that will feature three 2016 NCAA Tournament opponents, the usual home-and-home with New Mexico State, home games with Minnesota, UTEP and SMU and trips to Texas Tech and Marquette. The Lobos will host a total of 19 home contests in WisePies Arena.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Bradbury, the Lobos tipoff the 2016-17 season with six home games in the month of November. The first two will be exhibitions played against Fort Lewis (Nov. 1) and Eastern New Mexico (Nov. 6). Fairleigh Dickinson will kick off nonconference action on Nov. 12 and the first Rio Grande Rivalry match up will take place on Nov. 17 in WisePies Arena.
The Lobos will take their first trip of the season down to Texas Tech on Nov. 20 before hosting the annual UNM Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 25 and 26. Tulsa, BYU and St. Joseph’s round out the field for Thanksgiving. A trip to New Mexico State on Nov. 30 will finish out the November schedule.
December is highlighted by four home contests, including SMU on Dec. 3, Minnesota on Dec. 6, UTEP on Dec. 11 and Eastern Illinois on Dec. 18. The team will round out nonconference action on Dec. 21 with a trip to Marquette.
Mountain West action begins on Dec. 29 for the Lobos as they travel to Fresno State. The Lobos will have nine home conference games with the first on New Year’s Eve against San Diego State.
With 11 programs participating in women’s basketball in the Mountain West, the Lobos will face two teams only one time for the 2016-17 season. UNM will play Air Force (in Albuquerque) and San Josè State (in San Jose, Calif.) just once. The Lobos will play all the other MW opponents twice (one home, one away).
The 2017 MW Championship Tournament will take place from March 7-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tipoff times are set to be released as the season approaches, and all conference dates are subject to change. Check back with GoLobos.com for more information.