Last season, UND women's basketball head coach Travis Brewster kiddingly wondered who was in charge of the Fighting Hawks' schedule-one that was one of the most demanding in the program's Division I history.
He may be asking the same question this season.
UND released its 2017-18 women's basketball schedule on Wednesday, one that again looks to be extremely challenging.
UND will play at national powers Oregon State on Nov. 10 and Baylor on Dec. 5 in addition to games against mid-major powers South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and South Dakota. The Hawks will host Northern Iowa on Dec. 2.
UND is the defending regular season co-champion of the Big Sky Conference and advanced to the WNIT last season, ending with a 20-11 overall record. UND will be shooting for its fifth straight postseason tournament berth.
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"This schedule was a challenge to put together," said Brewster. "Our team will receive a memorable experience that offers them the opportunity for success. We are playing two teams that finished in the top 10 with top-tier pedigrees in Oregon State and Baylor.
"OSU was a Final Four team two years ago and Baylor has a national championship pedigree and has advanced to the Elite Eight in each of the last four years. Additionally, we'll play The Summit League champion, South Dakota State, and NCAA qualifier Northern Iowa."
UND also will play UMass at home next season-the first meeting between the teams-and also will host rival North Dakota State on Dec. 9.
In all, UND will play 12 of its games against teams that participated in postseason play a season ago. And seven of those games come against teams that finished in the top 100 of the final 2016-17 RPI.
UND also will play Lamar and Northern Illinois at a Thanksgiving weekend tournament in San Antonio, Texas.
UND will host Minnesota-Morris (Nov. 4) and Minnesota-Crookston (No. 8) in two exhibition games before opening the regular season at Oregon State. The Hawks' home opener is Nov. 19 against UMass.
