CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women's basketball team released its non-conference schedule for the 2021-22 season on Friday, setting the stage for an exciting slate of games as fans return to State Farm Center beginning this November.
The Orange and Blue will play 11 non-conference games – including eight on their home court – to prepare the squad for the challenging Big Ten schedule.
Illinois opens the season on Tuesday, Nov. 9, hosting North Carolina Central. The matchup vs. the Eagles marks the first of four consecutive home dates, followed by a tilt vs. Miami (OH) the following Sunday, Nov. 14. The next week, the Illini host SIUE on Thursday, Nov. 28, before a Sunday contest against UC Riverside on Nov. 21.
The Illini will spend the Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26-27, at the Daytona Beach Invitational in Daytona, Fla., where they will face off against Dayton and Middle Tennessee on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Flyers are coming off an Atlantic 10 regular-season championship and 2021 WNIT berth, while the Blue Raiders competed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament as C-USA tournament champions.
December opens with Illinois hosting Florida State as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 2. The Seminoles, coming off of their eighth-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, return all five starters for 2021-22 and are ranked No. 17 in ESPN's Way-To-Early Top 25.
Following the matchup vs. the Seminoles, the Illini welcome Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 5) and Butler (Dec. 12) before traveling to Carbondale for a road game at Southern Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 19.
The non-conference schedule concludes the following Wednesday, Dec. 22, when the Illini host Missouri in the Braggin' Rights game. Illinois won the most recent meeting between the rivals, 58-51, in December 2019. The Tigers are coming off of a WNIT bid to close out their 2020-21 season.
Illinois' full Big Ten schedule will be released at a later date. Home and road matchups for the 18-game schedule were announced in June:
- Big Ten Home Games: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin
- Big Ten Away Games: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Tickets Available Now
Illini women's basketball season tickets are available for renewal or upgrade from now until Sept. 17, and new season tickets are on sale, starting at just $40. Fans can purchase tickets online at FightingIllini.com, over the phone by calling 866-ILLINI-1 (866-455-4641), or in person at the Illinois ticket office located in the west lobby of State Farm Center.
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For more Fighting Illini women's basketball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWBB on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
