FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team has unveiled one of their most challenging non-conference schedules in program history which features: 11 teams coming off postseason appearances, four NCAA Tournament teams, and the defending WBIT Champions. All 12 opponents posted winning records last season with nine recording 20 or more victories. In total, the non-conference opponents totaled 279 wins last season for a .686 winning percentage.
 
"We are thrilled to announce this season's non-conference schedule," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "Last season, our goal was to build a challenging non-conference to give us an opportunity to improve seeding for the NCAA tournament and we accomplished that. Our schedule ended up being the 18th most difficult in the country, and we were able to pick up the first two Quad 1 wins in school history."
 
The slate also features opposition from eight different conferences including: the Big-10, Big-12, Big East, Pac-12, Ivy League, Summit League, Patriot League, America East, and MEAC. 

The schedule includes five home games: Binghamton (Nov. 6), Vermont (Nov. 8), Villanova (Nov. 15), Howard (Dec. 13), and Columbia (Dec. 16). Fairfield will play true road games at Seton Hall (Nov. 12), Oregon (Nov. 19), Oregon State (Nov. 21), and Lehigh (Dec. 3) while competing on a neutral court against North Dakota St. (Nov. 26), BYU (Nov. 27), and Maine (Dec. 9).
 
The season begins at home at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in the previously announced America East-Metro Challenge. The Stags open up their campaign against Binghamton on Nov. 6 before hosting the reigning America East Champions Vermont on Nov. 8.
 
This will be the first of five home games on the non-conference ledger as Mahoney Arena will also host a pair of NCAA Tournament teams from last season in Villanova (Nov. 15) and Howard (Dec. 13) as well as the reigning WBIT Champions Columbia (Dec. 16).
 
Fairfield's first road game of the campaign will take place against Big East Seton Hall on Nov. 12. The Pirates were selected to the WBIT last season after a 19-13 overall record.
 
The longest road trip for the Stags will be nearly 3,000 miles as the team heads to the state of Oregon to take on the Oregon Ducks (Nov. 19) and the Oregon State Beavers (Nov. 21), with both teams coming off 23-win campaigns.
 
The Stags will next travel to the Sunshine State of Florida to participate in the St. Pete's Showcase to face BYU (Nov. 26) and North Dakota St. (Nov. 28). Both the Cougars and the Bison won more than 25 contests and were selected to the WBIT last season. BYU won multiple games in the WBIT and played in the tournament's Championship game.
 
To open the month of December, the Stags will travel to Lehigh out of the Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks posted 17 wins last year and were part of the WNIT for the first time in program history.
 
The Stags will then compete in their final scheduled non-conference game away from home when they take on Maine on a neutral court in Portland, Maine. The Black Bears won 19 games a season ago after advancing to the America East Championship Game.
 
Fairfield finishes up their slate with a pair of home games including a rematch against Howard on Dec. 13 and the defending WBIT Champions Columbia on Dec. 16. Both teams reached the 25-win plateau last season with the Bison advancing to the NCAA Tournament and the Lions winning their first-ever postseason tournament.
 
"This year, the goal is the same," Coach Carly said. "With 11 teams who appeared in postseason play a year ago, we anticipate several opponents will be both Quad 1 and 2 games, and we're excited to compete against some of the best teams in the country."
 
The Stags are coming off three-straight MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances while posting 87 victories during that span. Their .879 winning percentage ranks fifth in the Division I landscape during that span.

Fairfield Basketball Season Tickets are on sale now at fairfieldstags.com/tix. 
 
For assistance purchasing or renewing season tickets, upgrading seats, or learning more about premium seating options, contact the Fairfield Athletics Ticket Office at stagstickets@fairfield.edu or 203-254-4136.