EIU Women's 2012-13 Basketball Schedule

CHARLESTON – First-year head women’s basketball coach Lee Buchanan and the Panthers have announced their 2012-13 basketball schedule. EIU opens the season at Indiana State on Nov. 9.

The Eastern Illinois schedule is highlighted by 15 games inside Lantz Arena, including one exhibition, and games against five opponents who participated in postseason tournaments a year ago. EIU will also face teams from nine different conferences during the non-conference portion of the schedule.

“The non-conference part of our schedule is competitive and will better prepare our team for the start of OVC action,” said Buchanan. “The addition of Belmont to the conference and the new alignment for divisional play adds a new element to our schedule that we are looking forward to.”

This season the OVC will split into two divisions with the addition of Belmont to the league.  EIU's division will include Austin Peay, Murray State, SIU Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin.  The other division includes Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.

EIU opens its home schedule with two games inside Lantz Arena, opening with Bradley Nov. 12 before facing San Jose State on Nov. 19 in the Panthers annual “Kid’s Day” contest. The Panthers participate at the Marriott Classic hosted by Dayton on Nov. 24-25 and face Buffalo on Nov. 24 to open tournament action. EIU faces Dayton the following day in the tournament finale.

The Panthers return home for games against Evansville (Dec. 5) and Sacramento State (Dec. 7) before starting a seven-game road trip at Wisconsin on Dec. 15. EIU faces in-state foes Western Illinois (Dec. 17) and Northern Illinois (Dec. 19) before opening OVC play at Tennessee State on Dec. 29.

The Panthers begin the New Year at Loyola (IL) on Jan. 2 followed by back-to-back games in Kentucky at Morehead State (Jan. 5) and Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 7). EIU then plays four of its next six games at home, starting against Jacksonville State (Jan. 12) and Tennessee Tech (Jan. 14). After traveling to Austin Peay (Jan. 19) and Murray State (Jan. 21), the Panthers conclude the month of January against Southeast Missouri (Jan. 26) and UT Martin (Jan. 28) in Charleston.

Ohio Valley Conference action continues at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 2) and Southeast Missouri (Feb. 9) before the Panthers play five of their last six regular-season contests at home. After a non-conference game with Oakland City on Feb. 12, EIU plays host to Murray State (Feb. 16), Austin Peay (Feb. 18) and Belmont (Feb. 23). The Panthers travel to UT Martin on Feb. 28 before facing SIU Edwardsville on March 2 on Senior Day.

The OVC Tournament returns to Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., March 6-9.  The two division champions plus the next six best teams based on league record will advance to play in this year's event.

Season tickets will be on sale in the coming weeks with single game tickets on sale November 1.