APSU Lady Govs Basketball releases season Schedule

APSU Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s basketball 2016-17 schedule , released Monday by second year head coach David Midlick highlighted by fifteen home games.

The home slate will be the Governors largest since the 1983-84 campaign – one of three seasons which featured a program-record 16 contests at the Dunn Center. In addition, Austin Peay will host seven meetings against nonconference opponents, the most since 1985-86.

Austin Peay benefited from its home court advantage in Midlick’s first year at the helm, compiling a 9-3 record in Clarksville. In 2016-17, the Govs open with five-straight home games, beginning with an exhibition date with Kentucky Wesleyan, November 7th.

The official start to the regular season comes November 11th against Miami University, followed by home matchups against Christian Brothers (November 13th), Arkansas State (November 16th) and Trevecca (November 19th).

“Last year’s schedule was unbalanced, but this season, we have a very balanced schedule with a near identical split between home and away games,” Midlick said. “The team is excited to be playing more at home in front of our home crowd.”

The Govs hit the road for the first time on November 21st, traveling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the inaugural game between the two programs. Over the holidays, APSU continues its road trip, traveling to Orlando, Florida, for the UCF Thanksgiving Classic, November 26-27. Austin Peay will have its first encounter with St. Bonaventure on Day 1 before facing host Central Florida to conclude the trip.

A home contest versus East Tennessee (November 30th) completes an eight-game November slate. The Govs will turn the calendar and host Western Kentucky, December 3rd, before traveling to Evansville, December 10th. The final home nonconference date is December 14th against Kennesaw State, with away contests at Middle Tennessee (December 17th) and Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi (December 20th) leading into the holiday break.

“Our nonconference schedule is very challenging with a variety of games to prepare us for conference play,” Midlick said. “There are multiple teams who had success in the postseason, rivalry games and new opponents to test us.”

Coming off an 8-8 record a year ago in Ohio Valley Conference play, the Govs will look to build on that mark which led to their second-straight tourney berth. After opening the schedule at home against Morehead State (December 29th), defending OVC Tournament champion Belmont makes the drive up I-24 for a New Year’s Eve contest at the Dunn Center.

Four road games await the Governors in January, beginning with back-to-back trips to Tennessee Tech (January 5th) and Jacksonville State (January 7th). APSU will then alternate between home and away contests to end the month – vs. SIU Edwardsville (January 11th), at Eastern Illinois (January 14th), vs. Murray State (January 21st), at UT Martin (January 25th) and vs. Southeast Missouri (January 28th).

A rematch against Eastern Kentucky, which defeated APSU in the OVC Tournament first round last season, is first up for the Govs in February (February 1st). Austin Peay returns from Richmond, Kentucky, to face in-state rival Tennessee State, February 4th, before away contests at Murray State (February 11th) and SIUE (February 15)th.

The regular season is capped off with home contests against Eastern Illinois (February 18th) and UT Martin (February 22nd), followed by a road contest at Southeast Missouri (February 25th).

“There are no nights off in the OVC,” Midlick said. “Many teams didn’t lose much talent, so it will be difficult. Last season, there was a fine line between fourth and 11th place, and I expect a lot of games this year will be close again.”

The 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament is scheduled to begin March 1st at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium.