The University of Georgia and Head Coach Joni Taylor announced the women’s basketball team’s 2017-2018 non-conference schedule for the Lady Bulldogs.
In all, Georgia will play six teams that won 20 or more games and made postseason play last season, including the marquee contest on Dec. 3 against the Longhorns. Texas, which comes to Stegeman Coliseum as part of the Big-12/SEC Challenge, finished 25-9 overall and was a No. 3 seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. That matchup is part of a busy home schedule that also features a contest against Georgia Tech on Dec. 17.
CLICK HERE for a printable version of the UGA women’s basketball team’s 2017-18 non-conference schedule.
“Our team is incredibly excited about the upcoming season and we want Dawg Nation to join us and be a part of this journey,” Taylor said. “This non-conference schedule provides our fans with an opportunity to enjoy some really good basketball at newly-renovated Stegeman Coliseum. All five of our newcomers have been in Athens this summer working with our returning players, and I know everyone is anxious to get started. So, I encourage all of our fans to go purchase their season tickets today!”
The 2017-18 campaign will tip off against Wofford on Sunday, Nov. 12, before the Lady Bulldogs hit the road. Georgia will trek to Charlottesville, Virginia on Nov. 16 to face a Cavaliers’ team that went 20-13 and made the WNIT last season, before traveling to Macon, Georgia to battle Mercer — a squad that won its second-straight Southern Conference Championship a year ago.
Following a matchup at home against Western Carolina on Nov. 21, Georgia will head to BYU following Thanksgiving break. The Cougars are coming off a second-place finish in the West Coast Conference after recording 20 or more wins for the eighth-straight year.
“Although the majority of our non-conference schedule will be played right here in Athens, we have some really quality road games against teams that either won their conference or finished near the top of their conference last season. We always want to challenge our team in tough road environments because we know that is what they will see in SEC play,” Taylor added.
After playing three of the first five games on the road, the Lady Bulldogs close out the month of November and enter December with three consecutive home games. Georgia will face Tennessee Tech on Nov. 27, followed by a meeting with Furman on Nov. 30, before welcoming Texas on Dec. 3.
A trip to North Carolina A&T on Dec. 14 is then followed by four-straight home games, which will conclude the 2017-18 non-conference schedule. Among those are dates with Georgia Tech (Dec. 17), Howard (Dec. 19), Wright State (Dec. 21) and North Florida (Dec. 28).
The Lady Bulldogs enter the 2017-18 season with five returning letter-winners, including 2017 SEC All-Defensive Team and 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team selection Caliya Robinson as well as seniors Mackenzie Engram and Haley Clark. In addition to the returning players, Georgia welcomes a top-10 signing class and eligible transfers Taja Cole and Bianca Blanaru.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the upcoming Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball season went on sale July 1 and can be purchased online at www.georgiadogs.com or by calling the Athletic Association ticket office 1-877-542-1231.
STEGEMAN COLISEUM RENOVATION INFORMATION
Stegeman Coliseum has been undergoing major renovations this summer. Work began on Phase II of the approximately $8-million project to the Coliseum’s interior. Prior to last season, Phase I included the addition of an HD scoreboard and a dramatic mural covering the distinctive end wall of the arena’s east end. This summer, renovations include a center-hung scoreboard, new seats, significantly upgraded sound and lighting systems and additional LED signage.
The current projects follow a $13-million renovation in 2010 that transformed Stegeman’s concourses, upgrading the graphics, enhancing spectator access to concessions and restrooms and adding 5,000-square feet of concourse space on each side of the arena. Those efforts won awards from both the American Institute of Architects and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.