Fifteen home games at the Athletics-Recreation Center along with a Thanksgiving weekend tournament at the University of Colorado highlight Valparaiso University’s 2011-2011 women’s basketball schedule which has been released by head coach Keith Freeman.

“I am really excited with our quality home schedule this season which features a diverse set of teams representing several different conferences,” Freeman said.

The Crusaders will tip-off the season Nov. 12 at SIU Edwardsville before returning to the ARC for five of its next seven games.  The home opener is on Nov. 20 against Conference USA foe Rice before the Brown and Gold entertains former Mid-Continent Conference rival Western Illinois two days later.

Valpo heads to Colorado for the 25^th annual Omni Hotels Classic Nov. 25-26, battling the host Buffaloes in the first round before taking on either Wisconsin or Montana State on day two. 

“We are excited to be playing in a tournament with three highly competitive teams,” Freeman added.  “We get to open with a Pac-12 team, playing against conference we don’t see very often.”

The Brown and Gold return home for contests against Indiana-Northwest, Lehigh, and IPFW before embarking on a two-game road trip.  On Dec. 10 Valpo heads to Pittsburgh to battle the Panthers from the BIG EAST for the third consecutive season before traveling to Ball State on Dec. 18.  Non-conference action wraps up just before the Christmas holiday as the Crusaders entertain Eastern Illinois on Dec. 20.

Horizon League action begins Dec. 28 at Wright State before the Crusaders head down the road to Detroit on New Year’s Eve.  Valpo’s longest homestand in conference play takes place Jan. 5-14 as the Crusaders host Cleveland State, Youngstown State, and Butler.  The regular season wraps up at home on March 3 as Valpo takes on Detroit for Senior Day. 

This year’s Horizon League Tournament is set for March 5-11 at campus sites.

Valpo will play a pair of exhibition contests at the ARC prior to the regular season commencing.  Huntington will visit the Crusaders on Nov. 1 while Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) is slated for a Nov. 5 contest.