The Valparaiso University women’s basketball team announced its schedule for the 2016-17 season on Wednesday, a slate highlighted by 16 home games at the ARC and trips to Notre Dame and Indiana.

The Crusaders will give fans their first glimpse of this year’s squad in exhibition play on Thursday, Nov. 3 as they face Indianapolis. Valpo then opens the regular season with three games away from home, taking on Stetson (Nov. 12), Chicago State (Nov. 16) and Illinois State (Nov. 19).

The Crusaders’ regular season home opener comes on Nov. 21, as they host IU Kokomo in the first of four consecutive games at the ARC. Valpo welcomes Liberty (Nov. 25), Evansville (Nov. 30) and Eastern Illinois (Dec. 3) during the homestand.

A trip to national power Notre Dame on Sunday, Dec. 4 is followed by a visit to Indiana the next Sunday, Dec. 11, with a home game against Grace (Dec. 10) in between. The non-league schedule wraps up Dec. 19 as the Crusaders host Bradley.

The Horizon League schedule kicks off Thursday, Dec. 29 at Detroit, while the league home opener comes one week later on Jan. 5 against defending Horizon League champion Green Bay. Valpo will face each league team twice in the double round-robin slate, with its final home game wrapping up the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 25 versus UIC. For the first time since Valpo joined the Horizon League, the Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship will be held in conjunction with the Men’s Basketball Championship, at Joe Louis Arena on Mar. 3-7.