The Stony Brook Women’s Basketball team will host 2015-16 national runner-up Syracuse at Island Federal Credit Union Arena on Nov. 18. Head coach Caroline McCombs revealed the team’s 2016-17 schedule on Wednesday afternoon.
Last season, the Seawolves led at the half against the Orange, 25-23, but could not capitalize, losing 64-49. That Syracuse team went on to face UConn in the National Championship Game, where it lost 82-51.
Stony Brook will play at Indiana on Dec. 21. The Hoosiers, who came in fourth place in the Big Ten, ranked No. 46 in Ratings Percentage Index last season and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The team starts its season against Iona at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York on Nov. 11. Last year, the Seawolves opened their season by defeating the Gaels at Island Federal Credit Union Arena, 58-53.
Stony Brook will then play a three-game homestand. It faces cross-island rival Hofstra on Nov. 14, Syracuse on Nov. 18 and Columbia on Nov. 22, before heading on the road for a game at Manhattan on Nov. 26.
The Seawolves continue their road trip at St. Bonaventure to take on the Bonnies on Nov. 30. Last season, the Bonnies defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and fell to Oregon State in the next round.
After that, LIU-Brooklyn hosts Stony Brook on Dec. 4. An away game against Central Connecticut State on Dec. 11 rounds out the road trip. Stony Brook returns home to take on Division-II Molloy on Dec. 16.
The Seawolves will then play in the Florida Sunshine Classic. Stony Brook will face Florida A&M on Dec. 20 and Indiana the next day. Both games will be held on a neutral site in Orlando, Florida.
On Dec. 30, Stony Brook returns home to face Cornell. Next, on Dec. 31, is a New Year’s Eve showdown against the University of Missouri-Kansas City. This is the first meeting between Stony Brook and UMKC.
An away game at New Hampshire on Jan. 4 kicks off the conference schedule for Stony Brook. The Seawolves finish off their road trip three days later in Albany to take on the defending America East champions, the Great Danes.
Maine will play Stony Brook at Island Federal Credit Union Arena on Jan. 14 to start a two-game homestand for the Seawolves. The Black Bears finished second in the America East last season with a record of 26-9 and defeated the Seawolves in the America East playoffs.
Stony Brook faces Albany at home on Feb. 4. The Great Danes lost to the Orange in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after upsetting the Florida Gators.
The Seawolves close out their season at home against the Vermont Catamounts on Feb. 26. Vermont defeated Stony Brook in last year’s season closer, 47-37.
