BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - Western Kentucky will host powerhouse Notre Dame in a challenging season-opening stretch that could feature four consecutive games against Power Five schools.
The Lady Toppers’ Nov. 14 home opener against the Fighting Irish will mark their third consecutive year hosting a ranked school. WKU, which finished 27-7 last season and reached the NCAA tournament, has beaten Louisville and Indiana the past two years at Diddle Arena. Notre Dame (33-4) finished No. 2 in the final Associated Press Top 25 and reached the Lexington Region final.
WKU opens Nov. 10-11 in Iowa City, Iowa, against Missouri (Southeastern Conference) and the Quinnipiac/Iowa (Big Ten) winner before facing Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast). The Lady Toppers will then visit IU (Big Ten) on Nov. 17.
WKU begins defense of its Conference USA championship against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 4.
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Full Western Kentucky regular season schedule:
Nov. 2, Union (exhibition); Nov. 10, Missouri at Iowa City; Nov. 11, Iowa/Quinnipiac winner at Iowa City; Nov. 14, Notre Dame; Nov. 17, at Indiana; Nov. 24, Mercer at Atlanta; Nov. 26, Georgia State at Atlanta; Nov. 30, Evansville.
Dec. 10, at Southern Illinois; Dec. 12, Mississippi Valley State; Dec. 16, Stetson at West Palm Beach; Dec. 17, Toledo at West Palm Beach; Dec. 21, at Ball State; Dec. 29, Lee University.
Jan. 4, Middle Tennessee; Jan. 6, Southern Miss; Jan. 11, FIU; Jan. 13, at UAB; Jan. 18, UTSA; Jan. 21, at Marshall; Jan. 26, at North Texas; Jan. 28, at Louisiana Tech.
Feb. 3, Florida Atlantic; Feb. 8, Old Dominion; Feb. 10, at Rice; Feb. 15, at Middle Tennessee; Feb. 17, Marshall; Feb. 23, Charlotte.
March 1, at Southern Miss; March 3 at UTEP.
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