By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – With the regular season just 45 days away, the University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball program has announced its completed 2023-24 schedule. The Skyhawks will face four teams which competed in the postseason last season while playing a total of 11 non-conference contests leading up to the 18-game Ohio Valley Conference slate.
Having never shied away from an early season test during the non-conference slate, the Skyhawks will be put to the test early and often this season in a schedule which boasts three NCAA Tournament competitors and one program which competed in the Postseason WNIT a year ago. Overall, UT Martin will matchup against teams from seven different conferences, including the ASUN, Big East, Mid-South (NAIA), Missouri Valley, SEC, Sun Belt and Summit.
The seven-time OVC regular season champions will open the season on the road at Big East foe Marquette on Monday, Nov. 6. The Golden Eagles posted a 21-win season last year and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament field.
A few days later the Skyhawks will make their debut in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center when playing host to SEC foe Vanderbilt on Thursday, Nov. 9. The Skyhawks defeated the Commodores last season on the road and are welcoming their 18th Power 5 program to the Elam Center.
A trip to regional foe Central Arkansas is next up for the Skyhawks with a mid-week matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Skyhawks then return home to play mid-major powerhouse South Dakota State on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Jack Rabbits have averaged 25.6 wins per season over the past decade while winning 15 postseason games – including the 2022 WNIT championship and a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
The Skyhawks will have back-to-back road matchups to close out the month of November. UT Martin will travel to North Alabama out of the ASUN on Tuesday, Nov. 21 before squaring off against long-time rival Murray State on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
The month of December opens up with a matchup against the team’s second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference opponent when Evansville comes to town on Saturday, Dec. 2. Following a brief break for finals, the Skyhawks will load up the bus and travel to Troy on Saturday, Dec. 9 for an OVC-Sun Belt matchup.
UT Martin will host thousands of local students for a matinee on Wednesday, Dec. 13 when welcoming local NAIA foe Freed-Hardeman to the Elam Center. A few days later the Skyhawks welcome another perennial mid-major power to their nest with a matchup against South Dakota on Saturday, Dec. 16.
The Skyhawks will put a bow on non-conference play with a road matchup at nearby Arkansas State on Thursday, Dec. 21.
The OVC released its basketball schedules on August 21. UT Martin will face OVC rivals Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Little Rock, Morehead State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and league newcomer Western Illinois for home-and-home series while playing SIUE (away) and Southern Indiana (home) one time apiece during the 2023-24 campaign. The 10-week OVC season runs from Dec. 28 through March 2 before the league’s top eight teams will advance to the OVC Championship tournament, which will be hosted once again by the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. on March 6-9.
To view the complete 2023-24 Skyhawk women’s basketball schedule, click on the link above.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information
