INDIANAPOLIS -- The IUPUI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its 2009-10 women’s basketball schedule today, featuring a return to Conseco Fieldhouse along with contests at 2009 NCAA Tournament runner-up Louisville and the Jaguars’ first-ever meeting with Indiana University.

The IUPUI women’s basketball program, which made a historic first appearance at Conseco Fieldhouse last season, will once again return to Indiana’s premier basketball venue when they host Kentucky State in a season-opening exhibition on Nov. 2.

The Jaguars will take part in two in-season tournaments, competing at the Buckeye Classic Nov. 28-29 and at the Christmas City Classic Dec. 29-30.

“This schedule reflects the growth of our program and should provide a stern challenge,” Head Coach Shann Hart remarked.  “Playing in two tournaments early in the season will prepare us for Summit League play and for Sioux Falls [The Summit League Tournament] in March.”

The Jaguars will open their season on the road at Akron (Nov. 13) before traveling to Bloomington, Ind., for their first-ever meeting with Indiana on Nov. 15. 

Following those road contests, IUPUI will open at The Jungle versus Northern Illinois on Nov. 19.  The Jaguars will venture to Ithaca, N.Y., to complete a home-and-home with Cornell on Nov. 24 before heading to Columbus, Ohio, that weekend for the Buckeye Classic.

IUPUI will play four home games during December, hosting IU-Southeast on Dec. 2 before opening Summit League play in The Jungle versus North Dakota State (Dec. 5) and defending conference champion South Dakota State (Dec. 7).

The Jaguars will travel to 2009 NCAA Tournament runner-up Louisville on Dec. 13 before returning to The Jungle to host Murray State eight days later.  IUPUI will wrap up the month in Bethlehem, Pa., competing in the Christmas City Classic on the campus of Lehigh University.  The Jags will face off with St. Bonaventure in the opening round of the tournament before taking on either Lehigh or Wagner on Dec. 30. 

IUPUI will play 16 of their 18 Summit Leauge contests in 2010.  The Jaguars will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against Oral Roberts on Jan. 18 and will host their third annual ‘Think Pink’ night on Feb. 20, when they host Southern Utah.  Senior Night will be on Feb. 22 versus UMKC.

The Summit League Tournament will be in Sioux Falls, S.D., from March 6-9, 2009.

Led by returning Summit League First Team member Julia Whitted, the Jaguars will be breaking in seven newcomers early in the season.

“I’m excited to get the year started,” Hart said.  “We may be young, but we are very talented, and I think we have a chance to have a special season.”

Season tickets are available and include the contest at Conseco Fieldhouse. To receive season ticket information, please contact John Rasmussen at (317) 274-5453.

For the complete schedule, click here.