MANHATTAN – Kansas State women’s basketball head coach Jeff Mittie recently announced the non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2021-22 season.
The Wildcats’ non-conference slate features 11 home games, including a visit from Pac-12 opponent Oregon, participation in the 2021 Preseason WNIT and three road games including a two-game road trip in mid-December.
K-State’s 2020-21 non-conference schedule includes six games against teams that reached the postseason in 2020-21, including four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament (North Carolina A&T, NC State, South Dakota State and Oregon).
The Wildcats host Oregon on Dec. 18. This will be the first visit from the Ducks to Manhattan and the conclusion of the home and home series between the schools in which K-State visited Eugene in 2019.
This marks the first regular season visit from a Pac-12 opponent to the Little Apple since Washington State on Nov. 20, 2009.
Oregon completed the 2020-21 season with a 15-9 overall mark and a 10-7 record in the Pac 12. The Ducks reached the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA Tournament before falling to Louisville.
K-State officially begins its 54th season of action on Nov. 9, as the Wildcats host Central Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. This will be the start of a four-game home stand for the Wildcats, which is the second time in three seasons K-State will host four straight home games to open a campaign.
Due to COVID-19 cancellations on each of the schools’ 2020-21 non-conference schedules, the Wildcats and Sugar Bears met in a quickly arranged game on Dec. 5, 2020, in Conway, Arkansas. K-State pocketed a 47-33 win to hold a 3-0 edge in the all-time series.
Central Arkansas finished the 2020-21 season with an overall record of 13-14 and a 9-7 mark in Southland Conference action. The Sugar Bears reach the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament.
The Wildcats will then turn their attention to the 2021 Preseason WNIT. K-State will host games against UT Martin (Nov. 12), Western Kentucky (Nov. 14) and North Carolina A&T (Nov. 15). Kansas State will conclude action in the 2021 Preseason WNIT at NC State on Nov. 19.
Following the 2021 Preseason WNIT finale at NC State, K-State will begin a three-game home stand on Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m., against Abilene Christian. This will be the third meeting between the schools, as K-State has won the previous two.
Abilene Christian finished the 2020-21 season with an overall mark of 14-13 and a 6-7 record in the Southland Conference. The Wildcats were selected for the 2021 WNIT.
After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Wildcats return to action in Bramlage Coliseum on Nov. 27, against Northwestern State. This will be just the second meeting in the series between the schools, as the Lady Demons downed Kansas State, 54-46, in the first meeting on Feb. 17, 1973, in Houston, Texas.
Northwestern State completed the 2020-21 season with a 1-19 overall record and a 1-14 mark in Southland Conference play.
K-State caps the home stand and the month of November with a visit from North Dakota State on Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m. This will be the third match-up between the schools, with the Wildcats winning the previous two games including a 70-47 decision in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 18, 2011, as part of the BTI Invitational.
The Bison registered a 15-9 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the Summit League in 2020-21. One of the 15 victories came at Kansas, as NDSU downed the Jayhawks, 72-69, on Dec. 21, 2020.
The Wildcats will then make its first of two straight trips to Summit League opponents, as K-State visits Omaha, Neb., to face Omaha on Dec. 8. K-State is 7-0 in the series against the Mavericks, including a 66-59 win in the 2020-21 season.
Omaha finished the 2020-21 season with an overall record of 7-13 record and reached the championship game of the 2021 Summit League Championship.
The road trip will end with K-State’s second-ever appearance in Brookings, South Dakota, to face South Dakota State on Dec. 11. The Wildcats upset the Jackrabbits, 62-53, in Bramlage Coliseum during the 2020-21 season. K-State won the last meeting in Brookings, 63-46, on Dec. 10, 2011.
South Dakota State ended the 2020-21 season with a 21-4 overall record and a 14-0 mark in Summit League play to capture the regular season crown. The Jackrabbits were selected for the 2021 NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection, but fell to Syracuse in the first round. South Dakota State has made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 13 seasons.
After hosting Oregon on Dec. 18, the Wildcats wrap up the non-conference schedule on Dec. 22, with a visit from UIC. K-State won the last meeting between the schools, 84-40, on Nov. 11, 2019, and will look to even the all-time series at two.
UIC carded a 3-16 overall record in the 2020-21 season, including a 1-13 mark in Horizon League play.
In preparation for the 2021-22 non-conference schedule, K-State will host a pair of exhibition games. The Wildcats will face Washburn on Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m. K-State will then host Pittsburg State on Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m.
For the 2021-22 season, the Wildcats will return eight letter winners led by 2022 All-America candidate Ayoka Lee and All-Big 12 candidate Rachel Ranke. K-State will add the services of five newcomers including: Rebekah Dallinger (Sydney, Australia), Brylee Glenn (Kansas City, Mo.), Jaelyn Glenn (Kansas City, Mo.) Malene Lind Pederson (Aabyhoj, Denmark) and Serena Sundell (Maryville, Mo.).
The 2021-22 Big 12 schedule, game times, promotional and television schedules will be released later this summer. The 2022 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship will be contested at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., March 10-13, 2022.
K-State women’s basketball season tickets for the 2021-22 season will be available for purchase on June 21. For more information on season ticket packages for the Wildcats’ 20-game home schedule, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office by calling 1-800-221-CATS or visit www.kstatesports.com/tickets.