EMU women’s hoops hoping to benefit from home cooking in 2016-17

The EMU basketball women are hoping a home-heavy schedule helps their young team.

The Royals released their 2016-17 season schedule today, which features 13 home dates on the 24-game slate. Despite two more home games than last year, including seven of the ten before ODAC play starts in earnest, the women will also need to adjust quickly, getting a tough pre-Christmas schedule.

The new season opens with likely the toughest opponent, as nationally-ranked Christopher Newport visits Harrisonburg on November 19. With a young roster last year, the Captains out-did expectations and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA National Tournament. The game will immediately follow the final game of the EMU men’s tip-off invitational, featuring the Runnin Royals and Gallaudet, giving basketball fans a great Saturday afternoon ticket.

Following the CNU date, play at Penn State-Harrisburg before opening ODAC play against upstart Emory & Henry on Nov. 26. The Wasps finished third in the conference standings last year. EMU can find a little solace in being able to host that early-season game.

The women close November with a road game at Catholic before hosting Ferrum on Dec. 3. Both squads are traditionally powerful, with Catholic making a trip to the national tourney two years ago, while Ferrum’s most recent trip in 2014.

The date with the Panthers also opens a stretch where the Royals play five of six at home. EMU also hosts Roanoke, Trinity (D.C.), Mary Baldwin and Frostburg State, while making a trip to Hood, before getting into ODAC play in the second semester.

Conference home games include: Washington and Lee, Hollins, Guilford, Virginia Wesleyan, Randolph and Bridgewater onFeb. 7. The road game with the rival Eagles is Jan. 17.

With the unbalanced ODAC schedule, the Royals drew home-and-away dates with Bridgewater, Roanoke, Randolph, Hollins and Emory & Henry. The other league teams they will only play once.

The regular season wraps up with trips to Randolph-Macon and Lynchburg.

First Round games of the ODAC Tournament will be on Tuesday, Feb. 21, featuring seeds 5-12 in the final league standings.  The Quarterfinals are Friday, Feb. 24, at the Salem Civic Center, with the Semifinals and Championship that Saturday andSunday.

Eastern Mennonite finished last season with a record of 18-8 overall, including 10-6 in the ODAC. They lost 53-48 to Washington and Lee in ODAC Tournament quarterfinals.

Season tickets to EMU basketball games will be available starting Tuesday, November 1.