SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the field of teams and schedule for the Women’s Challenge. The annual NCAA women’s exempt tournament sponsored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will take place Sunday, November 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut with campus round games leading up to the main event. All proceeds from the Women’s Challenge will benefit the non-profit Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Teams scheduled to participate in this year’s Women’s Challenge tournament are: Farleigh Dickinson University (Northeast), Gonzaga University (West Coast), Grand Canyon University (WAC), Iona College (MAAC), University of North Carolina (ACC), University of Southern California (PAC-12), West Virginia University (BIG 12) and Yale University (Ivy).
“We are very excited to be hosting the third annual Women’s Challenge at Mohegan Sun” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The venue is unparalleled and the competitive atmosphere will serve the participating teams well as they head into the 2015-16 season.”
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will continue to serve as the host conference for the annual event. The MAAC has developed a strong partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame, including the addition of a MAAC exhibit in the Hall of Fame museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.
For more information on tickets, please log onto www.hoophall.com/womenschallenge.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge Schedule
Campus Round Schedule:
Hosted at University of North Carolina
November 20
University of North Carolina vs. Farleigh Dickinson University
Iona College vs. Yale University
November 21
University of North Carolina vs. Iona College
Farleigh Dickinson University vs. Yale University
November 22
University of North Carolina vs. Yale University
Iona College vs. Farleigh Dickinson University
Hosted at Gonzaga University
November 22
Gonzaga University vs. West Virginia University
University of Southern California vs. Grand Canyon University
November 23
Gonzaga University vs. Grand Canyon University
University of Southern California vs. West Virginia University
November 24
Gonzaga University vs. University of Southern California
Grand Canyon University vs. West Virginia University
Sunday, November 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
10:00 AM
Farleigh Dickinson University vs. Grand Canyon University
12:00 PM
University of Southern California vs. Iona College
2:00 PM
University of North Carolina vs. Gonzaga University
4:00 PM
Yale University vs. West Virginia University
Head Coach Comments
Farleigh Dickinson University – Pete Cinella
“We are very excited to be playing in the 2015 Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge against such a great national program like the University of North Carolina and two strong regional mid-majors in Yale and Iona is great for our program. Also to play at a venue like the Mohegan Sun Arena against a first-time opponent in Grand Canyon University is just a great way to wrap-up this event, which will be a great experience for our student-athletes."
Grand Canyon University – Trent May
“We are thankful to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge tournament. Obviously, this is a highly competitive event and we look forward to competing.”
Gonzaga University – Lisa Fortier
“We are excited to play in such a great event. We are honored to be included in such a talented field of teams in 2015. This will be a great experience for our team to travel across the country, and to the center of where basketball started.”
Iona College - Billi Godsey
“It is an honor for the Iona College women's basketball team to participate in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge, alongside strong competition and richly storied programs. We look forward to the challenge that it will present our group of young women, and for the preparation it will provide us for a strong 2015-16 season. We are thrilled to represent the MAAC this year.”
University of North Carolina – Sylvia Hatchell
“We look forward to competing in the Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge next season. Obviously the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is a special place and I’m truly honored to have been inducted back in 2013. I can’t wait to bring our team to the Hall of Fame and play in an outstanding venue at Mohegan Sun against a really good opponent."
University of Southern California – Cynthia Cooper
"We are truly excited to be a part of the 2015 Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament. We have an opportunity to compete against a challenging field in two terrific, fan-friendly venues from coast to coast. Most importantly, we get to expose our Women of Troy to the excellence and history of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.”
West Virginia University – Mike Carey
“It’s a great honor to be selected to participate in the Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge. We’re excited to play top-level competition and glad that we’re able to return to Bria Holmes’s home state of Connecticut during her senior season.”
Yale University – Barbara Chesler, Senior Associate Athletics Director
"Playing in the Hall of Fame Challenge will be a great test for our program and will allow our team to match-up against some of the country's best competition. In addition to that, being able to play the final game at Mohegan Sun right here in Connecticut is an absolute privilege. We are thrilled to compete in this year's tournament!"
About Mohegan Sun:
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Today. It has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Also in 2013, Mohegan Sun won “Casino of The Year” in 2 categories at the Academy of Country Music Awards. For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 11 member institutions: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University and Siena College. For more on the conference, please visit www.maacsports.com.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA