2019-20 Schedule
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Women's Basketball team has announced its 2019-20 non-conference schedule, which is highlighted by seven home games inside the Bryce Jordan Center and seven contests against teams that made national postseason tournament appearances a season ago.
The first chance to see the 2019-20 Lady Lions under first-year head coach Carolyn Kieger will come on Friday, Nov. 1 when Penn State hosts Kutztown in an exhibition contest. The 2019-20 season will officially kick off on Nov. 5 on the road.
Renewals and new season ticket purchases are under way for 2019-20 season, with more information available by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by clicking here. Those fans who renew or purchase new season tickets by June 28 will be invited to the inaugural Kieger Kickoff event on Sunday, Aug. 4. The 2019-20 season ticket holder benefits include a pre-season open practice and meet-and-greet with the coaches and team, an in-season chalk talk, and monthly VIP season ticket holder experiences.
Penn State opens the 2019-20 slate on the road at Towson on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The Tigers are the defending CAA Champions and coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance a season ago.
The Lady Lions open up a five-game homestand on Sunday, Nov. 10 in the home opener against Rider, a team that is coming off a WNIT appearance last season, inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
Penn State remains home to host defending Atlantic 10 champion and NCAA Tournament competitor Fordham on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Lady Lions will welcome in-state foe La Salle on Sunday, Nov. 17, before playing host to a 2019 NCAA Tournament team in Clemson on Thursday, Nov. 21.
The Lady Lions close out the homestand on Sunday, Nov. 24 against George Mason. Penn State will then take a Thanksgiving trip to California to participate in a two-game tournament hosted by Cal. The Lady Lions will play on both Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30, with the tournament field to be announced at a later date.
Penn State returns home to host the 2019 edition of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 5 when the Lady Lions square off against in-state rival Pitt.
Penn State hits the road to take on regular NCAA Tournament competitor Princeton on Saturday, Dec. 14, before closing out the non-conference slate at home on Sunday, Dec. 22 against Sacred Heart.
The Big Ten has already announced its home, away and two-play opponents for the 2018-19 season, with Penn State's 18-game schedule breaking down as follows;
Home/Away – Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Rutgers
Home Only – Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota
Away Only – Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin
All game times as well as Big Ten contest dates and TV designations will be announced in late summer/early fall.
A New Era Begins
Penn State will enter its first season under head coach Carolyn Kieger in 2019-20. Kieger, a 2019 Naismith Women's Coach of the Year Award semifinalist, guided Marquette University to the top of the Big East Conference and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as the Golden Eagles' head coach.
Kieger, a 2006 Marquette graduate, comes to Happy Valley after five years at the helm of her alma mater, posting a 99-64 overall record. During the past three seasons, Kieger led the Golden Eagles to sparkling 76-26 mark (43-11 in Big East), which included a pair of Big East regular-season championships and a Big East Tournament Championship. Marquette made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in 20 years, advancing to the round of 32 the past two seasons.
The 2019-20 Non-Conference Slate
| Date | H/A | Opponent | 2018-19 Record | 2018-19 Postseason |
| Nov. 5 | Away | Towson | 20-13 | CAA Champs; NCAA Tournament |
| Nov. 10 | Home | Rider | 19-13 | WNIT |
| Nov. 13 | Home | Fordham | 25-9 | A10 Champs; NCAA Tournament |
| Nov. 17 | Home | La Salle | 6-25 | --- |
| Nov. 21 | Home | Clemson | 20-13 | NCAA Tournament |
| Nov. 24 | Home | George Mason | 16-14 | --- |
| Nov. 29-30 | Away | Cal Tournament | Cal – 20-13 | Cal – NCAA Tournament |
| Dec. 5 | Home | Pittsburgh | 11-20 | --- |
| Dec. 14 | Away | Princeton | 22-10 | Ivy League Champs; NCAA Tournament |
| Dec. 22 | Home | Sacred Heart | 19-13 | WNIT |