The Royals, 23-8 last season and Mid-Continent Conference runners-up, open the season at Alumni Arena on Nov. 23 against Cornell. Highlights of the season include a Dec. 10 Mid-Continent Conference matchup with Central Connecticut State at the new Marine Midland Arena. The game is a doubleheader with UB's men's squad, who will face Syracuse.
Other home contests in December for the Royals include a Dec. 8 showdown with Louisville, who reached the NCAA Tournament in 1995 and a New Year's Eve game against future Mid-American Conference rival Marshall at Villa Maria College. The Royals in December will also travel to Syracuse and play in the St. Joseph's College Hawks Classic where their first round opponent is Kansas-22-10 last season, champions of the then-Big Eight and Sweet 16 team in 1996 falling to eventual national champion Tennessee in the East Regional Semifinals.
UB's conference schedule continues in January, highlighted by the continuation of their series with last year's Mid-Continent champion Youngstown State. The Royals meet their rivals in Ohio on Jan. 18 and host the Penguins at Alumni Arena Feb. 10. The season culminates with the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament on March 6-8.
The Royals return two-time All-Mid-Continent first team selection Brenna Doty and Mid-Con All-Newcomer selection Catherine Jacob in their backcourt. Doty led the Royals at 16.3 points per game last season and Jacob set the school record for assists in a season with 163.
The 1996-97 schedule:
| November | ||
| Sat., 9 | OFFICIAL SPORTS (Exhibition) | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat., 23 | CORNELL | 7 p.m. |
| Tues., 26 | at Northern Iowa | 8:05 p.m. |
| December | ||
| Wed., 4 | at Siena | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., 8 | LOUISVILLE | 1 p.m. |
| Tues. 10 | Central Connecticut State*# (Marine Midland Arena) | 6 p.m. |
| Sat., 21 | at Syracuse | 2 p.m. |
| Sat.-Sun., 28-29 | at St. Joseph's Hawks Classic | |
| #Sat., 28 | vs. Kansas | 4 p.m. |
| #Sun., 29 | vs. Hartford or St. Joseph's (Consolation, Championship) | TBA |
| Tu 31 | MARSHALL (at Villa Maria College) | 2 p.m. |
| January | ||
| Thur., 2 | ARMY | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., 6 | at Western Illinois* | 8:30 p.m. |
| Wed., 8 | at Valparaiso*# | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat., 11 | MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY*# | 6 p.m. |
| Mon., 13 | TROY STATE*# | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sat., 18 | at Youngstown State* | 5:20 p.m. |
| Sat., 25 | at Chicago State*# | 6:30 p.m. |
| Mon., 27 | at Northeastern Illinois*# | 6:30 p.m. |
| February | ||
| Sat., 1 | VALPARAISO*# | 6 p.m. |
| Mon., 3 | WESTERN ILLINOIS*#! | 8:30 p.m. |
| Thur., 6 | at Troy State*# | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat., 8 | at Missouri-Kansas City*# | 2:30 p.m. |
| Mon., 10 | YOUNGSTOWN STATE* | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., 15 | NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS*# | 6 p.m. |
| Mon., 17 | CHICAGO STATE*# | 5:30 p.m. |
| Fri., 21 | at Central Connecticut State* | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., 23 | at Coppin State | 3 p.m. |
| March | ||
| Thur.-Sat., 6-8 | Mid-Continent Tournament | TBA |
GAMES IN BOLD FACE CAPS AT UB'S ALUMNI ARENA
All times EST
* Mid-Continent Conference Games
# Women's and Men's doubleheader
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