May 19, 2011
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Northwestern will host NC State in the fifth-annual Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge, the conference office announced today (May 19). This year's challenge is unique in two ways because it begins a new two-year rotation and it is the first time the schedule features all 12 teams from each conference, thanks to the Big Ten's addition of Nebraska.
Northwestern's matchup against NC State marks just the second time the two squads have met, the last time occurring in the 1981-82 season. The contest will be played on Wed., Nov. 30, the first day of the two-day format. Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin also will host games on the challenge's opening day, while Michigan and Nebraska will be on the road. On Dec. 1, Illinois Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue will travel to ACC sites, while Michigan State hosts Miami.
Last season, Big Ten teams combined for a 5-6 mark against its ACC counterparts, marking the closest challenge margin in the event's four-year history. Since the 1999-2000 season, the two conferences have squared off in head-to-head competition on 115 occasions with the ACC holding a 64-51 advantage. Last season, the Big Ten boasted a 9-7 record over ACC teams.
The ACC and the Big Ten conference offices determine the schedule each season, and matchups may repeat from year to year in efforts to coordinate similar opponents and reach competitive equity. In addition, the official title of the Challenge will rotate each year. The 2011 event will be referred to as the Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge and will continue to mirror the official title of the two conferences' Challenge agreement for men's basketball.
Game times, as well as broadcast coverage, will be announced at a later date. For more information about the Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge, including a complete schedule, log on to bigten.org.
2011 CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, November 30
Boston College at Wisconsin
Nebraska at Georgia Tech
Michigan at Maryland
Florida State at Ohio State
North Carolina at Penn State
NC State at Northwestern
Virginia Tech at Iowa
Thursday, December 1
Illinois at Clemson
Purdue at Duke
Miami at Michigan State
Indiana at Virginia
Minnesota at Wake Forest
2012 CHALLENGE NAME & DATE
ACC/Big Ten Challenge - Nov. 28, 29
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