NEWS

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson women’s basketball team released its 11-game non-conference schedule Monday, as announced by head coach Gayle Fulks.

The Wildcats’ slate will feature seven in-state matchups, three ACC opponents and three Big South competitors. 

“This year’s non conference schedule is a drastic shift in composition from our previous years’ schedules,” said Fulks, who enters her seventh season. “We have seven true home games and three road games in the state of North Carolina, all easily accessible to our growing fan base. We are excited to test ourselves against three in-state ACC opponents, including starting a series with Wake Forest where we will return to their place in 2024, and concluding our series with Duke in Cameron Indoor. Additionally, we continue to invest in playing several regional rivals that should prepare us well for our new 18-game conference schedule. As always, our team will be prepared to conclude our non-conference slate with the second annual 704 Cup, this year at UNC Charlotte.” 

With no exhibition game on the schedule for the first time in three seasons, Davidson will get right to business with its first tip Tuesday, Nov. 7 vs. USC Upstate. The season opener will be the first meeting between the Wildcats and the Spartans. 

Davidson will then face three ACC opponents in a week’s span in Wake Forest (Nov. 11), North Carolina (Nov. 12) and Duke (Nov. 16). The Wildcats will host the Deacons, who lead the series 10-3, in Belk Arena. The contest will start a two-year series with Wake Forest, with the return trip to Winston-Salem set for 2024-25.

The Wiidcats’ most recent matchup with the Deacons was a hard-fought affair with Davidson losing by only eight points (85-77) as alumna Chloe Welch matched a career-high 23 points and Cassidy Gould had a career-best 18.

Davidson then continues with its third meeting all-time with assistant coach Laura Barry‘s alma mater at Chapel Hill. The Wildcats are 0-2 against the Tar Heels with their last meeting coming in 2012-13. Following the UNC game, the ‘Cats will face their final ACC foe in the Blue Devils. Davidson and Duke will have their seventh meeting and the final one of the current two-game series, with the Blue Devils leading the all-time series 5-1. 

The Wildcats will then travel to play Morgan State on Nov. 18 for the second game in a series with the Bears. Last year’s game was the first contest with a Historically Black College & University for Davidson since the 2015 season. The ‘Cats are 1-0 against the Bears and as a whole are 3-2 against HBCUs. 

Davidson’s 65-62 defeat of the Bears was the program’s 500th win all-time, and the duo of Elle Sutphin (24) and Suzi-Rose Deegan (19) combined for 43 points.