The Seahawks, coming off a record-setting 2010-11 season that saw the program establish a new single-season mark for wins and make its first postseason appearance in school history, will play two preseason exhibitions against Johnson C. Smith (Nov. 2) and UNC Pembroke (Nov. 6) in newly-renovated Trask Coliseum before opening the regular season Nov. 11 & 13 in the Lady Lion Classic at Penn State. The Seahawks are slated to face 2011 NCAA Tournament participant Middle Tennessee State in the opener and will square off against either host Penn State or Washington State in the second contest of the two-day event.

"The early portion of our 2011-12 schedule will give our squad the chance to test itself against some of the best talent on both the regional and national levels," said UNCW Head Coach Cooper-Dyke, the reigning CAA Coach-of-the-Year. "The goal with our early season schedule is to prepare the team to compete for a Colonial Athletic Association title and I am confident that our non-league games, as well our league opener, will prepare us for the challenge that competing for a league title in the CAA represents."

UNCW's  non-conference competition in 2011-12 combined for a win-loss record of 225-159 (.586) last season with five of those teams - Charlotte, Duke, Middle Tennessee State, Penn State and Xavier -all winning more than 20 games. All five of those teams advanced to postseason play in 2010-11, highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament by Duke and a semifinal finish by Charlotte in the Postseason WNIT.

Due to the 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings Plan Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship being held a week earlier than in previous years, the league has adjusted its traditional 18-game schedule to include a conference game in early December. All 12 member schools will be in action on Dec. 4, including UNCW, who will host fellow 2011 Postseason WNIT participant Drexel. The remainder of the CAA schedule will be announced later after televised dates have been determined.

"It will be a different feeling for all of the teams in the CAA this year with the league schedule now including a conference game in the middle of our non-conference slate," said Cooper-Dyke. "That contest will take on even more importance than normal as it will be the only league game until the New Year, giving teams a chance to put themselves in good position to contend for the conference crown before league play really gets going."

2011-12 UNCW Non-Conference Opponent RPI's: Duke (2), Xavier (10), Penn State (30), Charlotte (49), Middle Tennessee State (54), North Carolina State (99), East Carolina (113), Washington State (156), North Carolina A&T (192), Ohio (217), Charleston Southern (248), Campbell (260).  

NOTES:  UNCW will face three opponents for the first time in 2011-12 (Middle Tennessee State, Xavier and either Penn State or Washington State) ... UNCW and Duke will meet for the first time for the 1991-92 season ... UNCW will play North Carolina A&T for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign ... The Seahawks will face East Carolina for the 54th time during the 2011-12 season, the most of any non-conference opponent on the schedule ...  UNCW will face two schools with new head coaches for the 2011-12 season (Cara Consuegra - Charlotte and Amy Waugh- Xavier) ... The Seahawks are slated to play schools from eight different conferences in 2011-12.

2011-12
UNC Wilmington
Tentative Women's Basketball Schedule
(Dates and Times Subject To Change)