Nine games against NCAA Tournament teams highlight the South Dakota State women’s basketball schedule, announced Monday by 19th-year head coach Aaron Johnston.

The 2018-19 schedule includes: One NCAA Elite 8 team; Four Sweet 16 teams; Nine NCAA Tournament teams; Two WNIT teams; Seven teams with final 2017-18 top-50 RPI ratings; and six teams won their regular season and tournament titles.

The Jackrabbits, who are coming off their 12th 20-win season in 13 years, eighth NCAA Tournament and 12th Division I postseason appearance, play 13 nonleague games, including six in the friendly confines of Frost Arena. They also play two home exhibitions in October and November.

“Our nonleague schedule is always designed to help build on the tradition of success in our program. Our student-athletes love to be challenged, and in this year’s schedule we will compete against some of the best teams in the county,” Johnston said. “Frost Arena will be energized by our great fans as we jump into another exciting basketball season.”

The toughest stretch of the Jackrabbits’ schedule is its first seven games with each opponent reaching the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Nov. 6 marks the opening of the 53rd season of women’s basketball when SDSU is on the road at Marquette. The last time the Jackrabbits opened the season on the road was 2013-14 at Brigham Young. State is 10-3 in road season openers.

South Dakota State celebrates its 46th year in Frost Arena when it hosts Florida Gulf Coast Nov. 9. The Jacks are at Central Michigan Nov. 12 and host regional rival Creighton Nov. 15. The Chippewas reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, finished atop the CollegeInsider Mid-Major final poll and ranked 21st in the final USA Today Coaches poll in 2017-18. The Bluejays are one of seven teams on the Jackrabbits’ schedule to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

SDSU will spend Thanksgiving in Las Vegas at the South Point Shootout Nov. 23-24. It plays Baylor and first-time opponent Buffalo, both Sweet Sixteen teams from last year. State and the Lady Bears met in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Baylor finished with a RPI of 5 and a final ranking of No. 2 in the Associated Press and No. 9 in the Coaches polls in 2017-18.

The Jacks close the month with a Nov. 29 game in Frost against rival Green Bay. The Phoenix finished with a RPI of 23 and a final ranking of 22nd in the AP and 21st in the Coaches polls in 2017-18. SDSU returns to the road to face its second first-time opponent in Chattanooga Dec. 4. The Mocs played in the 2018 WNIT.

South Dakota State strings together three home games in mid-December, hosting NCAA qualifier Drake Dec. 8, Elite 8 participant Oregon Dec. 12 and Savannah State Dec. 14. The Ducks lost to NCAA champion Notre Dame in the Elite 8 and finished with a RPI of 7 and a final ranking of No. 6 in the AP and No. 5 in the Coaches polls in 2017-18.

The Jackrabbits travel west for their final two nonleague games. They are at Montana State Dec. 18 and at Wyoming Dec. 20. The Cowgirls reached the second round of the 2018 WNIT.

State hosts a pair of exhibition games against NAIA runner-up Concordia (Neb.) and NCAA Division II Mary (N.D.), Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, respectively, to tip off the season.

The Jackrabbits return three starters and eight letterwinners from last year’s team that finished 26-7 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. SDSU’s eight NCAA Tournament appearances are the most in The Summit League.

Tip times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date. Men’s and women’s basketball season ticket packages for all home games in Frost Arena start at $150. Orders are accepted in person or over the phone weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone orders can be processed by calling 605-688-5422 or online at JackrabbitTickets.com.

Schedule Notes

The 2017-18 win-loss percentage of the first seven nonleague opponents is 81.3 percent (195-45). Additionally, the teams averaged 27.8 wins and just 6.4 losses.

All 13 nonleague opponents had a 2017-18 win-loss percentage of 72.0 percent (314-122), averaging 24.1 wins and 9.4 losses.

Jackrabbits face four new opponents in Buffalo, Chattanooga, Savannah State and Montana State.

SDSU has played eight of the 12 Pac-12 teams. It has a 2-0 record against Oregon, and in their last meeting in 2008, the Jacks won 80-63 in Frost Arena.

South Dakota State will be playing for its first wins over Marquette, Florida Gulf Coast and Baylor.

State has played a Big East team every season since 2011 when it played Xavier in the NCAA Tournament. The Jacks play Marquette and Creighton in November.

Photo from www.gojacks.com.