CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – An incredibly busy November will kick off Austin Peay State University women’s basketball head coach David Midlick’s rookie campaign.

The newest head coach will jump headlong into the 2015-16 season with nine games in the season’s first 18 days. The slate begins with an opening-night contest, Nov. 14, against California at the Dunn Center – a team that reached the NCAA tournament’s second round last season.

Austin Peay then continues its quick homestand the next night when it hosts Division II Christian Brothers in a day-night doubleheader with the APSU volleyball team. Two nights later, Austin Peay hosts Division II Trevecca to conclude the homestand.

After a three-day break Austin Peay begins a five-game road trip with three games in five days. Midlick will take his team first to Miami (Ohio), Nov. 19, followed by games at Wright State (Nov. 21) and at Ball State (Nov. 23). Another three-day break follows before Austin Peay heads to Nashville to play in the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Invitational, Nov. 27-28, which includes host Vanderbilt, Ohio and Indiana.

“Our nonconference schedule is as challenging as any team’s and is probably a Top 30 schedule in the country,” said Midlick. “We will be challenged each night and we will find out real quickly how successful our preseason preparation has been.”

A busy November concludes with a visit from Middle Tennessee, Nov. 30, the final home game during the schedule’s nonconference portion.

Austin Peay will have a quieter schedule awaiting it when the calendar turns to December with just four games – all on the road – in the month. APSU will travel to Western Kentucky, Dec. 5, and one week later trek to Kennesaw State, Dec. 12. Austin Peay then heads west to meet Arkansas State, Dec. 16.

The nonconference schedule comes to an end with a Dec. 21 contest at East Tennessee. It will be the first meeting between the two in-state foes since the 1997-98 season.

“Our December schedule will allow some better preparation time for each of the four quality teams we will play,” Midlick said. “We will be able to scout and game plan more like the OVC schedule. It also will allow time for our players to prepare for exams.”

A 16-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule awaits the start of the New Year. Austin Peay opens league play with a three-game homestand – that opening with a Jan. 2 contest against Eastern Kentucky. Jacksonville State visits Jan. 7 followed two days later by Tennessee Tech.

The following week Austin Peay travels to Belmont, Tennessee State and Morehead State. Eastern Illinois visits the Dunn Center, Jan. 23, followed by a Jan. 27 contest against SIU Edwardsville.

Trips to Southeast Missouri, UT Martin, Murray State and Eastern Illinois loom as Austin Peay will have to traverse a four-game road trip to start the second half of conference play. Defending regular-season champion UT Martin enters the Dunn Center for a Feb. 13 contest to end the road trip.

Austin Peay heads back to the road for a contest at SIU Edwardsville before returning home to end the regular-season slate with a two-game home stand. Consecutive Saturday contests wrap up the schedule with Murray State, Feb. 20, followed by Southeast Missouri, Feb. 27.

“There is no night off in our conference,” Midlick said. “There are 11 other good teams with quality players and coaches. We must take each game separately and not look too far down the line. Our job as a coaching staff is to have our players confident and aggressive, and for us as coaches to know as much about each team as possible.”

Dates and times for Austin Peay’s road contests are subject to change. Fans should visit LetsGoPeay.com – the official website of Austin Peay Athletics – for the most up-to-date schedule and team information.