CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Fifteen home games headline the 2016-17 Austin Peay State University women’s basketball schedule, released Monday by second year head coach David Midlick.

The home slate will be the Governors largest since the 1983-84 campaign – one of three seasons which featured a program-record 16 contests at the Dunn Center. In addition, Austin Peay will host seven meetings against nonconference opponents, the most since 1985-86.

Austin Peay benefited from its home court advantage in Midlick’s first year at the helm, compiling a 9-3 record in Clarksville. In 2016-17, the Govs open with five-straight home games, beginning with an exhibition date with Kentucky Wesleyan, Nov. 7. The official start to the regular season comes Nov. 11 against Miami University, followed by home matchups against Christian Brothers (Nov. 13), Arkansas State (Nov. 16) and Trevecca (Nov. 19).

“Last year’s schedule was unbalanced, but this season, we have a very balanced schedule with a near identical split between home and away games,” Midlick said. “The team is excited to be playing more at home in front of our home crowd.”

The Govs hit the road for the first time on Nov. 21, travelling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the inaugural game between the two programs. Over the holidays, APSU continues its road trip, traveling to Orlando, Florida, for the UCF Thanksgiving Classic, Nov. 26-27. Austin Peay will have its first encounter with St. Bonaventure on Day 1 before facing host Central Florida to conclude the trip.

A home contest versus East Tennessee (Nov. 30) completes an eight-game November slate. The Govs will turn the calendar and host Western Kentucky, Dec. 3, before travelling to Evansville, Dec. 10. The final home nonconference date is Dec. 14 against Kennesaw State, with away contests at Middle Tennessee (Dec. 17) and Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi (Dec. 20) leading into the holiday break.

“Our nonconference schedule is very challenging with a variety of games to prepare us for conference play,” Midlick said. “There are multiple teams who had success in the postseason, rivalry games and new opponents to test us.”

Coming off an 8-8 record a year ago in Ohio Valley Conference play, the Govs will look to build on that mark which led to their second-straight tourney berth. After opening the schedule at home against Morehead State (Dec. 29), defending OVC Tournament champion Belmont makes the drive up I-24 for a New Year’s Eve contest at the Dunn Center.

Four road games await the Governors in January, beginning with back-to-back trips to Tennessee Tech (Jan. 5) and Jacksonville State (Jan. 7). APSU will then alternate between home and away contests to end the month – vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 11), at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 14), vs. Murray State (Jan. 21), at UT Martin (Jan. 25) and vs. Southeast Missouri (Jan. 28).

A rematch against Eastern Kentucky, which defeated APSU in the OVC Tournament first round last season, is first up for the Govs in February (Feb. 1). Austin Peay returns from Richmond, Kentucky, to face in-state rival Tennessee State, Feb. 4, before away contests at Murray State (Feb. 11) and SIUE (Feb. 15).

The regular season is capped off with home contests against Eastern Illinois (Feb. 18) and UT Martin (Feb. 22), followed by a road contest at Southeast Missouri (Feb. 25).

“There are no nights off in the OVC,” Midlick said. “Many teams didn’t lose much talent, so it will be difficult. Last season, there was a fine line between fourth and 11th place, and I expect a lot of games this year will be close again.”

The 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament is scheduled to begin March 1 at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium.