North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack to host Michigan State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
5/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 22, 2012
GREENSBORO, N.C. – NC State will host Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Reynolds Coliseum as part of the Annual ACC/Big Ten Women's Basketball Challenge.
The Wolfpack will face Michigan State for just the second time in school history, and the first in Raleigh. The Spartans held on for a 58-57 win on its home court in the Postseason Women's NIT Final Four back on April 2, 2008 in East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan State is coming off a 20-12 record and a fourth-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans lost 67-55 to Louisville in the opening round in College Park, Md.
The Wolfpack reached postseason play for the second time in three seasons under the guidance of head coach Kellie Harper. The club posted a 19-16 record after seeing its season come to an end in the second round of the Postseason WNIT.
Three starters and nine returners are expected back for the 2012-13 campaign.
Now in its sixth year of what began as a four-year agreement and has been extended until 2016, the 2012 Challenge will feature a two-day format again this year with games taking place on November 28 and 29.
Game times, as well as television and broadband coverage, will be announced at a later date.
The ACC won the first four Challenge titles, while in 2011 the two conferences each won six games for the first tie in Challenge history.
The ACC and Big Ten conference offices determine the schedule each season, and matchups may repeat from year-to-year in efforts to coordinate similar opponents and reach competitive equity.
The ACC and the Big Ten have long been among the most dominant conferences on the women’s basketball scene. This past season, the ACC was represented by seven overall postseason squads, including four teams in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship that were tabbed as top-four seeds. Overall, the ACC has made 14 Final Four appearances, including four in the past seven years.
Since the 1999-2000 season, the two conferences have squared off in head-to-head competition on 131 occasions with the ACC holding a 71-60 advantage. Last season, the Big Ten compiled a 9-7 record over ACC teams.
2012 CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Wenesday, November 28
Ohio State at North Carolina
Iowa at Florida State
Wisconsin at Virginia Tech
Duke at Michigan
Maryland at Nebraska
Georgia Tech at Purdue
Clemson at Indiana
Northwestern at Boston College
Thursday, November 29
Penn State at Miami
Michigan State at NC State
Virginia at Minnesota
Wake Forest at Illinois
