CLARKSVILLE – Last season, Austin Peay State University women's basketball team made its fifth straight appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Championship, and its fourth straight under Coach Dave Midlick, who has announced the schedule for the 2019-20 season.

The 29-game schedule includes an 11-game non-conference slate featuring early season trips to Illinois and Kentucky, as well as an in-season tournament at Florida International. The Govs will play 13 home games this season, including nine home OVC contests.

"We have a challenging nonconference schedule," said Midlick. "We are always excited to play at home in front of our great fans and spirit groups. I believe our players are also excited to go to Miami to play in the FIU Classic."

The season-opener will be played at home for the first time since Midlick's second year as head coach in 2016-17. Following an exhibition against Tennessee Wesleyan (Oct. 29), the Governors will host Kentucky Wesleyan (Nov. 5) in the season opener – the Panthers season ended last year in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Next, the Govs welcome Christian Brothers (Nov. 8) to the Dunn Center for the fifth consecutive season, the longest streak of consecutively playing a team on the nonconference schedule.

The Govs first road trip of the season takes them to the State Farm Center to play Illinois (Nov. 13) for the second time in the past three seasons. After the trip to Champaign, the Govs will travel to Itta Bena, Mississippi, to take on Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 18) – the first of two, possibly three, SWAC schools on the schedule. After the two-game road trip the Govs return to Clarksville for a quick one game home stand against Evansville (Nov. 24). 

The Governors embark on their longest road trip of the year when they travel to take on Chattanooga (Nov.24). The Govs and Mocs have previously played 38 times, which is more matchups than the Govs have against three of their OVC opponents. However, the Govs and Mocs have not played since 2014.

The second destination on the road trip takes the Governors to Kentucky (Dec. 1). The Wildcats advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament last season, the furthest of any team on the Austin Peay schedule this season. The Govs then travel south to matchup with their second SWAC opponent of the season when they play Alabama A&M (Dec. 14).

The final destination of the Govs month-long expedition is their longest trip of the year when they travel to participate in the Florida International Classic (Dec. 19-20). The Govs will take on Binghamton (Dec. 19) in the first game of the tournament. The Governors will then play Grambling State or host Florida International, depending on the outcome of the first games.   

After the trip to the Sunshine State, the Govs take a couple days off before returning to the Dunn Center for one last game in 2019. The Govs wrap up the nonconference schedule with their second opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference when they take on Illinois State (Dec. 29).

"The Conference schedule is full of good teams with quality players and coaches," said Midlick. "We were able to have our team here in July, and we are really looking forward to having them back to begin preparation for this schedule."

The Govs start the new year and conference schedule with a two-game OVC home stand against Southeast Missouri (Jan. 2) and UT Martin (Jan. 4). After opening the OVC schedule at home, the Govs will go on their longest OVC road trip of the season to face Tennessee Tech (Jan. 9), Jacksonville State (Jan. 11), Southeast Missouri (Jan.16), and UT Martin (Jan.18).

After the four game roadtrip, the Gov return to Clarksville for a four-game OVC home stand. During the four game stretch the Govs will welcome Tennessee State (Jan. 23), Belmont (Jan. 25), SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 30), and Eastern Illinois (Feb. 1).  The Governors then head back on the road with a trip to the Music City to take on Tennessee State (Feb. 6) and Belmont (Feb. 8) – the Bruins are the defending OVC Champs and the second team on the schedule that participated in last season's NCAA Tournament.

The first of two Heritage Bank Battle of the Border games is next when the Governors welcome Murray State to the Dunn Center, Feb. 13. The Govs and Racers split the season series last year, with each team defending home court. A second straight OVC opponent from the state of Kentucky is next when the Govs host Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 15).

The Govs travel north to take on SIUE (Feb. 20) and Eastern Illinois (Feb. 22), before returning for the last home game of the season against Morehead State (Feb. 27). Morehead State participated in the Women's NIT last season where they defeated Ohio State in the first round, before losing to Western Kentucky in Round Two. Finally, a trip to Murray State (Feb. 29) will wrap up the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border and the regular season for the Governors. The 2020 OVC Championship (Mar. 4-7) will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, for the third consecutive season.

Below is a brief summation of the non-conference schedule. For news and updates on everything Austin Peay women's basketball, follow along on Twitter (@AustinPeayWBB) and on LetsGoPeay.com.  

OPPONENT (DATE)	2018-19 RECORD	POSTSEASON	APSU VS. OPPONENT ALL-TIME	LAST MEETING (RESULT)
Tennessee Wesleyan     (Oct. 29, Exhibition)	22-9	Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament            (Runner Up)	5-2	Nov. 20, 1984 (W, 69-64)
Kentucky Wesleyan       (Nov. 5)	24-8	NCAA Division II Tournament        (First Round)	0-0	None
Christian Brothers (Nov. 8)	10-15	None	4-0	Nov. 9, 2018 (W, 100-62)
Illinois (Nov. 13)	10-20	Big 10 Tournament (First Round)	0-1	Dec. 16, 2017 (L, 47-59)
Mississippi Valley State   (Nov. 18)	6-24	SWAC Tournament (First Round)	0-3	Nov. 19, 2018 (L, 89-95)
Evansville (Nov. 21)	4-26	Missouri Valley Conference Tournament       (First Round)	11-9	Dec. 18, 2018 (L, 52-56)
Chattanooga (Nov. 24)	14-17	Southern Conference Tournament          (Semifinals)	7-31	Nov. 24, 2014 (L, 65-76)
Kentucky (Dec. 1)	25-8	NCAA Tournament     (Second Round)	0-4	Dec. 30, 2003 (L, 56-82)
Alabama A&M (Dec. 14)	13-17	SWAC Tournament (First Round)	5-1	Dec. 12, 2018 (W, 75-58)
Binghamton (Dec. 19)	12-18	American East Tournament             (Quarterfinals)	1-0	Nov. 18, 2012 (W, 71-67)
Grambling State (Dec. 20)	16-16	SWAC Tournament (Semifinals)	4-1	Nov. 21, 2017 (W, 55-52)
Florida International       (Dec. 20)	5-24	None	0-0	None
Illinois State (Dec.29)	19-12	Missouri Valley Conference Tournament       (Semifinals)	0-2	Dec. 4, 2018 (L, 49-61)