HACKENSACK, N.J. – Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball head coach Angelika Szumilo announced her team's non-conference slate on Friday afternoon. 

This season's non-conference schedule is highlighted by trips into the Empire State to take on St. John's, Siena, Cornell and Manhattan, as well as hosting local foes NJIT and Saint Peter's in Hackensack. 

"We are very grateful and excited about the opportunity to get back to the out of conference schedule at its full length," said Szumilo. "We will be tested on the road and at home, and we will use these games to be ready for the NEC season."

The non-conference slate consists of 11 games, six on the road and five in the friendly confines of Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center in Hackensack.

The Knights open up the season with a visit to Queens to square off with the St. John's Red Storm on November 10. The Knights hold a pair of wins over their BIG EAST rival in the programs' seven meetings and will be hoping to use the opener to get the season started on a high note in the return game of a home-and-home series that started last season.

On November 14, the Knights venture to Baltimore to take on the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds, who the Burgundy and Blue own a 10-3 all-time series record over. 

Following these two road contests, the Knights return back to Hackensack for their home opener on November 17 against the Bucknell Bison. Shortly after, on November 20, FDU return back to the road to head into Ithaca and do battle with Cornell, before returning home on November 24 to take on NJIT, who the Knights toppled on back-to-back days last season. The November slate is rounded out with a November 28 meeting in Riverdale, N.Y. where the Knights meet the Manhattan Jaspers. 

FDU kicks off December on the first of the month when they host Binghamton in the second game of a home-and-home that started last season and saw the Knights win 69-55 on the Bearcats' home court. On December 5, FDU heads to Siena to take on the Saints. The Knights have a quick turnaround from that game as they return home on December 7 to square off with Delaware State. The Knights venture back to the Bronx on December 18 to meet up with Fordham in a series that has historically been very close, with each side earning three wins against the other.

The non-conference schedule wraps up on December 22 when FDU welcomes Saint Peter's to the Rothman Center. 

"The next step in the growth of our program is to be playing at a higher level of consistency earlier than we have in the past, and I feel that the out of conference schedule we put together will help us get there," Szumilo concluded.

More information regarding the Knights' NEC schedule will be released in the coming days. Fans should stay tuned to FDUKnights.com and the Knights' social media channels for information on spectator attendance which is expected to be announced in the following weeks.

Connect with FDU women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWBB.

Schedule subject to change.

About FDU Athletics

The Knights are home to 21 NCAA Division I teams. A member of the Northeast Conference, FDU has had tremendous success in the classroom, in athletic competition, and giving back to the Bergen County community. In 2019-20 year, FDU won NEC championships in men's soccer and women's indoor track & field and followed that up with championships in 2020-2021 in women's bowling, men's tennis, and women's golf. In 2020, FDU student-athletes were also recognized for their efforts in the community by winning the NEC Building Communities Award with over 3,000 community service hours. Other recent milestones include men's basketball winning the 2019 NEC championship and going on to win the first NCAA Tournament game in school history. In addition to recent championships, FDU also holds two NCAA National Championships in the sport of women's bowling (2006, 2010).