There are a handful of marquee matchups on the non-conference schedule for Stanford, including dates with Gonzaga and three major-conference opponents.
The Cardinal will play the Bulldogs on Nov. 17 in Palo Alto in what has become a regular game since the teams had their first meeting in 2009. Stanford leads the all-time series 8-2, including twice in the NCAA Tournament in the 2011 Elite Eight and 2018 First Round. But Gonzaga has won two of the last three games between the programs, winning last season’s matchup in Spokane, 79-73.
The three power-conference foes on the docket are Ohio State, Tennessee and Texas, all of which Stanford will play in back-to-back-to-back games over a six-day stretch. First, the Buckeyes will challenge the Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on Dec. 15 as Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer faces the school she coached from 1980-85. Three days later, Tennessee will be in Palo Alto to battle the home team as the Lady Vols start a new era under head coach Kellie Harper. Finally, Stanford hits the road for Austin to face Texas on Dec. 21, and end of its week-long gauntlet.
The team is also set to participate in the Greater Victoria Invitational, an eight-team tournament from Nov. 28-30 being held at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. In Stanford’s first of three guaranteed games, it will play California Baptist. The following day, either Syracuse or Houston will stand in front of the Cardinal depending upon game results. The rest of the event’s field include Mississippi State, San Francisco, Bowling Green and Green Bay, one of which will play Stanford on Nov. 30.
The last notable game on Stanford’s non-conference slate is against Buffalo, who won the MAC’s auto bid last season and went to the second round in the Big Dance, at home Nov. 24. The team opens its season Nov. 5 versus Eastern Washington and closes the out-of-league portion of the schedule Dec. 28 with UC Davis.
