Take a look at the Providence women’s basketball team as the upcoming 2024-25 season begins. You won’t see much of the Friars in Alumni Hall for a month starting in early November.
Providence begins with three consecutive home games and then plays seven of its next eight games on the road, including five different away games off campus.
A three-day appearance at the Cancun Challenge will highlight the absence. The Friars will visit the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya to face VCU, Wisconsin and San Diego State. The games are scheduled for Nov. 28-30, a prime window for neutral-site events during the Thanksgiving holiday.
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The Rams finished last season 28-6 and were invited to participate in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament. The Badgers finished the season 15-17 and reached the quarterfinals of the WNIT. The Aztecs finished the season 22-13 and lost in the finals of the Mountain West Tournament, denying them a spot in March Madness.
Providence will prepare for those tests with games at Vermont, Boston College and Dayton. The Catamounts were 25-12 last season and reached the WNIT semifinals. The Eagles and Flyers both finished just under .500 but have ACC pedigree and some recent success in the Atlantic 10.
The Friars begin play with a friendly against Southern Connecticut State on Oct. 29 and officially open Erin Batth’s second year as coach with a game against Division II Mercy University on Nov. 4. Providence faces a slightly tougher challenge against Columbia on Nov. 8. Columbia is an NCAA Tournament selection from last season in the Ivy League and will be looking to replace graduate guard Abbey Hsu.
The Friars host Delaware in the midst of their extended road trip before some exciting revivals of the local rivalry. Providence visits the University of Rhode Island on Dec. 4 and will look to pick up its second straight win over the Rams after a home thriller last season. The Friars host Brown on Dec. 7 and will look to rebound from last year’s loss on the East Side.
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Penn State and Merrimack visit to round out the list of non-conference teams. The Nittany Lions could prove difficult – they were semifinalists in the WBIT last season and won 22 games when they played in the Big Ten. The Warriors are just 12-19 and could offer a softer entry into the Big East.
Providence finished Batth’s debut with a 13-21 overall record and a 6-12 league record. The Friars lost their last two games to Connecticut in the conference tournament and Colgate in the WNIT. Providence gained valuable experience both on its roster and through the transfer portal for the 2024-25 season – a total of 10 graduate students and seniors are listed.
All game times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date. The Friars have previously offered television and streaming options through deals with Fox Sports and FloSports. According to the team’s website, Providence will play each of its three games in Cancun at 11 a.m.
The Friars ended their summer with a week-long trip to Greece and Croatia. Providence defeated Amilla Peristriou in the first game, defeating the Croatian All-Stars 64-60. Grace Efosa led with 22 points in the opening game and posted a double-double the next time out, collecting 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Batth will join basketball coach Kim English in throwing out the first pitch before the Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles game on Sept. 10 at Fenway Park. English is a Baltimore native and is currently eyeing an American League playoff qualifier where the Orioles will battle the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Both will also attend the conference’s basketball media day, which will take place on Oct. 23 at Madison Square Garden.
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Providence Women’s Basketball Non-League Schedule
29 October — Southern state of Connecticut 4 November — Mercy University 8 November — Colombia 12 November — in Vermont 17 November — at Boston College 21 November — in Dayton 24 November — Delaware 28 November — VCU (Cancun Challenge) 29 November —Wisconsin (Cancun Challenge) 30 November — San Diego State (Cancun Challenge) December 4 — in Rhode Island 7 December – Brown 11 December — Penn State 14 December — Merrimack
