The University of Delaware women’s basketball team will open the 2017 Colonial Athletic Association campaign with a home matchup against the College of William and Mary on Jan. 2, it was announced Wednesday as the conference released its tentative schedule.

Following the opening date, the schedule will follow a Friday-Sunday format throughout the season, which will deliver more consistent play dates in an attempt to provide some consistency in preparation time.

UD will face each of the conference squads both home and away for a total of 18 CAA matchups.

The Blue Hens will conclude 2016 with 11 non-conference contests, including seven at home, before hosting William and Mary to open the 2017 slate on Jan. 2.

UD will then travel to North Carolina to face off against the University of North Carolina Wilmington (Jan. 6) and Elon (Jan. 8). The Hens will continue January action with three of their next four games at home, against James Madison (Jan. 13), Northeastern (Jan. 20) and Charleston (Jan. 22), and a quick trip to Hofstra on Jan. 15.

UD will close January with dates at William and Mary (Jan. 27) and Towson (Jan. 29).

The Hens then will welcome UNCW (Feb. 3) and Drexel (Feb. 5) to the Bob Carpenter Center before a Feb. 10 match at James Madison. UD will host Hofstra on Feb. 12 before it plays four straight road games, at Northeastern (Feb. 17), Drexel (Feb. 19), Elon (Feb. 24) and Charleston (Feb. 26).

The Hens will conclude regular season action by welcoming Towson to the Bob Carpenter Center on March 1.

The CAA women’s basketball championship will be hosted by James Madison University, March 8-11, at the JMU Convocation Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

All dates for CAA conference games are subject to change. Game times will be announced at a later date.

For more on UD Athletics, see BlueHens.com.