"We feel we have a very competitive schedule this year," said Bonvicini. "I think we are going to be challenged starting right away, but I also know it is going to provide not only our returnees, but our seven newcomers a great playing experience. This year we will have a much more athletic team, so we are excited to get back into action and for the upcoming year."
Bonvicini is entering her second season at the helm of the program. Last season, she helped guide Seattle U through their first full season at the NCAA Division I level. The Redhawks posted six victories last season, as they worked through the rebuilding and reclassifying process. This season the team returns six letterwinners from last year, including senior Tatiana Heck (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.), who was named to the All-Independent Second Team after averaging 11 points and 5.1 boards per game in 2009-10. SU welcomes eight newcomers this season, with a pair of redshirts from last year eligible to play this year.
The Redhawks will open up the year with an exhibition game versus the Academy of Art University on Saturday, Nov. 6. Six days later Seattle U will commence the regular season, kicking off the year with Cal Poly in 7 p.m. contest in the Connolly Center. Two days later, Cal State Fullerton will travel to the Emerald City. The game will be part of a Redhawk basketball doubleheader at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Game time has yet to be determined.
Seattle U will hit the road for the first time on Friday, Nov. 19, when they head to Riverside, Calif. to take on UC Riverside in a 2 p.m. game. The squad will remain in Southern California, as they will take on the University of San Diego in a 2 p.m. game on Sunday, Nov. 21.
The program will host the first of their two scheduled tournaments on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27. The Seattle U Thanksgiving Tournament will include a pair of NCAA Tournament participants in the University of Arkansas - Little Rock and Bowling Green. The Redhawks will square off with Montana State, the fourth participant in the tournament, at 8 p.m. to open up the weekend's action. They will take on either UALR or BGSU the following day to close out the tournament.
SU will take a quick road trip on Wednesday, Dec. 1, to Portland, Ore. to take on the Pilots of UP in a 7 p.m., before returning home to host a trio of contests beginning with a 2 p.m. game versus Boise State on Sunday, Dec. 5. The University of Idaho will travel to the Connolly Center on Saturday, Dec. 11. Tip time is slated for 2 p.m. Two days later the Anteaters of UC Irvine will head to Seattle for a 7 p.m. contest.
Prior to Christmas, the team will play three games in Northern California. They will open the road leg with Sacramento State on Friday, Dec. 17, in a 7:05 p.m. game. Two days later they will head to the Bay Area to play a pair of West Coast Conference schools. The Redhawks will take on the Broncos of Santa Clara on Sunday, Dec. 19, in a 2 p.m. game. The final road game in 2010 will be at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. First tip is set for 6 p.m.
Prior to the New Year, the program will host their second and final tournament of the season. The Seattle U Holiday Classic will feature NCAA Tournament participant Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount and Notre Dame. The two day tournament from Dec. 29-30, will be hosted at KeyArena at Seattle Center. The Redhawks will take on LMU to open the classic in a 7 p.m. game and close out the tournament with their fourth West Coast Conference opponent of the season in the Bulldogs of Gonzaga on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m.
Seattle U will open 2011 with Navy on Saturday, Jan. 1. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Connolly Center. After a week break, the squad will hit the road for a four game road swing, beginning in Bakersfield, Calif. The Redhawks will square off with the Roadrunners of CSUB on Sunday, Jan. 9. Game time has yet to be determined. The team will remain on the road, travelling to Orem, Utah for a 2 p.m. PT contest on Saturday, Jan. 15, versus Utah Valley. Two days later, SU will head to Chicago, Ill. to take on Chicago State in a 5 p.m. PT contest. The final leg of their four game road swing will be on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Seattle U will travel to Laramie, Wyoming for a 6:05 p.m. PT contest against Wyoming.
The Redhawks will have a short two game stint at home before hitting the road again. On Saturday, Jan. 22, they will host Harvard in a 4 p.m. game. Chicago State will make a return trip to the Emerald City a week later on Saturday, Jan. 29. Tip time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Bonvicini will return to her head coaching roots on Friday, Feb. 4, when the Redhawks travel to Long Beach State. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. in Long Beach, Calif. After their short road trip to the Golden State, SU will return home for a pair of contests. Seattle U will host Eastern Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 8, in a 7 p.m. game and four days later Cal State Bakersfield will travel to the Connolly Center for a 4 p.m. match up. The Bakersfield game will also mark the Redhawk's final home contest of the 2010-11 season.
SU will close out the season with five games on the road beginning with two games in California. They will travel to UC Davis on Friday, Feb. 18. Game time has yet to be determined. The team will then head to Southern California for a 2 p.m. game versus UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Feb. 20.
The season will close out in the beginning of March at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament. The Redhawks will open with host FGCU on Friday, Mar. 4, in a 4 p.m. PT game. The following day, SU will square off with Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and close out the weekend and season on Sunday, Mar. 6, with Longwood University. Game times have not been announced yet for the two final games.
To purchase season or single game tickets for this season's Redhawk women's basketball action please log on to here or call the Seattle U ticket office at (206) 296-2835.