NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s basketball fans received their first glimpse of the 2019-20 non-conference schedule on Thursday when the Fighting Irish were announced as a participant of the 2019 Cancun Challenge. The Thanksgiving tournament, now in its 15th year, is once again hosted at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya from Nov. 28-30.
The Irish will compete in the Mayan Division, which will feature three games in three days as part of a four-team round-robin. Up first on Thursday, Nov. 28, at 1:30 p.m. ET will be Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles went 28-5 last year, with a perfect 16-0 mark in the Atlantic Sun Conference, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
On day two (Nov. 29), Notre Dame will challenge South Dakota State at 11 a.m. The Jackrabbits produced a 28-7 overall record last season, becoming the first Summit League team to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship – where they ultimately bowed out to Oregon.
The Irish will then close out the Cancun Challenge with South Florida on Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. The Bulls recorded a 19-16 record during an injury plagued year in which their sixth ranked all-time leading scorer Kitija Laksa did not play due to an ACL injury.
All games will take place in the modified ballroom of the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. For more information on the tournament, tickets, or travel logistics, please visit cancunchallenge.net.