American Conference/Ben Solomon Women's Basketball 11.10.16 2016-17 Women's Basketball Season Tips Off Friday Follow @American_WBB COMPLETE NOTES Around the League: • Nine of the 11 American Athletic Conference teams begin non-conference play this weekend as the 2016-17 season tips off. • UConn begins the season ranked No. 3 in the AP and No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ poll. USF and Temple received votes in both polls while Tulane received votes in the USA Today preseason poll. • UConn was chosen as the unanimous favorite to win The American. Junior guard Kia Nurse was named the Preseason Player of the Year. The Huskies tip off the regular season on the road against No. 12/12 Florida State in the opening game of the 2016 College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon on Monday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. • The season begins on Friday for seven American Athletic Conference teams. Two others, Tulane and Houston, will make their season debut on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. SMU kicks off the action for The American with a 12:30 p.m. ET matchup against Texas State Friday in Dallas. • Three American teams play home games on opening day. In addition to SMU hosting Texas State, East Carolina welcomes Greensboro College to Greenville, N.C. (5:30 p.m. ET), while Memphis hosts Missouri State at 8 p.m. ET. • UConn junior Kia Nurse was named to the 2017 Nancy Lieberman Watch List on Oct. 25. The award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. • The American welcomes two new coaches to the conference in Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (UCF) and Travis Mays (SMU). Upcoming Schedule Friday, Nov. 11 Texas State at SMU • 12:30 p.m. ET UCF at FIU • 5 p.m. ET Greensboro College at East Carolina • 5:30 p.m. ET TempleRV/RV at Saint Joseph’s • 7 p.m. ET Cincinnati at SEMO • 7:30 p.m. ET Missouri State at Memphis • 8 p.m. ET Tulsa at UMKC • 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 12 Grambling State at Tulane-/RV • 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 13 Detroit at East Carolina • 1 p.m. ET South Alabama at UCF • 2 p.m. ET Memphis at Samford • 3 p.m. ET Southeastern La. at Houston • 5 p.m. ET All times subject to change