The Big Sky Conference has released its women's basketball schedules for the 2020-21 season. Due to the late start to the season, limited number of games, Covid and budgetary concerns for all of college basketball, the Big Sky schedule has been altered significantly from years past.

The one thing that has remained the same is the double-round-robin format in the Big Sky totaling 20 games for all teams. The change is that most series will be played at one venue on the same weekend. That move will limit travel for all teams aiding budget concerns and limiting contact. Most Saturday games are expected to be early afternoon contests, allowing teams to travel home same day, also saving money for all programs. The status of having spectators at games has yet to be determined.

The Big Sky season will also begin with one week of games in early December, then resume on New Year's weekend. Non-conference schedules have yet to be completed and will come at a later date. Due to the late start to the college basketball season (Nov. 25), teams are limited to a total of 27 games.

"This schedule accomplishes many of the objectives that we prioritized, most notably providing a full lineup of competitive opportunities for our men's and women's basketball student-athletes while reducing the number of road trips our programs will make," Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. "Our administrators – especially those on our Basketball Committee – worked tirelessly to vet multiple schedule models, and the feedback that we received from our head coaches, two student-athletes from every team, our Health and Safety Committee, and our certified athletic trainers proved invaluable throughout the process."

Portland State will open its Big Sky Conference schedule on the road at Weber State on Dec. 18 and 20. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, PSU hosts Eastern Washington at Viking Pavilion. The Vikings then split a home-and-home weekend with Sacramento State. The Vikings will host Montana State for games on Jan. 14 and 16, then travel to Idaho State for games on Jan. 21 and 23.

PSU gets a week off before resuming play at Montana on Feb. 4 and 6. The Vikings then get five of the next six games at home to begin a stretch run. 

PSU plays Northern Arizona at home on Feb. 11 and 13. The Vikings will face Idaho on a home-and-home weekend, then again play host to Northern Colorado, Feb. 25 and 27. 

The final week of women's basketball is a Wednesday/Friday schedule to accommodate travel to the Big Sky Championship. Portland State will play at Southern Utah, Mar. 3 and 5.

The Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament will take place in Boise, Mar. 8-12, 2021. 

Portland State is led by sixth-year Head Coach Lynn Kennedy. The Vikings were 16-16 last season, 9-11 in the Big Sky. They have averaged 19 wins over the past four seasons, and were 2019 Big Sky Champions.

PSU returns three starters, including third team All-Big Sky Conference selections Kylie Jimenez and Desirae Hansen. Eight letter winners and one redshirt to the program. The Vikings have five freshman newcomers in 2020-21.

NON-CONFERENCE GAMES TBA

BIG SKY CONFERENCE GAMES

• Dec. 18, Fri., at Weber State
• Dec. 20, Sun., at Weber State
• Dec. 31, Thurs., EASTERN WASHINGTON (Home)
• Jan. 2, Sat., EASTERN WASHINGTON (Home)
• Jan. 7, Thurs., SACRAMENTO STATE (Home)
• Jan. 9, Sat., at Sacramento State
• Jan. 14, Thurs., MONTANA STATE (Home)
• Jan. 16, Sat., MONTANA STATE (Home)
• Jan. 21, Thurs., at Idaho State
• Jan. 23, Sat., at Idaho State
• Feb. 4, Thurs., at Montana
• Feb. 6, Sat., at Montana
• Feb. 11, Thurs., NORTHERN ARIZONA (Home)
• Feb. 13, Sat., NORTHERN ARIZONA (Home)
• Feb. 18, Thurs., at Idaho
• Feb. 20, Sat., IDAHO (Home)
• Feb. 25, Thurs., NORTHERN COLORADO (Home)
• Feb. 27, Sat, NORTHERN COLORADO (Home)
• Mar. 3, Wed., at Southern Utah 
• Mar. 5, Fri., at Southern Utah 

Mar. 8-12, Mon.-Fri., BIG SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
Boise, ID, Idaho Central Arena
All times TBA

The Big Sky Conference release and schedules

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