The Big Ten and Big 12 conferences have announced the matchups for the 2011 Big 12/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge.

The inter-conference series began in 2010 and features a home-and-home format over a two-year agreement. Texas Tecwh will represent the Big  12 in two games, while Big Ten member Nebraska will sit out in 2011 due to the uneven number of teams among the two conferences. Last season, the Big Ten claimed the inaugural challenge, 7-5.

“The Big 12/Big Ten Challenge serves as a great showcase for both conferences’ women’s basketball programs,” Big Ten associate commissioner Andrea Williams said. “Year two provides the opportunity for re-matches, and we are looking forward to competitive and exciting games.”

“We are looking forward to the second year of our challenge with the Big Ten,” said Dru Hancock, Big 12 senior associate commissioner. “Last year’s games provided exciting early-season matchups for both conferences and their fans.”

The 2011 Challenge will be played Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, with the exception of three games.  Wisconsin travels to Kansas on Dec. 8, Michigan State will play at Texas on Dec. 10 and Texas Tech will face Illinois in a neutral site game at the United Center in Chicago on Dec. 17. The Big 12 will have six home games, while the Big Ten has five home contests in 2011. This year’s series will be referred to as the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge.

The match-up with the Big 12 is the second inter-conference series for the Big Ten, who also competes against the ACC in an annual showdown. The match-ups for the fifth annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge were announced in May.

Matchups for 2011 Big 12/Big Ten Challenge can be found below. Dates, times and television information will be released in the coming months.

2011 Big 12/Big Ten Challenge

Baylor at Minnesota

Iowa State at Michigan

Wisconsin at Kansas

Iowa at Kansas State

Northwestern at Missouri

Ohio State at Oklahoma

Penn State at Texas Tech

Texas A&M at Purdue

Oklahoma State at Indiana

Michigan State at Texas

Texas Tech vs. Illinois (Chicago, Ill.)