COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland softball head coach Courtney Scott Deifel announced the release of the Terps' 2015 schedule Thursday. The schedule features 11 teams that appeared in the 2014 NCAA Tournament along with the Terps' first foray into Big Ten play.

Maryland's slate includes a tough start that sees the Terps play 10 games against NCAA Tournament teams in the month of February. The Terrapins begin Big Ten play with a three-game set at Iowa that begins March 20. The Big Ten season culminates with the 2015 Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, May 7-10.

February features five early season tournaments, beginning with the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic Feb. 6-8. The Classic includes two contests with former ACC rival Virginia Tech. The Terps then travel to Boca Raton, Fla., for the FAU “Strike-Out Cancer” Tournament. Tulsa, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, is the Terps' featured opponent.

A trip to the Mary Nutter Classic (Feb. 19-21) in Palm Springs, Calif., will serve as a homecoming for the Terps' seven Golden State-based players. Notre Dame, BYU and Long Beach St., all NCAA Tournament teams last year, will provide stern tests.

The ESPN Citrus Classic (Feb. 27-March 1) is the most stacked of Maryland's early season trips, with all five opponents (Fordham, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, James Madison and Missouri) having gained a birth in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.    

The Terps' early season tournament run ends with the JMU Invitational (March 6-8) and the Maryland/George Washington Capital Invite (March 13-15). Maryland's first home dates of the season will take place at that tournament with a doubleheader against Lafayette on Saturday and a showdown with Princeton on Sunday.

Iowa will serve as Maryland's first-ever Big Ten opponent, with the series in Iowa City running from March 20-22. The Terps host Ohio State in their inaugural Big Ten home series, March 27-29.

A road set against Indiana (April 3-5) is followed by home series with Illinois (April 10-12) and Penn State (April 17-19). The Terps travel to Rutgers for a Wednesday double-dip on April 22 before returning to College Park to face reigning Big Ten runner-up Michigan (April 24-26).

Maryland closes out Big Ten action with a road trip to Michigan State (May 1-3). The Big Ten Tournament begins in Columbus on May 7 with the title game May 10.

-Maryland-