ORENBURG (Interstat) — Nadezhda will open its women’s professional basketball season at home on Sunday against Ivanovo. Nadezhda enters the game with a 0-0 record, while Ivanovo is 0-1. The contest gives Nadezhda its first regular-season test and Ivanovo a chance to even its mark after a season-opening defeat.

Ivanovo began its campaign with an 83-71 home loss to UMMC. UMMC led the scoring effort and handed Ivanovo the early setback. Ivanovo will now go on the road seeking a stronger result against Nadezhda. The visiting side will try to use its first game as experience while facing an opponent that has yet to play this season.

Nadezhda last took the court against Nika and came away with a 75-67 home victory. That result closed out Nadezhda’s previous action and sends the team into its opener with a win in its most recent outing. Nadezhda will look to protect its home court and start the new campaign on a positive note.

The game is part of the women’s professional basketball schedule and will be played in Orenburg. Nadezhda will rely on home familiarity, while Ivanovo will make the trip as the visiting team. Both sides are beginning a stretch of regular-season games that will shape the early portion of their seasons.

Both clubs are members of the women’s professional basketball league and will play a series of games in the coming weeks. Nadezhda’s home venue will host several upcoming matchups, while Ivanovo will alternate between home and road dates. The game on Sunday is the first of those meetings between the programs this season, with another scheduled later in Ivanovo. The opener will count toward the regular-season standings.

Ivanovo’s upcoming schedule includes road games at Vladimirskiy, MBA, Dynamo Moscow, Samara and Enisey. Ivanovo will host Neftyanik, Dynamo Kursk, Dyn Novosibirsk, Spartak Moscow and Nadezhda. Nadezhda will host Neftyanik, Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Kursk, Dyn Novosibirsk, Samara, Enisey and Spartak Moscow. Nadezhda will travel to UMMC, Vladimirskiy and Ivanovo. The teams are scheduled to meet again later in Ivanovo.

Nadezhda and Ivanovo will each continue their schedules after the final buzzer. For Nadezhda, the focus is a successful start at home. For Ivanovo, the aim is a response after falling in its first game. The contest is expected to feature two teams still settling into the new season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Nadezhda to defeat Ivanovo 72-69. The projection gives Nadezhda a three-point edge in the home matchup. No point spread, betting line or over-under information was provided.