University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2010-11 Schedule
9/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 20, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss Head Women's Basketball Coach Joye Lee-McNelis today released the 2010-11 schedule that features twelve teams that advanced to postseason play last season, including eight that played in the NCAA Tournament.
The schedule also includes 16 Conference USA games as well as non-conference tilts against McNeese State, South Alabama, New Orleans, Georgia, UALR, Tennessee State, Mississippi State, St. John's, Alabama and Louisiana Tech. Southern Miss plays host to the Lady Eagle Classic that includes Louisiana-Lafayette, Kentucky and Murray State and competes in a second tournament, St. John's Chartwells Holiday Classic that include St. John's Fresno State and UC Santa Barbara.
"Our schedule this year is challenging in many ways," McNelis said. "We will bring some great opponents into Reed Green Coliseum that will test our Lady Eagles. The opponents we play on the road - Georgia, St. John's tournament, Louisiana Tech - will also prepare us for conference play. We have the opportunity of facing 12 teams that played in postseason play last year that's on the schedule."
The Lady Eagles open the regular season, Nov. 12, at home against McNeese State, before hitting the road for a game at South Alabama (Nov. 16) before returning home to host New Orleans (Nov. 21) and the Lady Eagle Classic, Nov. 26-27.
Southern Miss begins the month of December with three straight road games, beginning at Georgia (Dec. 1), followed by a home game against UALR (Dec. 4) and at Tennessee State (Dec. 11). The Lady Eagles return to Reed Green Coliseum to host Mississippi State before traveling to the St. John's Chartwells Holiday Classic, Dec. 18-19. The Lady Eagles close out the month with Alabama at home before starting the New Year with a trip to Louisiana Tech (Jan. 2).
"We have a team with a mixture of experience and youth and this schedule give us an opportunity to see where we stand," said McNelis. "It's important for us to be better prepared for conference play. As a coach, I believe you want to win every game that you play when you take the court. We have the opportunity to face some of the toughest competition in our non-conference schedule and possibly get a couple of upsets."
Conference USA again plays in two divisions, East and West. The East teams consist of Southern Miss, East Carolina, UAB, Memphis, UCF and Marshall, while the West has Tulane, Houston, Rice, Tulsa, UTEP and SMU. The Lady Eagles open the C-USA schedule at home for the first time in three years when the Lady Eagles host UAB, followed by two road games at UCF (Jan. 9) and Houston (Jan. 13). Southern Miss returns home to host Tulsa (Jan. 16), before traveling to Tulane (Jan. 20).
Rounding out the remaining C-USA slate, the Lady Eagles host East Carolina (Jan. 23) and SMU (27) and travel to Memphis (Jan. 30) before hosting Marshall (Feb. 6). Southern Miss has a return trip to East Carolina (Feb. 10) and UAB (Feb. 13) before hosting Memphis (Feb. 17) and Rice (Feb. 20). The Lady Eagles conclude play with a game at UTEP (Feb. 24) and a home matchup with UCF (Feb. 27) before closing out the regular season at Marshall (Mar. 3).
The complete schedule follows: Nov. 12, McNeese State; 16, at South Alabama; 21, New Orleans; 26-27, Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic; Dec. 1, at Georgia, 4, UALR; 11, at Tennessee State; 15, Mississippi State; 18-19, at St. John's Chartwells Holiday Classic; 27, Alabama; Jan. 2, at Louisiana Tech; 6, UAB; 9 at UCF; 13, at Houston; 16, Tulsa; 20 at Tulane; 23, East Carolina; 27, SMU; 30 at Memphis; 6, Marshall; 10 at East Carolina; 13 at UAB; 17, Memphis, 20, Rice; 24, at UTEP; 27, UCF; Mar. 3, at Marshall; 9-12, Conference USA Championship in Tulsa, Okla.
