HAMMOND, La. – With preseason practice set to begin next Tuesday, the Southeastern Louisiana women's basketball team announced its 2019-20 schedule on Friday.
After hosting Southern (N.O.) for an exhibition on Nov. 4, the Lady Lions' challenging non-conference schedule officially opens with a 1 p.m. game at Houston on Nov. 9. SLU will also visit non-conference foes Southern Miss (Nov. 13), UL Lafayette (Nov. 17), LSU (Nov. 20), ULM (Nov. 24), Louisiana Tech (Dec. 13) and Alabama (Dec. 29).
Non-conference visitors to the University Center include LSU Alexandria (Nov. 27), and Jackson State (Dec. 7).
"Our non-conference schedule is designed to help us prepare for Southland Conference play," Southeastern third-year head coach
Ayla Guzzardo said. "We expect to be competitive throughout our non-conference schedule. With the talent we've added to our returning group, we feel we're better equipped this season. We're bigger, more athletic and have more ball-handling options than in recent seasons."
The Southland is going to a 20-game conference schedule in 2019-20. SLU opens its league slate at home on Dec. 18, hosting Lamar at 7 p.m. Other league visitors to the UC included Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Jan. 4), Sam Houston State (Jan. 8), Nicholls (Jan. 11), Central Arkansas (Jan. 29), New Orleans (Feb. 1), UIW (Feb. 8), Abilene Christian (Feb. 22), McNeese (Feb. 26) and Northwestern State (Feb. 29).
Southeastern's first road Southland game is at Houston Baptist on Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. The Lady Lions will also to travel to Stephen F. Austin (Jan. 2), Abilene Christian (Jan. 18), McNeese (Jan. 22), Northwestern State (Jan. 25), Sam Houston State (Feb. 12), Nicholls (Feb. 15), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Feb. 19), Central Arkansas (March 4) and New Orleans (March 7).
All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana guard
Celica Sterling (13.8 ppg in 2018-19) is one of four returning starters, along with
Charliee Dugas (10.6 ppg),
Caitlyn Williams (7.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and
Tyler Morrison (3.5 apg).
Morgan Carrier,
Aminat Jubril and
Sydney Rivers also return, as does
Jyar Francis, who missed all of last season with an injury.
"We had a poor finish to last season and it hasn't set well with our returners," Guzzardo commented. "We're heading into the year with higher expectations. We've had a great preseason and we're expecting several of our newcomers to come in and help us right away."
The Lady Lions bring in junior college guard
Breonca Ducksworth, as well as a quintet of freshmen in
Jaylen Huderson,
Daija Harvey,
Alexius Horne,
Bren'naisa Adams and
Hailey Giaratano. Several of the newcomers' potential drew praise from Guzzardo.
"Alexius is going to have an immediate impact for us," Guzzardo commented. "She believes in our vision and we're fortunate to have her in our program. She's a combo guard who can play the point or the wing and we're excited what she brings on and off the floor.
"Hailey's high basketball IQ is going to be a great addition to our team," Guzzardo added. "With her length and talent, she's versatile enough to play multiple positions. Bren'naisa is a true center with size that we just haven't had in the past. She's going to make a big difference when she's in there."
The top eight teams in the Southland Conference standings advance to the Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, which is scheduled for March 12-15 at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
2019-20 Southeastern Louisiana Women's Basketball Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
Nov. 4 Southern (N.O.) – Exhibition Hammond, La. 7 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Houston Houston, Texas 1 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Miss. 6 p.m.
Nov. 17 at UL Lafayette Lafayette, La. TBA
Nov. 20 at LSU Baton Rouge, La. 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 at ULM Monroe, La. 2 p.m.
Nov. 27 LSU Alexandria Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
Dec. 7 Jackson State Hammond, La. 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 Lamar* Hammond, La. 7 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Houston Baptist* Houston, Texas 2 p.m.
Dec. 29 at Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. TBA
Jan. 2 at Stephen F. Austin* Nacogdoches, Texas 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi* Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
Jan. 8 Sam Houston State* Hammond, La. 7 p.m.
Jan. 11 Nicholls* Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
Jan. 18 at Abilene Christian* Abilene, Texas 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 at McNeese* Lake Charles, La. 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Northwestern State* Natchitoches, La. 1 p.m.
Jan. 29 Central Arkansas* Hammond, La. 7 p.m.
Feb. 1 New Orleans* Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
Feb. 8 UIW* Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
Feb. 12 at Sam Houston State* Huntsville, Texas 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 at Nicholls* Thibodaux, La. 1 p.m.
Feb. 19 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi* Corpus Christi, Texas 7 p.m.
Feb. 22 Abilene Christian* Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
Feb. 26 McNeese* Hammond, La. 7 p.m.
Feb. 29 Northwestern State* Hammond, La. 1 p.m.
March 4 at Central Arkansas Conway, Ark. 7 p.m.
March 7 at New Orleans* New Orleans, La. 4 p.m.
Southeastern home events in
bold
* - Southland Conference contest
TICKET INFORMATION
For ticket information on the upcoming Southeastern women's basketball season, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit
www.lionsports.net/tickets.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on Twitter, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit
www.LionSports.net/clear.
