Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2003-04 Non-Conference Schedule
07/30/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
July 30, 2003
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-- For the third time in Lori Opp's four years as head coach, the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team will open its season on the road. SIU begins the year with six straight road games, as its 2003-04 non-conference schedule was finalized today.
This year's nine-game, non-league card features teams from the Conference USA as well as the Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, Northeast and Big Ten Conferences. Among the opponents are four from a year ago, including Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State, DePaul and Northwestern.
"Hopefully, playing on the road early in the season will help us get ready for our conference schedule," said Opp. "So many of our conference schools are able to draw large home crowds, so it's our hopes that we are preparing our players for that type of situation."
SIU tips off the season at Southeast Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 21. Last year, the Otahkians finished second in the OVC at 19-11 overall and 11-5 in league play. SEMO also advanced to the OVC Tournament Championship, where it lost to Austin Peay, 85-61.
Three days later, the Salukis head to Middle Tennessee State. The Lady Raiders will be spearheaded by junior returnee Patrice Holmes. Holmes, who was named 2003 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game en route to leading MTSU to a 18-12, 9-5 mark.
After participating in holiday tournaments around Christmas time for the last two years, SIU, instead, plays in one over Thanksgiving this season. The Salukis, along with Arkansas State, Alabama-Birmingham and Long Island University will compete at the Blackbird Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 28-29 in Long Island, N.Y. SIU opens the tourney against host LIU who finished tied for third in the Northeast Conference at 15-15, 12-6.
"I think this tournament is one that we can be very competitive in and I'd like to see us come home with a first-place trophy," commented Opp. "Typically, in tournaments, the host team will play who they think is the weakest opponent first, but I think they will be in for a surprise."
The latter part of the Dawgs' non-conference schedule is dominated by Conference USA schools. After playing at Tennessee Tech on Dec. 3, SIU will visit DePaul on Dec. 14. From there, it returns to Carbondale for its only two non-league home games. SIU hosts Southern Mississippi on Dec. 16 and Northwestern on Dec. 20. The Salukis then round out their non-conference jaunt at Saint Louis on Dec. 29.
Of the three Conference USA foes, DePaul and Saint Louis are coming off solid seasons from a year ago. DePaul, who went 22-10, made the NCAA Tournament and currently holds a 14-game homecourt winning streak which ranks seventh in the nation. Saint Louis, on the other hand, made the 2003 WNIT, marking its first postseason tournament appearance in the program's history.
Meanwhile, Southern Mississippi (14-15), Tennessee Tech (12-17) and Northwestern (8-20) each had losing seasons in 2002-03.
"I think our non-conference schedule is pretty tough all the way around and I can't really pinpoint any one opponent as being the toughest," added Opp.
SIU returns three starters and five seniors to this year's squad. The Salukis will also be fairly inexperienced, as they sport a group of six freshmen.
SIU, whose main goal is to get back to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, has finished last in the Valley for two straight years. Last season, the Dawgs went 7-20 overall and 3-15 in league play.
In addition to its non-conference schedule, SIU will play a 18-game MVC slate.
2003-04 SIU Women's BasketballNon-Conference Schedule
Date Opponent Time Nov. 9 St. Louis Goldstar (Ex.) 2 p.m. Nov. 14 NWBL (Ex.) 7:05 p.m. Nov. 21 at SE Missouri State 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Middle Tenn. State 6 p.m. Nov. 28 vs. Long Island (LIU Classic) 1 p.m. Nov. 29 vs. UAB/Arkansas St. (LIU Classic) TBA Dec. 3 at Tennessee Tech 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at DePaul 2 p.m. Dec. 16 Southern Mississippi 7:05 p.m. Dec. 20 Northwestern 2:05 p.m. Dec. 29 at Saint Louis 7 p.m.
Home Games in Bold
