Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball releases 2011-12 non-conference schedule
06/14/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
June 14, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois women's basketball team announced its 2011-12 non-conference schedule Tuesday, which features five home games and five matchups with in-state opponents.
Southern plays its first regular-season home games of 2011-12 against Chicago teams Loyola Nov. 17 and Chicago State Nov. 20. SIU last faced the Cougars in 2008-09, but hasn't taken on the Ramblers since the 1983-84 season.
The Salukis will travel to DeKalb, Ill., Nov. 29, seeking to avenge a one-point loss to Northern Illinois from last season that ended with a half-court buzzer-beater. Later in the week, SIU comes back to Carbondale Dec. 3 for its first matchup with SIU Edwardsville since the Cougars' reclassification to Division I.
SIU's last non-conference opponent will likely be its toughest as the Salukis will face DePaul Dec. 23 in Chicago. The Blue Demons made the Sweet 16 last season and ranked No. 9 in the final AP Top 25 poll.
The Salukis' haven't had as many non-conference games against teams from Illinois since the 1983-84 season. Also notable is the fact SIU will face five teams from the Ohio Valley Conference. In addition to SIUE, the Salukis will have return games from last season at Austin Peay (Nov. 11), at Tennessee State (Nov. 22), at home against Murray State (Dec. 6) and at UT Martin (Dec. 18).
Rounding out the non-conference schedule, Southern will host IUPUI Dec. 8 and play at Wright State Dec. 10 for a total of 11 games before the start of Missouri Valley Conference Play.
