NATCHITOCHES – Even with a first-year head coach, the Northwestern State women's basketball team's 2016-17 schedule looks plenty familiar.
Among the Lady Demons' 29 games on the slate, which first-year coach
Jordan Dupuy released Wednesday, are four non-conference road trips against Power Five and Group of Five teams.
Seven of Northwestern State's non-conference games will be inside the welcoming atmosphere of Prather Coliseum where it posted a 14-1 record in 2015-16. NSU opens the season with a three-game homestand from Nov. 11-21. The Nov. 11 season opener against LeTourneau is an Elementary School Game for the second straight season.
The Lady Demons' four non-conference road games are at Texas (Nov. 23), Memphis (Nov. 30), Arkansas (Dec. 18) and Mississippi State (Dec. 28). In addition to LeTourneau, Northwestern State will host LSU-Alexandria (Nov. 19), Central Baptist College (Nov. 21), Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 25), UL Monroe (Dec. 4), Jackson State (Dec. 11) and Louisiana College (Dec. 20) before starting Southland Conference play on Dec. 31.
"I am very excited about the non-conference schedule we have put together," Dupuy said. "It provides a good balance and also gives us a chance to find out what we are truly made of. Playing at the likes of Texas, Memphis, Arkansas and Mississippi State prepare you for the tough challenges of playing on the road in conference."
NSU will become familiar with the road in the first half of Southland Conference play. After opening SLC play at home against McNeese on Dec. 31, the Lady Demons play six of their next eight games away from home. Included in that stretch are a pair of three-game road trips sandwiched around a two-game homestand.
"Playing on the road six of our first nine conference games will not be easy, but we look forward to it and will make the most of it," Dupuy said. "Our league will be wide open and putting in a new system and a new way of preparing for each opponent will provide excitement for my staff and team and, hopefully, some anxiousness for our opponents."
Northwestern State's 18-game Southland Conference schedule includes home-and-home series with six teams and six one-time matchups against SLC foes.
NSU's six single games are at home against Nicholls (Jan. 12), Houston Baptist (Feb. 9) and New Orleans (Feb. 25). The Lady Demons will travel to Incarnate Word (Jan. 5), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Jan. 7) and Lamar (Jan. 28).
NSU takes on McNeese, reigning SLC Tournament champion Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, defending SLC regular-season champion Abilene Christian and longtime rival Stephen F. Austin in home-and-home series.
The Lady Demons finished in third place in the Southland in 2015-16, earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and reached the Women's Basketball Invitational, marking their third straight national postseason appearance – a program first.
In a little more than two months, Dupuy and his staff will embark on their first season in purple and white, looking to enhance the program's championship tradition.
Said Dupuy: "November 11 will be here before we know it, so it's our job as coaches to make sure they understand the challenges and opportunities the schedule provides and to take advantage every day."
