2015-15 South Alabama women's basketball schedule (.pdf)MOBILE, Ala. – Third-year head coach Terry Fowler and the University of South Alabama finalized the 2015-16 schedule Wednesday with the release of its non-conference opponents. The Jaguar women released the '15-16 Sun Belt Conference portion of their schedule earlier this summer.
The non-conference schedule is highlighted by home match ups versus Florida, Central Florida and UAB, with road games against postseason participants Alabama State (NCAA) and Southern Mississippi (WNIT).
"I think this is a very challenging schedule. Fortunately for us, a lot of those big games are at home," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "Anytime you have opponents from the SEC, the American Athletic Conference and Conference USA comes in your building, those are big opportunities for your team. We will also be tested on the road at Southern Miss and Alabama State, a NCAA tournament team last season. Our trip out west to Grand Canyon will also be a challenge for us.
"Our non-conference schedule is going to be a great preparation for us before we head into Sun Belt Conference play. We are excited about the challenges these games present to us and that those games are at home. It can only make our team stronger."
Following an exhibition contest versus Montevallo (Nov.7), South Alabama will officially open the season on Tuesday, Nov. 17 when the Jaguars welcome cross-town rival Spring Hill to the Mitchell Center. The Badgers are coming off 14 wins – nine more than the previous season – and the program's first winning season in 10 years.
USA heads out on the road for its first outing away from Mobile three days later, traveling to Southern (Nov. 20). The Jaguars were a 19-win team a year ago and finished second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, while also advancing to the league's championship game. The Jag women will then host Central Florida on Nov. 24 before breaking for Thanksgiving.
South Alabama opens the month of December with SEC member Florida (Dec. 1), the first meeting with the Gators since the 2010-11 season when the two faced each other at the 18th Annual Dead River Classic in Orono, Maine. It will also mark the first trip for UF to the Mitchell Center since the 2006-07 season.
The Jaguars will then head back out on the road for games at Alabama State (Dec. 3) and Southern Mississippi (Dec. 6). Last season, the Hornets and Jags played to a three-point contest with USA picking up the 64-61 win in Mobile. ASU upset Southern in the SWAC championships and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Southern Miss – one of three opponents (Alabama State and UT Arlington) on South Alabama's schedule this season that will participate in the preseason WNIT – is coming off its second-consecutive 25-plus win season. The Golden Eagles made their second-straight postseason WNIT in 2014-15 and placed second in Conference USA for the second year-in-a-row.
Following a break for final exams, UAB (Dec. 13) and William Carey (Dec. 15) will then come to the Mitchell Center. USA closes out non-conference action four days later when it travels to Phoenix, Ariz., for its first-ever meeting with Grand Canyon University on Dec. 19.
South Alabama will open Sun Belt play with defending regular-season champion Little Rock on Dec. 30.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
