WBB Releases 2015-16 Non-Conference Schedule
Aug 6, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Non Conference Schedule | Paradise Jam | American Scheduling Model
NEW ORLEANS -- With a new women's basketball season just over three months away, Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton released the Green Wave's 2015-16 non-conference schedule on Thursday. In addition, The American shed some light on the conference portion of the schedule, announcing the home and away model for the upcoming season.
The Olive and Blue will be challenged from the get go, as five of their six opening contests are against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, starting with their season/home opener against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock on Nov. 13. After the Green Wave bested the Trojans last December, 74-58, UALR went on to finish 29-5 and reach the second round of the Big Dance.
The Wave will then host Jackson State on Nov. 17 before departing for their first road contest of the season in Tallahassee vs. Florida State on Nov. 19. Last season, the Seminoles edged out Tulane, 65-54, in New Orleans before finishing the year with No. 7 final ranking and an Elite Eight appearance.
On Nov. 23, the Green Wave will welcome in-state rival LSU to Devlin Fieldhouse. The Wave have won four of the last five against the Tigers, including last year's 51-45 victory in Baton Rouge.
Tulane then heads to the Virgin Islands for the 2015 Paradise Jam Tournament, where they'll compete in the Island Division from Nov. 26-28. First up is the Big Ten's Rutgers University, who went 23-10 last season and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. On the second day, Tulane challenges Wisconsin-Green Bay, who compiled a 28-5 record last season, with a Tournament berth as well. Both contests will mark the first-ever meetings between the respective programs. Finally, the Wave wraps the Thanksgiving weekend with the University of Virginia on the 28th.
The month of December features four of five games inside Devlin Fieldhouse, starting Dec. 6 with McNeese State, a foe the Green Wave have defeated in seven straight meetings.
After a week off for finals, the Olive and Blue will compete in four games in six days to wrap its non-conference slate. The Wave return to action on Dec. 16, when they head to Oxford for the first time since 1997 to clash with Ole Miss. The Rebels produced a 19-14 record last year, which was its best since the 2006-07 season. Next, the Wave return to New Orleans to host Southern University on Dec. 18.
Finally, the Green Wave will host its annual Tulane Women's Basketball Invitational, Dec. 20-21, presented by Embassy Suites. In its 20th year, the Olive and Blue will open with UNC-Greensboro on Dec. 20, competing against the Spartans for the first time since 2002, followed by the winner of the Cleveland State/St. Louis University contest on Dec. 21.
"Our goal is to build on last season's success," Stockton stated. "The first step is to play a strong non-conference schedule that I believe will prepare us for a very competitive American Athletic Conference slate."
Dates and times for the Wave's second season in American Athletic Conference play will be announced at a later time by the league office. However, the conference did release the 2015-16 home and away scheduling model, with Tulane once again facing every team twice except Cincinnati and Memphis; yet this year, Cincinnati will make the trip to New Orleans while the Green Wave will head north to Memphis.
To secure season tickets for women's basketball, please call (504) 861-WAVE (9283) or visit the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. The priority deadline for current and new women's basketball season ticket holders is Sept. 28. The select a seat process will start on Oct. 1.
