-
RUNNING OFFENSE — Mia Deck (2) tries to move the ball past a defender during a game last season. The Texas A&M-Commerce women's basketball team has released their conference schedule for the 2023-24 season. Submitted Photo
FRISCO — The Southland Conference has released the 2023-24 conference women's basketball schedule. This is season is Texas A&M University- Commerce's second season in the SLC and NCAA Division I.
A&M-Commerce goes into this season under the direction of first-year coach Valerie King. The Lions finished tied for fourth in the SLC last season and advanced to the SLC Tournament Semifinals, reaching at least the semifinal round of the conference tournament for the sixth straight season.
In a new conference format, the women's basketball teams will play on Thursdays and Saturdays, while the men's basketball teams will play on Mondays and Saturdays during conference play.
The conference slate begins at New Orleans on Jan. 4, followed by a threegame home stand at the Field House against Mc-Neese (Jan. 6), UIW (Jan. 11), and Houston Christian (Jan. 13).
Last season, the Lions went 1-1 against the Cowgirls, with both teams winning on the road. The game against the Cardinals is the first since A&M-Commerce's win in the SLC Tournament quarterfinals. A&M-Commerce went 2-0 against HCU in 2022-23.
The Lions head back out on the road at Lamar on Jan. 18 and at Southeastern on Jan. 20 in a rematch of last season's SLC Tournament semifinals. A&M-Commerce welcomes co-regular season champion A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 25 and Nicholls on Jan. 27 to close out the month.
The Lions and the Cowgirls meet for the second time on Feb. 1 and A&M-Commerce then heads to Northwestern State on Feb. 3 as both teams meet for the first time since the Lions' win over the Lady Demons in the SLC Tournament first round.
SLU makes the return trip to Commerce on Feb. 8 and New Orleans comes east to the Field House on Feb. 10.
The Lions are on the road for three straight games in the middle of February, heading to UIW (Feb. 15), A&M-Corpus Christi (Feb. 17), and Nicholls (Feb. 24). Lamar is in town on Feb. 29 and the Lions head to HCU on March 2.
The final game of the regular season comes on March 6 against Northwestern State.
McNeese once again serves as hosts for the Southland Conference Tournament, which begins at the Legacy Center in Lake Charles on March 11 and runs through March 14.
The full schedule for the 2023-24 season will be released in the coming weeks.