ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis head women’s basketball coach Lisa Stone has announced the Billikens’ nonconference schedule for the 2019-20 season. Six of the 13 games are slated for Chaifetz Arena, highlighted by a late-December weekend featuring SLU taking on Princeton and Kansas.
“I am pleased to announce our 2019 nonconference schedule,” Stone said. “We have put together a very strong, tough and competitive group of opponents, including three who played in the postseason last year. Two of those postseason teams, Missouri and Cincinnati, are on our schedule again, and we’ve added prominent, high-quality programs in Princeton, UT Martin, Kansas and Vanderbilt.
“We have high expectations for our young, talented team and believe this nonconference schedule will prepare us for the always tough Atlantic 10 Conference,” Stone said. “Our goal is to play in the NCAA Tournament, and we will prepare for that with a championship mentality every day.”
Following a Nov. 1 home exhibition game vs. McKendree, SLU hosts UT Martin in the season opener Nov. 6. The Skyhawks were 23-9 and the Ohio Valley Conference tournament runner-up last season.
Four consecutive road games follow, beginning with Cincinnati Nov. 10. The 2018-19 Bearcats posted a 24-11 record and reached the Women’s National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals. The road stretch also includes Northern Kentucky Nov. 12, Vanderbilt Nov. 17 and local rival SIU Edwardsville Nov. 20.
Colgate comes to St. Louis Nov. 24, and Saint Louis concludes the month at Southern Illinois Nov. 27.
Two intrastate rivals are next – Southeast Missouri State at home Dec. 3 and Missouri in Columbia Dec. 5. The Tigers finished 24-11 a year ago, including an NCAA Championship first-round win after reaching the Southeastern Conference Championship semifinals.
A three-game home stand begins Dec. 8 as the Billikens take on Illinois State, while Princeton and Kansas are the opponents Dec. 20 and Dec. 22, respectively. Last year’s Princeton squad compiled a 22-10 record and captured Ivy League regular-season and tournament titles for a second consecutive season. SLU’s nonconference season concludes at Indiana State Dec. 30.
Here is the Billikens’ nonconference schedule. Home games at Chaifetz Arena are in bold. Saint Louis’ complete schedule, including tip times and TV information, will be announced later.
Fri., Nov. 1 • McKendree (exh.)
Wed., Nov. 6 • UT Martin
Sun., Nov. 10 • at Cincinnati
Tue., Nov. 12 • at Northern Kentucky
Sun., Nov. 17 • at Vanderbilt
Wed., Nov. 20 • at SIU Edwardsville
Sun., Nov. 24 • Colgate
Wed., Nov. 27 • at Southern Illinois
Tue., Dec. 3 • Southeast Missouri State
Thu., Dec. 5 • at Missouri
Sun., Dec. 8 • Illinois State
Fri., Dec. 20 • Princeton
Sun., Dec. 22 • Kansas
Mon., Dec. 30 • at Indiana State
