Saint Louis announced its women’s basketball non-conference schedule today, a 13-game slate that features nine matchups against teams that qualified for the postseason a year ago.
The challenging schedule comes on the heels of two of the most successful campaigns in school history. The Billikens won the WNIT last year and finished with a 22-18 record. Saint Louis won the Atlantic 10 Conference title in 2022-23 and made the program’s first trip to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
The Billikens begin the year Nov. 4, taking on South Dakota in Vermillion. The Coyotes went to the WNIT last year. The season-opening road trip then takes the Bills to Des Moines for a matchup with NCAA participant and reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake on Nov. 7.
SLU’s home opener at Chaifetz Arena is set for Nov. 12 when Illinois State comes to town. The Redbirds went to the WNIT a season ago. SLU faces another 2024 WNIT team, Southern Indiana, on Nov. 17 in Evansville.
A pair of in-state rivals are the Bills’ next two opponents. SLU travels to Columbia to face Missouri on Nov. 20. Missouri State, which played in the WBIT last year, visits Chaifetz Arena on Nov. 23.
The Billikens head to California the week of Thanksgiving for two high-level games. SLU takes on California Baptist in Riverside on Nov. 26. Last season, the Lancers went 28-4 and made the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
On Nov. 29, SLU heads to Palm Springs to face USC in the Acrisure Holiday Classic. The Trojans were a No. 1 seed in last year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight.
Murray State, which played in the WNIT last season, visits Chaifetz Arena on Dec. 3. The Billikens then travel to Washington, D.C., to play Norfolk State in the Coaches vs. Racism Roundball Classic at the Entertainment & Sports Arena Dec. 7. NSU was an NCAA team a season ago after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Billikens conclude the non-conference schedule with three home games to wrap up December. Ohio visits Chaifetz Arena on Dec. 15; Valparaiso comes to town on Dec. 18; and Bellarmine is the opponent on Dec. 21.
The Atlantic 10 Conference schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks. The Billikens’ A-10 opponents were previously announced (read more).
