Bo Browder, back for his 18th season as head coach, announced the 2016-17 schedule Wednesday.
The Gold Nuggets will play nine times in 15 days Nov. 11-25. During that same period the New Orleans Pelicans will compete eight times.
"It was not necessarily by design to play that frequently," Browder said. "The most important thing during that time is that we have a chance to play several teams that went to nationals last year and will probably make it again this season. It will be a great challenge for us, and we'll be able to see how our team stacks up."
XULA's women finished 22-12 in 2015-16, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament for the sixth time in the last nine years and qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championship for the 19th time in the last 22 seasons.
After opening the season with home games against Florida Memorial on Nov. 4 and Webber International on Nov. 5, the Gold Nuggets will play at the LSUS Classic in Shreveport, La., Nov. 11-12, the Las Vegas (Nev.) Shootout Nov. 18-20 and their 15th annual Xavier Classic Nov. 24-25. At those events, XULA opponents who reached the 2016 postseason will be LSUS twice, Our Lady of the Lake, Lewis-Clark State, Carroll (Mont.) and Langston. There also will be a Nov. 15 home game against city rival Loyola, another qualifier for nationals a year ago.
Our Lady of the Lake (Nov. 11 at LSUS Classic) was No. 1 in the NAIA coaches poll for six consecutive weeks last season. Lewis-Clark State (Nov. 18 at Las Vegas) reached the national quarterfinals.
LSUS (Nov. 24) and Langston (Nov. 25) will be the Gold Nuggets' opponents at the Xavier Classic.
"November has a good mix of outstanding teams from our region and three in Las Vegas from the Frontier Conference, a strong and competitive conference in the NAIA," Browder said.
Other standout non-conference opponents will be Dec. 1 at Louisiana-Lafayette of NCAA Divison I, Dec. 15 at home against Concordia (Ala.) and Jan. 2 against Oklahoma City in Dallas. The Ragin' Cajuns won the WBI in 2016 and 2015, Concordia was the 2016 USCAA national champion, and Oklahoma City is an eight-time NAIA national champion, most recently in 2015, 2014 and 2012.
XULA will open its GCAC schedule Jan. 7 at home against Tougaloo. Talladega — last season's GCAC regular-season champion and a qualifier for nationals — will play host to the Gold Nuggets Jan. 30 and visit XULA Feb. 20. The GCAC Tournament will be March 3-5 in New Orleans, followed by the NAIA's national tournament March 15-21 at Billings, Mont. This will be the 39th season of XULA women's basketball during the Title IX era.
Xavier University of Louisiana
2016-17 Women's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 4 (Fri.): FLORIDA MEMORIAL (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 5 (Sat.): WEBBER INTERNATIONAL, TBA
Nov. 11 (Fri.): Our Lady of the Lake, 5 p.m. (LSUS Classic, Shreveport, La.)
Nov. 12 (Sat.): at LSU-Shreveport, 5 p.m. (LSUS Classic, Shreveport, La.)
Nov. 15 (Tue.): LOYOLA (N.O.) (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 18 (Fri.): Lewis-Clark State, 8 p.m. PST (Las Vegas Shootout, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Nov. 19 (Sat.): Carroll (Mont.), 5 p.m. PST (Las Vegas Shootout, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Nov. 20 (Sun.): Rocky Mountain, 1:30 p.m. PST (Las Vegas Shootout, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Nov. 22 (Tue.): at William Carey, 6 p.m.
Nov. 24 (Thu.): LSU-SHREVEPORT, 7 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Nov. 25 (Fri.): LANGSTON, TBA (Xavier Classic)
Dec. 1 (Thu.): at Louisiana-Lafayette, 5 p.m.
Dec. 15 (Thu.): CONCORDIA (ALA.), TBA
Dec. 31 (Sat.): at Dallas Christian, TBA
Jan. 2 (Mon.): Oklahoma City, TBA (at Dallas)
Jan. 7 (Sat.): • TOUGALOO (DH), 3 p.m.
Jan. 16 (Mon.): • SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 (Sat.): • EDWARD WATERS (DH), 3 p.m.
Jan. 23 (Mon.): • at Philander Smith (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 28 (Sat.): • DILLARD (DH), 3 p.m. (Crosstown Classic)
Jan. 30 (Mon.): • at Talladega (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 (Wed.): WILLIAM CAREY (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 (Sat.): • at Edward Waters (DH), 3 p.m. EST
Feb. 6 (Mon.): • PHILANDER SMITH (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 11 (Sat.): at Mobile, 4 p.m.
Feb. 13 (Mon.): • at SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 (Wed.): STILLMAN (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 18 (Sat.): • at Dillard (DH), 3 p.m.
Feb. 20 (Mon.): • TALLADEGA (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 (Sat.): • at Tougaloo (DH), 3 p.m.
March 3-5 (Fri.-Sun.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, New Orleans
March 15-21 (Wed.-Tue.): NAIA Division I National Championship, Billings, Mont.
Home games in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game
(DH) Doubleheader with Xavier's men
All times are Central except where noted
Schedule is subject to change
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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