PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – A road trip to face storied basketball powers Louisiana Tech and LSU, a rematch of their 2009 NCAA Tournament opener at Oklahoma and battles against 2010 NCAA Tournament participants Georgia Tech, Iowa State and West Virginia highlight the 2010-11 Prairie View A&M women’s basketball schedule.
The season begins on Saturday, Nov. 13 as first-year head coach Toyelle Wilson travels to Ruston, La. for a matchup against 2010 NCAA participant and WAC Tournament Champion Louisiana Tech. Six days later, the Lady Panthers travel to Atlanta, Ga. and will square off against Georgia Tech of the ACC before resuming play in Norman, Okla. during the annual Basketball Traveler’s Invitational beginning on Friday, Nov. 26 versus Gardner-Webb. On Saturday, Nov. 27, the Lady Panthers face Texas-Pan American and wrap up the invitational against Big 12 foe Oklahoma on Sunday, Nov. 28.
The Lady Panthers return to Texas for their only non-conference appearance in the state as they participate in the Gene Hackerman Invitational at Rice University. Prairie View opens the invitational with a rematch against Long Beach State on Friday, Dec. 3 followed by a contest against either Rice or Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Following a seven-day layoff, Prairie View prepares for another intense stretch of games with three of their next four contests against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams. The stretch begins on Saturday, Dec. 11 in Morgantown, W.V. at West Virginia followed by a trip to Baton Rouge, La. to face LSU on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Eight days later, the Lady Panthers will conclude their non-conference slate by participating in the Iowa State Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Ia. against East Carolina (Dec. 29) and Iowa State (Dec. 30).
Southwestern Athletic Conference play begins on Tuesday, Jan. 4 with road trips to Alcorn State and Southern (Jan. 6). The Lady Panthers begin a three-game home stretch following the trip with contests versus Texas Southern on Saturday, Jan. 8, Grambling State and Jackson State on Jan. 15 and 17. Prairie View hits the road briefly for a matchup against Mississippi Valley State (Jan. 22) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jan. 24) before closing out the first half of SWAC play at home against Alabama State and Alabama A&M on Jan. 29 and 31, respectively.
Round two of conference action will be road heavy as the Lady Panthers travel to Texas Southern on Feb. 5 followed by trips to Grambling State and Jackson State on Feb. 11 and Feb. 14. Prairie View hosts Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (ESPNU/NCAA Pack The House Challenge Night) in the William Nicks Building on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21 before hitting the road once again with contests at Alabama State and Alabama A&M on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28. Prairie View closes out regular season play at home against Alcorn State on Thursday, March 3 and Southern on Saturday, March 5.
The 2011 SWAC Tournament will take place in Garland, Texas at the Garland Special Events Center beginning on March 9.
The Lady Panthers will be led by SWAC Preseason Player of the Year and first-team guard Dominique Smith. Last season, Smith averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals in addition to having three games with 30 or more points. Smith will be joined by fellow seniors Trinity Robinson and Courtney Larsen in the backcourt while seniors Robin Jones and Whitney Williams return in the paint. Also returning to the team after missing the 2009-10 season due to injuries are redshirt sophomores guards Latia Williams and Dieynaba Toure
