Tulsa announces 2023-24 non-conference schedule

TULSA –– The University of Tulsa women’s basketball team plays one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in school history in 2023-24 with a 13-game non-conference slate, including five postseason tournament teams from a year ago. Tulsa faces two teams from each of the Southeastern Conference and Big 12, as well as one from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Tulsa plays five of its non-conference games at the Donald W. Reynolds Center, while the Golden Hurricane will be away for three true road games and five neutral site games. Three of those neutral site games will be played at the Van Chancellor Classic and two at the Maui Classic.

Tulsa hosts the SEC’s Florida Gators, go on the road to face Texas Christian University of the Big 12 and play neutral site games against Clemson of the ACC, the SEC’s Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and Texas Tech of the Big 12.

“I’m excited for our team and our upcoming non-conference schedule,” Tulsa women’s basketball coach Angie Nelp said. “We will face some challenging opponents that will help us prepare for conference play. We have a team with a bright future, built on a foundation of a strong culture, and I think this non-conference slate will be a great opportunity for our players to learn and continue to grow. I’m confident that our team will be battle-tested and ready for conference play when the time comes.”

The five teams that advanced to postseason play a year ago are Clemson (Women’s National Invitation Tournament), Florida (WNIT), Mississippi State (NCAA), Southeastern Louisiana (NCAA) and Texas Tech (WNIT).

The Hurricane season begins in St. Charles, Mo., against the Lindenwood Lions on Nov. 6 in a return game from a year ago. Tulsa recorded a 79-46 win over the Lions in the only other meeting between the two teams.

Tulsa opens the home campaign with back-to-back games against New Orleans (Nov. 10) and Northwestern State (Nov. 12). The UNO game is set for an 11 a.m. tipoff on Kid’s Day. Tulsa captured a 9664 victory over the Northwestern State Demons a year ago in the first game of the series. The Hurricane has a 2-1 series lead over the Privateers as the two teams will square off for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

Tulsa takes on crosstown rival Oral Roberts (Nov. 18) before traveling to the Van Chancellor Classic in Katy, Texas, where the Hurricane takes on Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 24), Clemson (Nov. 25) and Mississippi State (Nov. 26). Clemson tallied 19 wins and advanced to the WNIT Super 16 last season, while MSU posted a 22-11 mark and made it to the NCAA Second Round.

This will be TU’s first meeting with Clemson and the second time facing Mississippi State. The Hurricane has won all three previous meetings with UAPB and have a current four-game winning streak over the ORU Golden Eagles.

The month of December begins with a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, where the Big 12’s TCU Horned Frogs (Dec. 1) await the Hurricane. Tulsa returns to the Reynolds Center for a three-game homestand that includes Central Arkansas (Dec. 5), Florida (Dec. 10) and Texas Southern (Dec. 15). The Gators totaled 19 wins and advanced to the WNIT Quarterfinals last year. Tulsa has a 3-1 lead in both the UCA and Texas Southern series, while Tulsa has faced Florida once before and TCU 17 times.

The Hurricane will close out the nonconference slate with a pair of games in the Maui Classic, Dec. 19-20. Tulsa will open the Maui Classic on Dec. 19 against Texas Tech and a day later, Southeastern Louisiana will be the Tulsa opponent.

Tech posted 20 wins and advanced to the WNIT Third Round a year ago, while SE Louisiana registered 21 wins and made its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament as winners of the Southland Conference. The Hurricane lead the Southeast Louisiana series 1-0, while Tech won the previous game in the series.

The American Athletic Conference slate will be announced later this month.