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October 14, 2014
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October 14, 2014
The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team turns 40 this season.
To celebrate the occasion, the Colonels will take on a brutally tough non-conference schedule.
Seventh-year head coach DoBee Plaisance unveiled her team’s 2014-15 slate of games this week, highlighted by challenging pre-conference tests and 13 games in Stopher Gymnasium.
The Colonels figure to be capable of taking on all comers this coming season, returning 10 letterwinners and four starters from last season’s 17-win squad that won an opening-round game in the Southland Conference Tournament.
“Our non-conference schedule is always a first-season preparatory for the three seasons that we have within our schedule,” Plaisance said. “I’m very excited about our slate.”
The Colonels will dive right into 2014-15 with a stiff challenge from an SEC foe.
Nicholls will open this season with a Nov. 14 road tilt with Arkansas – a problem expected to do big things under first-year coach and former ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes. The Lady Backs finished 19-11 last season, including a road win against LSU at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Arkansas would have likely reached the NCAA Tournament with a good showing in the SEC Tournament. But their bubble burst when Ole Miss defeated the Lady Backs in the opening round of that event.
After competing against the major-conference foe, Nicholls will return home for two games against NAIA foes – meetings with SUNO on Nov. 17 and LSU-Alexandria on Nov. 21.
After a short break from competition, the Colonels will head to Nashville for their annual Thanksgiving tournament. While in Music City, Nicholls will take on Youngstown State and Norfolk State in the two-day tournament event.
Before Southland play, the Colonels will also tackle Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech and Houston in road games.
Nicholls’ premier home game will come on Dec. 29 when the Lady Colonels host Southern Mississippi at 6 p.m. in Stopher Gymnasium.
Southland Conference play begins Jan. 3 when the Colonels travel to Texas to play Lamar.
Nicholls’ home opener in Southland Conference play will be on Jan. 8 against Houston Baptist.
The team will host annual rivals UNO on Jan. 29, McNeese State on Feb. 7, Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 14, Northwestern State on Feb. 18 and Central Arkansas on March 5.
All of those opponents are expected to be among the Colonels’ biggest competition in the team’s quest to win the Southland Conference Championship.
The Southland Conference Tournament will be played from March 12-15, 2015.
It will be played at its annual location in Katy, Texas.
“The competition that we’ll face in teams like Arkansas, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech, South Alabama and Southern Miss will allow our veteran group to be tested early,” Plaisance said. “The schedule will sustain that testing throughout to prepare us for conference.”
NICHOLLS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2014-15 SCHEDULE
Nov. 14 – at. Arkansas
Nov. 17 – vs. SUNO
Nov. 21 – vs. LSU-A
Nov. 29 – vs. Y-town St.**
Nov. 30 – vs. Norfolk St.
Dec. 3 – @ Tulane
Dec. 6 – vs. S. Alabama
Dec. 15 – @ Louisiana Tech
Dec. 19 – @ Texas Tech***
Dec. 20 – @ Houston***
Dec. 21 – @ UTSA***
Dec. 29 – vs. S. Miss
Jan. 3 – @ Lamar*
Jan. 8 – vs. Hou.-Baptist*
Jan. 11 – @ A. Christian*
Jan. 15 – vs. SHSU*
Jan. 17 – vs. T A&M-CC*
Jan. 21 – @ N-western St.*
Jan. 24 – @ C. Arkansas*
Jan. 29 – vs. UNO*
Jan. 31 – vs. I. Word*
Feb. 4 – @ I. Word*
Feb. 7 – vs. McNeese State*
Feb. 14 – vs. SELA*
Feb. 18 – vs. N-western St.*
Feb. 21 – @ SFA*
Feb. 26 – @ UNO
Feb. 28 – @ McNeese State*
March 5 – vs. C. Ark*
March 7 – @ SELA*
March 12-15 SLC Tourney
*denotes SLC Game
**denotes game is part of Thanksgiving Tourney
***denotes game is part of Texas Tech Tourney
DoBee Plaisance
