Owls Announce 2005-06 Schedule
8/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 19, 2005
Complete 2005-06 Schedule
HOUSTON -- The Rice women tip off a demanding 2005-06 campaign on Nov. 18 with a trip to Mississippi for the first of seven non-conference road games before returning home to battle 2005 NCAA regional semifinalist Texas Tech on Nov. 21. Over the course of the season, the Owls will face five teams from the 2005 NCAA championships, including the Lady Rebels and the Lady Raiders, and five from the 2005 post-season WNIT.
After a trip to Washington for the Seattle Times Classic, Rice comes home to Autry Court to host 2005 NCAA participant and former conference rival Louisiana Tech, along with Davidson and Texas-San Antonio in the Gene Hackerman Rice Invitational. The Owls return to the road to face 2005 NCAA regional finalist Stanford and Loyola Marymount in California. Rice plays three WNIT teams to wrap up non-conference play, beginning with quarterfinalist Wake Forest at Autry Court. Finally, it's back to the road for games at Marquette and at WNIT quarterfinalist Texas A&M.
"We will certainly be challenged with a non-conference schedule that includes seven teams who went to post-season play last year," noted first year head coach Greg Williams. "This should hopefully prepare us as we enter Conference USA for the first time."
After sharing the Western Athletic Conference regular season title and winning the WAC tournament, the Owls embark on a new challenge starting Jan. 6 when they host Southern Mississippi to begin C-USA action. After playing the Golden Eagles and Central Florida at Autry Court, Rice then plays four on the road, including visits to NCAA participant Houston and WNIT participants Tulsa and SMU. The Owls make their final home appearances of the year against the Mustangs on Feb. 17 and the Golden Hurricane on Feb. 19. The regular season comes to a close just like it began, on the road, as Rice travels to UAB on Feb. 24 and Memphis on Feb. 26.
The Owls will make a bid for their first C-USA championship title when the tournament gets underway March 2-5 in Dallas.
Rice returns 12 letterwinners from last year's 24-9 team, including 2005 WAC tournament MVP Lauren Neaves. Fans can get their first look at the 2005-06 team on Nov. 5, when the Owls host EV1 Sports in the first of two exhibition games.
