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Hammond, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University women’s basketball team officially opened training this week a little over a month before the opening of the 2021-22 schedule released Thursday.
The Lady Lions 2021-22 go into the season with high expectations after taking the best second place in the Southland Conference standings of all time. The SLU overall (11-8) and Conference (10-5) records were the best since the 2008-09 season.
The SLU returns a total of 10 letter winners from last season’s squad, including the seven best results and all five starters. The return of Southland Conference Freshman of the Year 2019-20, Alexius Horne, as well as the addition of five talented newcomers strengthens the list in the southeast.
Lady Lion head coach Ayla Guzzardo goes into her fifth season at the top of the program with confidence and is pleased with the start of official training.
“We’re excited to be back at the university center after Hurricane Ida,” said Guzzardo. “This is an experienced team, which shows in training. Our training was competitive and we are getting better every day.”
2020-21 All-Southland cast members Morgan Carrier and Hailey Giaratano both return for the Lady Lions, along with key contributors Caitlyn Williams, Cierria Cunningham, Breonca Ducksworth, Chrissy Brown, Natalie Kelley, Daija Harvey, Jaylen Huderson and Kacey Bradford. All in all, 97.1 percent of the 2020-21 SLU scorings are back for the coming season.
“Our expectations are high and it starts in our locker room,” commented Guzzardo. “Our players do a great job holding each other accountable and setting a high standard for themselves. Our way of thinking is that our fate is in our hands this year.”
The seasoned core is joined by five newcomers – Taylor Bell, Morgan Davis, Dijone Flowers, Jade Brumfield and Presleigh Scott. Highlighting the “new” faces for 2021-22 is Horne returning after missing out on all of 2020-21. Born in Baton Rouge, the league’s top newcomer averaged 9.5 points and 3.8 assists per competition in 2019-20.
“Lex came back stronger and more confident,” said Guzzardo. “The only difference from her before the injury is that she is wearing a knee brace. What we saw is that old Lex is back and we’re excited to see her progress this year.”
Guzzardo wants her team to keep improving at the start of the season.
“We have to be consistent at the beginning of the season and maintain it all year round,” said Guzzardo. “We have depth, but we want to see how well our new faces blend in with our veterans and fit into our system.”
The SLU opens the 2021-22 season in Tulane on November 9th. Other trips for the Lady Lions in the non-conference game include Texas Tech (November 11th), Alcorn State (November 19th), TCU (December 1st), Prairie View (December 3rd), Stephen F. Austin (December 20th) ), Lamar (December 22nd) and Houston (December 29th).
Southeastern opens its home schedule against LSU Shreveport on November 15th. UL Lafayette (November 24), Utah State (November 27) and William Carey (December 11) will also visit the University Center during the Southland game.
“We face tough competition from the start and throughout the season without a conference,” said Guzzardo. “We have an experienced team and we wanted to test it on a schedule that would only make us better and prepare us for the game in the Southland Conference.”
Prior to the start of the conference season, the league will host a three-game tournament with the eight teams from the conference at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas – the site of the postseason Southland conference tournament in March. The Southland preview event is scheduled for January 3rd to 5th.
The SLU will officially open home conference play against Northwestern State on January 15th. The Lady Lions will face all seven league opponents at home and away. Southland home competitions include visits to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (January 27), UIW (January 29), McNeese (February 10), HBU (February 12), New Orleans (February 24), and Nicholls ( February 24). 26).
The Lady Lions will begin their conference schedule on January 20 in New Orleans. SLU road competitions include drives to Nicholls (January 22), McNeese (February 3), HBU (February 5), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (February 17), UIW (February 19), and Northwestern State ( March). 5). The Southland tournament will take place March 10-13 in Katy, Texas.
2021-22 Southeast Louisiana WBB schedule
Date Opponent’s location Time
November 9th in Tulane New Orleans, La. TBA
November 11th at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 7pm
November 15, LSU Shreveport Hammond, La. 19 o’clock
November 19th at Alcorn State Lorman, Miss. TBA
November 24th UL Lafayette Hammond, La. 19:00
November 27, Utah State Hammond, La. 13:00
Dec 1 at TCU Fort Worth, Texas, 6:30 p.m.
December 3 at SMU Dallas, Texas 5:30 p.m.
December 11th, William Carey Hammond, La. 13:00
December 20th at Stephen F. Austin Houston, Texas TBA
December 22nd in Lamar Beaumont, Texas TBA
December 29th in Houston Houston, Texas TBA
Jan 3-5 Southland Preview Katy, Texas TBA
January 15, Northwestern State * Hammond, La. 13:00
January 20 in New Orleans * New Orleans, La. 17:00
January 22nd at Nicholls * Thibodaux, La. TBA
Jan. 27 A&M Corpus Christi * Hammond, La. 17:30
Jan. 29 UIW * Hammond, La. 13 o’clock
February 3 at McNeese * Lake Charles, La. 17:00
February 5 at the Houston Baptist * Houston, Texas, 2 p.m.
February 10, McNeese * Hammond, La. 17:30
February 12, Houston Baptist * Hammond, La. 13:00
May 5pm at A&M Corpus Christi * Corpus Christi, Texas 5pm
Feb. 19 at UIW * San Antonio, Texas TBA
February 24, New Orleans * Hammond, La. 17:30
February 26, Nicholls * Hammond, La. 13:00
March 5 in Northwestern State * Natchitoches, La. 13:00
10-13 March at the Southland Katy, Texas TBA
Southeast home events in bold | * – Southland Conference competition
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