FLORENCE, Ala. — A 14-game home slate, a pair of road matchups against Power 5 opponents and a full league schedule against an expanded ASUN Conference highlight the University of North Alabama women's basketball schedule for the upcoming season. UNA head coach Missy Tiber has announced the Lions' 2021-22 campaign, which begins with a home game at 11 a.m. on Nov. 9 against Blackburn College.
"We are very excited about this year's schedule," said Tiber, who begins her ninth season at the helm of the program. "We've got a good mix of games that will give our youthful team the chance to grow, learn and play basketball at a very high level."
Following the season-opener, UNA will hit the road for two games, including a showdown at Kentucky on Nov. 11. The Lions are 1-1 against schools from the SEC since making the move to the Division I level prior to the 2018-19 season, defeating Vanderbilt in their first season and falling to Missouri last year.
After a game at Austin Peay on Nov. 16, North Alabama will return home for five consecutive games at Flowers Hall. The Lions will host Georgia State (11/20), Tennessee State (11/23), Freed Hardeman (11/29), Oakwood (12/1) and Tennessee Southern (12/11).
The month of December will wrap up with five straight road games, including a trip to Purdue for the second straight season. UNA lost an 11-point decision at Purdue a year ago. Following the trip to West Lafayette, Ind., the UNA women will play two games in Philadelphia, Pa., at the Hawk Classic on the campus of Saint Joseph's University.
ASUN play begins Jan. 5 with a road game at Lipscomb. The home-and-home league schedule includes new conference members Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State. The 12 conference squads are divided into two divisions with each team playing 16-games against ASUN opponents.
This East Division consists of FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, North Florida and Stetson while Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb and North Alabama make up the West Division. Each program is scheduled to face the five schools in their respective division twice as well as one matchup against each team in the opposite division during two crossover weekends.
