CEDAR CITY, Utah – Highlighted by a home game versus Colorado of the PAC-12, the Southern Utah University women's basketball team has announced its full schedule for the 2021-22 season.
In addition to the visit from the Buffaloes and its regular slate of Big Sky Conference opponents, the Thunderbirds will square off against a pair of teams from the Big West Conference, three future Western Athletic Conference opponents, a visit to a Mountain West school and home games against SAGU American Indian College and Life Pacific.
"The ladies have been hard at work and are so excited to take the floor this November," said SUU head coach Tracy Sanders. "We have some great games in our preseason with several WAC opponents as well as Colorado here in Cedar City. The Big Sky Conference will be tough as usual with some talented new coaches in the league. We just can't wait to start the season."
Southern Utah opens the season on the road with a pair of home games against Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine before playing host to in-state rival and future WAC foe Utah Valley on November 16 in the home opener at the America First Event Center. The T-Birds then make the short trip down I-15 to challenge UNLV in Las Vegas before returning home for a pre-Thanksgiving contest against SAGU American Indian College.
The Thunderbirds make one final road trip to UTRGV to close out their November slate before opening Big Sky play against Eastern Washington at home. SUU will also face Idaho that same weekend before returning to nonconference play for three games.
On Tuesday, December 7, Southern Utah welcomes PAC-12 foe Colorado to Cedar City for a 6:30 p.m. MT tip-off. The Thunderbirds are one of two Big Sky Conference teams to host a power five opponent in their home arena this season. After the showdown with the Buffs, SUU will take on Life Pacific and Dixie State to wrap up nonconference play.
The 2021-22 season will serve as SUU's last in the Big Sky as the Thunderbirds prepare to transition to the WAC beginning July 1 of 2022. Southern Utah will act as a lone wolf in the Big Sky scheduling without a travel partner and face each conference opponent twice the remainder of the season. The regular season ends in the form of a two-game home stand against Idaho State and Weber State the first week of March.
The Season culminates at the Big Sky Championship, March 7-10, with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line. The championship will be held at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The top-five schools in the regular season standings will earn a bye to the quarterfinal round.
Specific broadcast plans and links for each of SUU's contests will be added to the schedule as they become available. The majority of games can be viewed on ESPN+.
For all the latest on Southern Utah women's basketball, follow @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Women's Basketball Facebook page.
