MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Our non-conference play is going to get us ready for conference play. The different types of play will be good for us, and heading into Christmas break I'm hoping we are feeling pretty good about the season at that point, a place Head Coach Jacob Roark says will be pivotal for the 2024-2025 season.
After last season's up-and-down battle, The Lady Eagles look to the 2024-25 season to right the ship under new leadership in Head Coach Jacob Roark. This upcoming season welcomes a new SSAC foe, a trip to The Show and some big games to start in the Jimmy Faulkner Classic.
"I feel good. You know, compared to the schedule they had last year, I'm hesitant to say this, but it is an easier schedule. Last season they had like a top 10 schedule in the country. I think we have a tough schedule, but it's not that. It's good because we are younger. You know we lost two starters, Nequoia is coming off the ACL injury. So, I don't know if we need a top-10 schedule, but I feel good about everything. I love Faulkner and I'm excited to be back." said Coach Roark when asked about the schedule.
The Lady Eagles tip off in the first game against Rust College on Nov. 1 at 5:00 in the Jimmy Faulkner Classic. They then take on former SSAC foe, Stillman College at 5:00 the following day, Roark says"We were scheduling the Jimmy Faulkner Classic before I left last year. So, Rust has a new coach. It probably won't be the same Rust we knew, but I'm sure they will still have good players and be tough. Then Stillman is going to be Stillman. They are physical and will beat you up, so I think the Classic is a great opening weekend for us, especially being young. We are going to have to be ready to play or we are going to get beat.
Faulkner then takes on cross-town rival Alabama State in an exhibition on Nov. 4 with a trip to Oakwood later in the week on the ninth.
"Alabama State is a no-brainer. They are like five minutes down the street and it's great competition," says Roark
SSAC play starts on Nov. 14 when the Lady Eagles host UT Southern with Blue Mountain to follow on Saturday.
Middle Georgia heads to Tine Davis Gymnasium on Nov 19 for non-conference action. The Lady Eagles then head to their sister school in Henderson, Tenn. to take on Freed-Hardeman on Nov. 21, Roark on Freed-Hardeman "Freed-Hardeman will be a good game for us. They got a new coach as well, but they have been good. I'm excited to get that on the schedule. We are both Church of Christ schools and we are both competitive. So, I think this is a great game on the schedule."
During the Thanksgiving break, the Lady Eagles make their debut at The Show in Kingsport, Tenn. They take on Shawnee State on Nov. 29 then turn around and face Campbellsville the next day.
"The Show will be good for us. They are both really good teams. We are young so I think seeing these teams live and in person their freshman year will be really good for us." said Roark.
They continue the road trip on Dec. 5 when they head to William Carey for SSAC play. Faulkner then hits a row of exhibition games with South Alabama, Harding and Columbus State with a trip to Stillman in between to close out the front half of the season, Roark on their exhibitions this season. "South Alabama is really good. They have a new coaching staff and are moving in the right direction. Columbus State is a game we got after the Nicholls State Exhibition fell through. The coach at Columbus State coached with me at Pittsburg State and we worked it out to get the game done. I went to Harding and I have a lot of ties with them. They don't usually play NAIA, but they hit me up and said if you want to play, let's play. I'm excited to go back and play."
The remainder of the regular season is 13 SSAC and one non-conference against Pensacola Christian. The remaining games consist of nine at home and five on the road.
The Lady Eagles will host new SSAC member, Abraham Baldwin, on January 25.
The regular season wraps up with three of the last four games being on the road. Senior night will interrupt the road trip when the Lady Eagles host Blue Mountain for senior night on February 20.
The SSAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Newk's Eatery, is set for February 26-March 1 at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. The national tournament first and second round is set for March 14-15 at campus sites with the National Championship set for March 20-25 in Kansas City.
