STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Southern Arkansas women's basketball team will officially start its season on Friday at Wisdom Gym in the TexAnn Tip-Off Classic, facing host Tarleton State at 5 p.m. Friday and Angelo State Saturday at noon.

The Lady Muleriders (0-0) are coming off of a one-point overtime exhibition loss at North Texas, a Division I program. After being chosen to finish 11^th in the GAC last season, first-year coach Rusty Rainbolt rejuvenated a program that was winless in its previous season. Last year's SAU squad under Rainbolt won 12 games, including eight conference games, finished seventh in the GAC and sent the Lady Muleriders to their first postseason appearance since the 2006-07 season.

SAU @ Tarleton | Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 | 5 p.m. | Wisdom Gym
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Tarleton (0-0) played in an exhibition match against a nationally-ranked Baylor team and fell 102-41. The TexAnns are receiving votes in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll and were the third-ranked team in the South Central Region as of March 5, 2014.

Tarleton finished the 2013-14 season at 22-9 and 10-6 in the Lone Star Conference. The TexAnns lost to conference foe and eventual Division II runner-up West Texas A&M in the Lone Star Conference Tournament final before falling 66-44 in the second round of the 2013-14 Division II Women's Basketball Championship versus Colorado Mesa.

The TexAnns finished ninth nationally among Division II teams in field-goal percentage (46.2) and 21^st nationally in assists per game (16.7).

Tarleton returns four starters, including last year's scoring leader in Kiara Wright (18.6 points/game). The TexAnns, however, have to replace their second-best scorer from last season, Peyton Adamson (15.3 points/game).
 

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SAU vs. Angelo State | Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 | 12 p.m. | Wisdom Gym
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Angelo State (0-0) will first face St. Mary's University on Friday at noon in the TexAnn Tip-Off Classic. The Rambelles finished the 2013-14 season 14-13 overall and 7-9 in the Lone Star Conference.

Last season, the Rambelles finished the year as the conference leader and 25^th in Division II in scoring defense (60.3 points/game). ASU looks to replace two of its top-three scorers in Hillari Adam (12.4 points/game) and Rochelle Norris (8.7 points/game). Junior Amanda Weaver (9.4 points/game) returns as the Rambelles top scorer from last season's squad.