Eighteen Home Games Highlight Lady Bulldogs' 2012-13 Schedule

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Eighteen home dates and a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, are part of the schedule for Vic Schaefer's inaugural Mississippi State women's basketball team.

The Lady Bulldogs play 10 times at Humphrey Coliseum before tipping off a 16-game league slate that includes home-and-home contests against Ole Miss, South Carolina and LSU.

"We are excited about the schedule," Schaefer said. "We feel that we have some challenging games in the non-conference, and the SEC schedule is always demanding. We look forward to getting the season started."

Fans get their first look at Schaefer's team Nov. 2 in an exhibition against Shorter. The regular season kicks off Nov. 9 as MSU welcomes Houston to The Hump.

Mississippi State plays two more games at home against Hampton on Nov. 12 and Louisiana Tech on Nov. 16 before embarking to Puerto Vallarta for three games in the inaugural Hardwood Tournament of Hope.

The Lady Dawgs challenge Winthrop in the tournament opener and either Oregon State or UC Santa Barbara the following day.

"At one time I didn't think the trip to Mexico was going to work out, but we are excited it did. It's going to be a great tournament in a great venue," Schaefer said. "There will be some challenging teams we have to prepare for, but that will help us get ready for the SEC schedule."

Game tickets and travel packages to watch the Lady Bulldogs in Puerto Vallarta will only be available at www.planbc3.com.

Schaefer's unit returns to Starkville Nov. 28 to close the season's opening month against Savannah State.

The Lady Bulldogs head to Southern Miss on the opening day of December, and following a break for final examinations, State wraps the pre-SEC slate with five-straight games at Humphrey Coliseum.

State hosts Florida Atlantic and Florida A&M Dec. 7 and 16, respectively. Jacksonville State comes to town for the second-straight year on Dec. 20 before the Maroon & White close December with two games in as many days against Northwestern State (Dec. 28) and Troy (Dec. 29).

MSU begins the league set Jan. 3, venturing to Nashville for an evening showdown against Vanderbilt. State opens the home SEC slate with the first of two games against South Carolina (Jan. 6) and a meeting with Florida on Jan. 10.

"I've had the SEC schedule before, and it's as daunting and demanding as any schedule in the country. You're going against the best coaches and players in the nation, so you have to be ready every night," Schaefer said. "Our challenge is that, night in and night out, we are ready to play and give our best to represent Mississippi State University when those lights come on."

The Lady Dawgs head to LSU on Jan. 13 and Kentucky on Jan. 17 before hosting league newcomer Texas A&M on Jan. 24.

State hosts Ole Miss in the first of two contests on Jan. 27, and heads to Knoxville to meet Tennessee on Jan. 31.

The Lady Bulldogs begin the regular season's final stretch at home against Arkansas on Feb. 3. Following back-to-back road games at league newcomer Missouri on Feb. 10 and Ole Miss on Feb. 14, Mississippi State returns home for a Feb. 17 contest against LSU and a Feb. 21 showdown against Alabama.

MSU heads to South Carolina on Feb. 24 before wrapping the home slate against Georgia on Feb. 28. The Lady Dawgs conclude the regular season March 3 at Auburn before heading to Duluth, Ga., for the March 6-10 SEC Tournament.