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Little Rock Women’s Basketball head coach Steve Wiedower enters his second season with eight new players and a challenging nonconference slate designed to prepare the Trojans to contend for an Ohio Valley Conference Championship.

“We’re excited about the schedule,” Wiedower said. “We always play a tough nonconference schedule to get us ready for the conference season, and we think this one will do exactly that.”

The Trojans open the regular season at home with back-to-back games at the Jack Stephens Center — hosting Central Baptist College on Nov. 3, followed by regional rival Memphis on Nov. 7.

“I’m glad we’re playing Memphis again,” Wiedower said. “It’s a good program, and the proximity makes for an easy trip and a great regional matchup.”

One of the highlights of the nonconference schedule comes Thanksgiving weekend, when Little Rock heads west to compete in a two-day tournament hosted by Arizona State. The Trojans will face the Sun Devils on Friday, Nov. 28, and the University of San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 29.

The Trojans will also travel to SEC country for a Dec. 11 showdown at Oklahoma.

Little Rock continues to play in-state competition with four Arkansas-based matchups. The Trojans visit former Sun Belt rival Arkansas State on Nov. 15 and take on Arkansas in Fayetteville on Nov. 20. They’ll also host Central Arkansas on Dec. 6 in the I-40 Governor’s Showdown, with the men’s team also playing Arkansas State at home that day in a doubleheader.

“It’s always fun to play in-state teams and keep those traditional rivalries alive,” Wiedower said.

The Trojans wrap up their nonconference schedule by hosting  Hendrix College, which is located just down the road in Conway, on Dec. 22.

Conference play begins on New Year’s Day when Little Rock hosts Tennessee Tech, followed by a Jan. 3 game against Tennessee State. The Trojans play four OVC home games in January and six more in February as they gear up for a postseason push.

“Our goal every year is to win the OVC,” Wiedower said. “It’s hard to tell what each team will look like with so many roster changes, but we like our team and we’re really looking forward to the season.”

With a summer of early practices already under their belts, Wiedower is encouraged by the progress of his revamped roster.

“I like them a lot—they’re a hard-working group, and I’m already seeing that early,” he said.

For the entire schedule go here.