HOUSTON – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds announced the non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 Rice women’s basketball season, including games against seven postseason teams from last season and a pair of Power-4 opponents.
“I am happy to announce our non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season,” Edmonds said. “We are looking forward to competing against two Power-4 schools along with many highly competitive mid-major programs, seven of which made it to postseason play this past year, with three having won conference championships. I am excited to see not only where we stack up against those teams, but also for the opportunity to blend our six newcomers with our nine returning student-athletes. We know how tough American Conference play will be, and this non-conference slate will position us to compete against every opponent we face.”
Rice will host the University of Mary Hardin Baylor for an exhibition game on Oct. 28, before opening the 2024-25 campaign on the road against the reigning Summit League champion and NCAA Tournament team, South Dakota State, on Nov. 7.
The Owls then head crosstown to square off against Houston on Nov. 11 before the home opener against former conference foe Middle Tennessee on Nov. 15.
Rice will then travel north to face another NCAA Tournament team from last season against Princeton on Nov. 19, before returning home to play Incarnate Word on Nov. 23.
A trip to Puerto Rico will follow during Thanksgiving week against Illinois State, Morgan State and UCF.
A three-game homestand will open on Dec. 3 against Sam Houston before games against the regular-season Mountain West champion UNLV on Dec. 6 and a WNIT participant last season, UT-Arlington, on Dec. 12.
The Owls will head to Grambling State on Dec. 17 before the non-conference finale against Houston Christian on Dec. 20.
The American announced conference opponents last week, with the full schedule to be released at a later time.
Ticketing information will be released at a later time.
