SEU Athletics
Andrew Tew
LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern University women’s basketball head coach Tim Hays has finalized the 2021-22 schedule. The lineup features a scrimmage, exhibition, 14 non-conference contests, and a 16-game Sun Conference slate.
“With five national tournament teams and three NCAA Division II teams on the schedule we have put together one of the toughest schedules we’ve ever faced,” said Coach Hays, who enters his sixth season at the helm of the program. “Our goals remain the same: to be the most prepared team in the league, and to be measured and prepared to compete at the national level. I believe our schedule reflects our culture and pursuit of those goals.”
The Fire are coming off a dynamic 26-3 2020-21 season in which they swept both The Sun Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships, as well as advanced to the NAIA National Championship Round of 16.
The Fire tip off with a scrimmage inside The Furnace on Saturday September 25 versus the SHE HOOPS ELITE Pro-Am club team.
Southeastern then makes a lengthy road trip to The Treasure State of Montana October 21-24 for a three-game stretch against NAIA competition. First, the Fire take on another program that advanced to the NAIA Round of 16 last season in the University of Providence (10-6). Then, SEU takes on the reigning Frontier Conference Tournament Champions in Carroll College (21-3), who advanced to the NAIA Opening Round in 2020-21. The Fire round out the trip with a bout versus Montana Tech (5-14).
SEU returns to Lakeland on October 30 for an exhibition against NCAA Division II Barry University (5-6). The Fire ten travel to Dayton, Tenn. for a pair of games November 5-6. SEU battles Bryan College (18-3), who captured both the Appalachian Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships, as well as competed in Lakeland last season for the NAIA Opening Round. Southeastern then takes on AAC Runners-Up from last season Reinhardt University (12-7), who also competed in the Opening Round.
The Fire open Sun Conference play at home on Saturday November 13 versus Ave Maria University (8-19). Five days later, SEU heads to The Peach State to first take on College of Coastal Georgia (13-11) and then face Thomas University (2-16) two days later.
“We are excited to once again contend for a Sun Conference Championship,” Hays said. “We walk into every conference season knowing we have a target on our back having won six consecutive conference titles and we love the preparation and challenge of having to be our very best every single game.”
Southeastern hosts its Thanksgiving Classic November 26-27 inside The Furnace, where the Fire will welcome a pair of NCAA Division II institutions from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Fire take on Concordia University St. Paul (11-6), followed by Bemidji State University (10-6).
The Fire open December with a pair of SUN contests versus Polk County foes. SEU heads to Babson Park on December 2 to face Webber International University (17-11) before hosting Warner University (7-21) two days later. WIU advanced to the NAIA Opening Round last season, competing in the Lakeland Bracket.
Southeastern makes another non-conference road trip to the Big Easy December 10-11, where the Fire will face defending Southern States Athletic Conference Champions and NAIA Opening Round team Loyola University of New Orleans (21-2). The Fire then take on LSU-Alexandria (7-8) to round out the trip.
The Fire return to Lakeland to host Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Runners-Up Tabor College (19-8) on December 14. On December 16-17, the Fire host their Christmas Invitational, taking on Talladega College (16-3) and Goshen College (7-21).
SEU participates in a classic at Warner December 29-30. In Lake Wales, the Fire take on NCAA Division III Husson College (6-1) and Brescia University (2-17).
Southeastern rings in the New Year in Miami Gardens on January 6 versus Florida Memorial University (10-11). The Fire then host St. Thomas University (19-5), who SEU defeated in The Sun Conference Tournament Final last season, on Saturday January 8. The next Saturday the Fire face Keiser University (15-12) inside The Furnace.
The Fire make their second round through SUN play starting on January 20 at Ave Maria. SEU then hosts Thomas and Coastal Georgia on January 27 and 29 respectively.
SEU heads back to Lake Wales on February 3 for a rematch with Warner before hosting Webber International two days later. The Fire trek down to Miami Gardens to battle St. Thomas on February 10 and then host Florida Memorial two days later. SEU rounds out the regular season on Saturday February 17 versus Keiser.
The 2021-22 Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament runs at campus sites on February 22,25, and 26.
The 2021-22 NAIA National Championship Opening Round will take place at campus sites March 11-12, with the Final Site to follow at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa March 17-22.
Tickets for Fire women’s basketball home games will be made available for purchase later this fall here.