RUSTON ? Louisiana Tech hosts in-state rival LSU and travels to defending national champion Tennessee during the non-conference portion of the 2007-08 women?s basketball schedule that was released by the department.

Tech?s home non-conference schedule is highlighted by a pair of Southeastern Conference programs in LSU and Mississippi State.

?We have another very tough and demanding non-conference schedule,? said Tech head coach Chris Long. ?Recruits and players want to play the best, and we will continue to do that at Louisiana Tech.

?We have a great home portion to the non-conference schedule with LSU, Mississippi State, Louisiana-Monroe, Stephen F. Austin, Southern Miss and McNeese State. I would encourage everyone to buy their season tickets as we will have a very young and exciting team.?

In addition to the contest in Knoxville against the Lady Vols, the Tech non-conference schedule also includes road trips to Western Kentucky, Alabama, UALR, Sam Houston State and the Memphis Tournament which will also feature another in-state rival in Northwestern State.

?The road will be tough as we open at Western Kentucky,? Long said. ?I think they feel they have one of their better teams they?ve ever had. Of courts Tennessee in Knoxville is always the ultimate test. Alabama and UALR will also be challenging games for a young team.?

Tech will open the conference portion of its season at Fresno State on Jan. 3 before returning home for three straight Western Athletic Conference games, including a Jan. 12 contest against co-WAC champs Boise State.

Tech lost all five starters off of last year?s team that won a share of the league title, and this year?s roster includes only one career collegiate start.

?We have a very young team, and I?m excited to get practice started,? Long said. ?I feel like we have more players at all positions that can score. There will be good competition at most every position so that will help us improve at a quicker rate. I would ask the fans to be patient with this team early; I feel like we will turn the corner and be a team nobody will want to play.?

November
5 Dillard (Exhibition) 7 p.m.
20 at Western Kentucky TBA
23-24 at Memphis Tournament TBA
(Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State, TBA)
26 at Tennessee TBA

December
1 Stephen F. Austin 7 p.m.
5 at Alabama TBA
8 Southern Miss 7 p.m.
11 Louisiana-Monroe (DH) 6 p.m.
13 Mississippi State 7 p.m.
16 LSU 2 p.m.
20 at UALR TBA
29 at Sam Houston State 2 p.m.
31 McNeese State 2 p.m.

January
3 at Fresno State* TBA
9 Idaho* 7 p.m.
12 Boise State* 7 p.m.
19 New Mexico State* 7 p.m.
24 at Nevada* 9 p.m.
26 at Utah State* 8 p.m.

February
2 Hawaii* 7 p.m.
4 Fresno State* 7 p.m.
7 at Boise State* TBA
9 at Idaho* TBA
14 at New Mexico State* 8 p.m.
16 San Jose State* 7 p.m.
28 Utah State* 7 p.m.

March
1 Nevada* 7 p.m.
6 at Hawaii* TBA
8 at San Jose State* TBA
11-15 at WAC Tournament TBA

*, Western Athletic Conference games
All Game Times are CST.