BOONEVILLE, Miss. - For the second consecutive year, the Northeast Mississippi Community College women's basketball team has pieced together one of the strongest schedules in the country.
The Lady Tigers will face six opponents that appeared in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I rankings of last season during the 2024-25 campaign.
That includes three defending region winners in Chattanooga State (Tenn.) Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Northwest Florida State College, which went on to finish as the national runner-up.
Northeast plays four different members of the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA), which has delivered seven of the last nine national champions. That is the most of any other program from the Magnolia State.
"I know it's going to be challenging, but I know it's going to be worth it," said Lady Tigers head coach Chelsey Rhodes. "If we can match up with the wide range of athletes that they're going to have, I think we'll be fine moving through our entire schedule."
Chipola (Fla.) College returns to Northeast for a second straight year to participate in its Thanksgiving Classic from November 21-22. The tournament field also features Calhoun (Ala.) Community College and East Mississippi Community College.
Northwest Florida State, which lost in the title game to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in overtime, christens the new year inside legendary Bonner Arnold Coliseum on Monday, January 6.
The Lady Tigers also tangle with Daytona State (Fla.) College and Eastern Florida State College at the Lady Jets Holiday Classic, which is hosted by South Georgia Technical College from December 29-31.
Six of the first seven contests are at home, including the inaugural meeting between Northeast and Bishop State (Ala.) Community College. The Lady Tigers welcome Dyersburg State (Tenn.) Community College on November 4th for their season opener.
Rivals Northeast and Itawamba Community College resume their traditional series after playing just once during the previous campaign. The matchups take place on December 5th in Booneville and January 21st in Fulton.
The Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) slate gets underway on Monday, January 13 at East Central Community College. Hinds Community College serves as the Lady Tigers' first home league game three days later.
Northeast gets region tournament rematches with Mississippi Delta Community College and Pearl River Community College on back-to-back Thursdays starting February 20th.
"I think it's going to be a fun year," Rhodes said. "We're going into a gauntlet. We're not skating by. You can't wait until conference to get your mind right. You can't be the best if you don't beat the best."
The Lady Tigers have 16 total dates on their own court, which is the most under Rhodes. March Madness begins in earnest when Coahoma Community College comes to town for the regular season finale on the third.