SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team is slated to play two games at the UT-Rio Grande Valley South Padre Classic at the South Padre Island Convention Centre on December 19-20 against Bowling Green and Boise State.
 
"This is a great opportunity for us to get tested one more time before we open up our first Division I conference schedule," said coach Jason Burton. "The goal for us in year one is to compete out the gate for a Southland Conference championship. Our non-conference schedule is one that will challenge us, but it is one that has been put together to get us ready for a competitive conference schedule."
 
The Lions take on Bowling Green on Monday, December 19, at 3 p.m. and Boise State on the next day at 3 p.m. as well. UTRGV is the other team in the four-team multi-team-event.
 
In 2021-22, the Falcons went 17-16 and finished third at the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) postseason tournament. Playing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Bowling Green went 10-10 in conference play last season and was the conference's regular season champion in 2020-21. The Falcons are coached by Robyn Fralick, who was the 2020-21 MAC Coach of the Year.
 
The Broncos, who have won four of the last six Mountain West Tournament titles, have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in five times of the last eight years. Last season, Boise State went 8-21 and is coached by Gordy Presnell, who is in his 19^th season at Boise.
 
Burton added, "we're excited to hopefully spend a few days by the beach before Christmas break and take on Dr. Rudin's former employer in Boise State!"
 
The Lions' full schedule for the 2022-23 season will be released later this summer. The Lions make the transition to NCAA Division I and compete in the Southland Conference.
 
UTRGV South Padre Classic
Monday, Dec. 19
A&M-COMMERCE VS. BOWLING GREEN, 3 P.M.
UTRGV vs. Boise State, 6 p.m.
 
Tuesday, Dec. 20
A&M-COMMERCE VS. BOISE STATE, 3 P.M.
UTRGV vs. Bowling Green, 6 p.m.