BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Games against Auburn, UCLA, Kansas and Kansas State highlight the 2014-15 Samford women's basketball schedule, released by Head Coach Mike Morris Thursday afternoon.
 
As usual, Samford will play several in-state teams this season. Morris said he thinks it is important to continue to play Alabama teams.
 
"We're playing a lot of in-state teams," Morris said. "It's good to have UAB on campus this year. We're going to Auburn and Troy and hosting Alabama A&M, Alabama State and AUM. I think that is good for women's basketball in the state of Alabama."
 
Samford has made a tradition of playing teams from power conferences. Morris said he hopes those games help prepare the team for the Southern Conference schedule.
 
"It will be extremely challenging playing UCLA, Tulane, Kansas and Kansas State," Morris said. "Our schedule, even though it is challenging, I think will help us as we get into conference play."
 
The Southern Conference will welcome two new teams this season in East Tennessee and Mercer. Morris talked about what he expects to see from the conference this season.
 
"Obviously, Chattanooga has dominated the league for the last 10 or 12 years so I think they are always the team to beat," Morris said. "I know Furman is going to be very good. East Tennessee and Mercer are the two new teams that are very well coached, and they'll be good as well. Hopefully our pre-conference schedule really prepares us to make a run in the conference."
 
After hosting Montevallo in an exhibition game on Nov. 10, the Bulldogs open the regular season by playing at Memphis for the second-straight season on Nov. 16. Samford will then play three-straight home games, hosting Alabama A&M (Nov. 21), North Florida (Nov. 24) and UT-Martin (Nov. 26).
 
On Nov. 28 and 30, the Bulldogs will travel to Atlanta to take part in the Georgia State Thanksgiving Tournament. The team will then play three-straight games against in-state foes. During the stretch, Samford will play at Troy (Dec. 3), host UAB (Dec. 6) and play at Auburn (Dec. 14).
 
The Bulldogs will then travel to New Orleans to take part in Tulane's Double Tree Classic. Samford will take on the host Green Wave on Dec. 18, and then the Bulldogs will play UCLA on Dec. 19.
 
After hosting Alabama State on Dec. 21, Samford will close out the 2014 portion of its schedule by playing at Kansas on Dec. 29 and Kansas State on Dec. 30. The Bulldogs will play their final non-conference game of the season when the team hosts AUM on Jan. 5.
 
Samford will open Southern Conference play by playing at UNCG (Jan. 10) and Western Carolina (Jan. 12). The Bulldogs will then host Furman (Jan. 17) and Western Carolina (Jan. 19).
 
The Bulldogs will travel to Chattanooga on Jan. 26. The team will then play at new SoCon member East Tennessee on Jan. 31.
 
On Feb. 2, Samford will host another new SoCon member, Mercer in the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs will then host Wofford (Feb. 7) and UNCG (Feb. 9) to round out the three-game homestand.
 
Next up for Samford will be trips to Wofford (Feb. 14) and Furman (Feb. 16). The team will then host Chattanooga (Feb. 21) and East Tennessee (Feb. 23) to round out the home portion of the schedule.
 
Samford will wrap up the regular season with a game at Mercer on Feb. 28.
 
Following the regular season, Samford will once again compete in the Southern Conference Tournament. The 2015 event, to be held in Asheville, N.C., will take place Mar. 5-8.