Tulsa Women’s Hoops Announces American Athletic Conference Slate

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The University of Tulsa women's basketball team will play a 16-game American Athletic Conference schedule in the 2021-22 season, as announced today by the league office.

TU plays home-and-home games against Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, SMU and Wichita State, while also hosting the Temple Owls and Tulane Green Wave, but only facing UCF and South Florida in road contests.

Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Angie Nelp, the Golden Hurricane returns nine letterwinners, including four starters. TU is led by sisters Maya Mayberry and Wyvette Mayberry. The duo averaged 14.3 and 12.3 points per game and picked up third-team all-conference and all-freshman team accolades, respectively, a year ago. Super senior Rebecca Lescay, who was one of three players to start all 19 games last year, returns for her fifth season after receiving an extra year of eligibility stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

"The American Athletic Conference is one of the top conferences in the country," Nelp said. "We look forward to the challenge that lies ahead in what will once again prove to be a competitive schedule in The American."

The Hurricane opens the 2022 conference season with a matchup against Cincinnati on New Year's Day (Jan. 1) in the friendly confines of the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Bearcats finished last season with an 8-16 overall record and a 6-12 mark in the league, but look to emulate the back-to-back 20-win seasons from the two previous years.

Tulsa looks to even the series against the Bearcats, who have the edge at 7-6. The two teams won on the others home court a year ago.

Next up, Tulsa will make trips to Memphis (Jan. 5) and Houston (Jan. 8) before returning home to host East Carolina (Jan. 11). The Tigers had just four wins last season, but returns four of their top five scorers.

Houston returns four starters from a team that compiled a 17-8 overall record and finished third in the AAC with a 12-5 mark. The Cougars finished the season in the WNIT First Round, marking their third-straight postseason appearance.

The ECU Pirates, who posted eight wins last season, return seven players and welcome seven newcomers, including four transfers this year. Tulsa won both games a season ago and has an overall 14-12 lead in the series, while posting a 7-4 home mark.

In the second half of January, Tulsa travels to defending AAC Champion South Florida (Jan. 19), hosts SMU (Jan. 22) and Memphis (Jan. 26), and then makes the return trip to Cincinnati (Jan. 29) to close out the month.

USF recorded a 19-4 mark, claimed both the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last nine years last season. The Bulls finished the campaign ranked No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. The Bulls, which are led by 2021 AAC Coach of the Year Jose Fernandez, return five all-conference players and welcomes AAC second-team all-AAC transfer from Memphis, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu.

SMU only played six games last year before making the decision to cancel the rest of their season due to coronavirus concerns. The Mustangs, who are under new leadership in first-year Head Coach Toyelle Wilson, return seven letterwinners, including four starters, while adding six transfers.

Tulsa returns home to host Houston (Feb. 2) looking to improve upon its overall 18-11 series advantage and 11-3 home record. The Hurricane will make the short trip up Highway I-35 to Wichita State (Feb. 6) four days later. Tulsa returns home to host Temple (Feb. 12) and Tulane (Feb. 16).

The Shockers posted six wins last season but averaged 14 wins in their first three seasons as a member of The American. WSU returns all five starters and 92-percent of their scoring from a year ago.

Temple had 11 wins last season, all of which came in league play. The Owls return just five letterwinners, while welcoming two graduate transfers and eight freshmen to the roster. The Green Wave totaled 18 wins a year ago, including 12 in conference play for the most league wins by a Tulane team since joining The American.

Tulsa will face SMU (Feb. 19), East Carolina (Feb. 25) and Wichita State (Feb. 27) all for a second time before traveling to Orlando, Fla., to close out the regular season against UCF on March 2.

UCF returns all five starters from a team that posted a 16-5 overall record and a 12-2 mark in league play for a second-place finish. The Knights returned to the 2021 NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year while earning a program-best No. 10 seed.

The American Athletic Conference Tournament will be played March 7-10, 2022, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tulsa Women’s Hoops Announces American Athletic Conference Slate

Players Mentioned

Rebecca Lescay

Maya Mayberry

Wyvette Mayberry

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