BOWIE, MD --- The Bowie State women's basketball team will open their 2023-24 season with two games at the Conference Challenge hosted by Shippensburg on Friday, Nov. 10 through Saturday, Nov. 11 at Heiges Field House. The Bulldogs game against Mansfield at 1 p.m. on Friday, followed by a tilt with Shippensburg at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

When: Friday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. vs Mansfield | Saturday, Nov. 11 vs Shippensburg at 7 p.m.
Where: Heiges Field House (Shippensburg, PA)
Watch: BSUBulldogs.com
Live Stats: BSUBulldogs.com
Follow on Twitter: @BSU_Sports_Info
Follow on Instagram: @BowieStateBulldogs

Bowie State vs. Mansfield
Friday's game will be the first meeting between Bowie State and Mansfield in program history. 

Bowie State vs. Shippensburg
In the last 10 matchups between Bowie State and Shippensburg, the Bulldogs are 2-7 and have lost the last three outing against the Raiders entering Saturday's game. This will be the ninth meeting between the teams since 2013. Both teams met during the 2022-23 season with Shippensburg edging the Bulldogs, 51-46 in the conference challenge in Shippensburg, Pa.

Last Whistle
Bowie State's 2023-24 season came to an end in the opening round of the CIAA Tournament, where the Bulldogs dropped a 76-54 to Elizabeth City State back on Feb. 23. BSU had shot 60-percent from the 3-point line but it would not be enough to overcome the Lady Vikings 47-percent shooting from the field and 40-percent shooting from beyond the arc. Additionally the Bulldogs saw a 39-25 deficit in the rebounding category defensively. Anii Harris finished with 12 points as the team's second leading scorer in the contest while Saniha Jackson added five points, seven rebounds and three steals. 

CIAA Predicitions
The CIAA announced its order of predicted finishes for the 2023-24 women's basketball season back in September and Bowie State was picked to finish third amongst 13 teams with three Bulldogs earning All-CIAA Preseason accolades in Katerra Myers, Harris and Jackson. Elizabeth City State, who won the CIAA championship in 2023 was picked to repeat as CIAA champions while Lincoln (PA) was voted No. 2.

Familiar Faces
The Bulldogs are set to return four starters from last season that featured Robyn Howard, Myers, Harris and Jackson. BSU will also return a total of 12 players from the 2022-23 roster, a squad that finished 14-12 overall and 10-6 in the CIAA last season. Bowie State is expected to get high performances from the three Preseason All-Conference recipients in Myers, Harris and Jackson. Myers recorded eight games in double digit scoring and 12 games with at least seven rebounds in 22 games played during the 2022-23 season. She led the Bulldogs in rebounds, averaging 6.6 boards per game while shooting 38-percent from the field.

Harris led Bowie State last season in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game, which was eighth overall in the CIAA in 26 games started. She also led the team in minutes (31.7),  free throws with 110 made and steals (46). The Ellicott City, Md., native posted 21 games in double digit scoring to go along with six games with 20 points or more. Meanwhile Jackson, also a native of Ellicott City, Md., had a breakout season in 2022-23 - leading the team in total rebounds (155) and blocks (16). She averaged 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, followed by five games in double digit scoring including a double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds against St. Augustine's.

Bowie State will debut three newcomers that include two freshman to the 2023-24 roster. This season will mark the ninth for head coach Shadae Swan.

About the Opponents
A member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Mansfield enters the conference challenge coming off a 3-23 overall record and 2-20 mark in the conference a season ago. The Mountaineers are picked to finish ninth in the PSAC Eastern Division out of nine teams. Mansfield is led by Amy Senefelder in third season at the helm. 

Shippensburg, a member of the PSAC as well is coming off a 25-7 finish in 2022-23, the Raiders had won its first NCAA tournament appearance for the first time since 2001. SU returns 10 players, including two starters from last year's squad featuring Treasure George and Abbie Miller. The Raiders are led by Kristy Trn in her 25th season leading Shippensburg.

Next Up
Bowie State will continue its road stand when the Bulldogs travel to Wilmington, Del., to take on Wilmington in a nonconference battle on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.