MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's women's basketball team will face three NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, take on five power-conference opponents, and play in two different tournaments as part of its competitive 2017-18 non-conference schedule, announced Thursday by head coach Paul Thomas.
The Gaels (20-13 in 2016-17) open the season against East Bay rival California on Nov. 10. They will also travel to Mountain West Conference Tournament champion Boise State and take on Big Ten Conference power Purdue. All three of those programs played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Saint Mary's hosts its annual Hilton Concord Classic over Thanksgiving weekend Nov.