Full Schedule
LAKE WALES, Fla. – Despite losing five seniors from last season’s squad, second-year head coach Matt Murphy and the Royals have plenty of talent and experience as they enter the 2010-11 season.
The 2010-11 trek will not be easy for the Royals as they have a daunting out-of-conference schedule before The Sun Conference play, as Warner plays three teams that advanced to the NAIA-II National Tournament last season.
The Royals return five letterwinners from last year, including All-Conference guard and Royals leading scorer Ivana “Beebe” Soberal.
The team opens exhibition play with an Alumni game on Oct. 23 and open regular season action on Nov. 4 with their home opener vs. women’s basketball newcomer Faulkner University (Ala.)
Warner’s first road trip takes place eight days after their home opener when they travel to West Palm Beach, Fla. for a Nov. 12 matchup with NCAA-II Palm Beach Atlantic University.
The Royals will take a break from regular season play when they travel to Tampa, Fla. to play an exhibition tilt vs. NCAA-II powerhouse University of Tampa. The Spartans finished last season ranked No. 17 and advanced to the NCAA South Regional semifinal before bowing out 69-68 to Arkansas Tech.
Warner will return to regular season action and head cross-town to Babson Park, Fla. to play in the Webber International Invitational where they will face Eastern Oregon University, one of the three out-of-conference opponents to advance to the NAIA National Tournament last season and Daemen College (N.Y.) who is coming off a 20-win season.
The Royals will continue their road jaunt into December when they travel to South Carolina for a two-game swing including a rematch Dec. 3 vs. Voorhees College after a tough 66-65 loss last season, and Columbia College on Dec. 4. The Royals return home for a brief layover as they host Palm Beach Atlantic on Dec. 6 before returning on the road to matchup against Clearwater Christian College on Dec. 9 and for an exhibition game vs. NCAA-II Rollins College on Dec. 11.
Warner returns home for a five-game stand beginning with back-to-back games against Sterling College (Kan.) and Jamestown College (N.D.) Dec. 17-18; both teams advanced to the NAIA-II National Tournament Sweet 16 last season. The Royals take a 10-day break before returning to action when they host their annual Holiday Inn Express Invitational. Warner will face Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) Dec. 28, Trinity Christian College (Ill.) Dec. 29 and Dordt College (Iowa) Dec. 31.
Warner’s conference slate opens on the road against Johnson & Wales Jan. 7 however the Royals will have to quickly turnaround and return home to host The Sun Conference Tournament champions Saint Thomas on Jan. 8. The Royals will then face cross-town rival Webber International in Babson Park, Fla. Jan 11. The Royals will host the Warriors in the return game Feb. 8.
Warner will also play two dates against Ave Maria, Florida Memorial, Southeastern, and regular season champions Northwood and their return games vs. Johnson and Wales and Saint Thomas. They will also play a home-and-away series against conference defector Edward Waters.
The Sun Conference Tournament is slated for Feb. 22-25 with the first round hosted at the higher seed and the Final Four hosted by Warner at the Turner Athletic Center.