SPRINGFIELD – A number of high-profile games, including a Dec. 15 home date with Missouri, road trips to South Dakota and Gonzaga, and a spot in the Preseason WNIT, highlight the Missouri State Lady Bears' 2019-20 non-conference basketball schedule announced Wednesday by first-year head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.

Missouri State's home schedule includes in-state rivals Mizzou and Kansas City, former Missouri Valley Conference foe Wichita State, a visit from Santa Clara, and a first-round Preseason WNIT match-up with Texas A&M Corpus-Christi

A challenging road slate includes 2019 NCAA Tournament teams South Dakota and Gonzaga, as well as Minnesota.

"I am extremely excited about our challenging non-conference schedule," Coach Mox said of the Lady Bears' pre-MVC slate. "We open at Minnesota, have Mizzou at home, with a potential of two more Power Five teams if we survive and advance in the Preseason WNIT. It is a very strong schedule that will help us prepare and give us the necessary RPI needed to take strides towards our ultimate goal - cutting down some nets in March and making a postseason run."

The Lady Bears also have at least two more guaranteed games in the Preseason WNIT in November, with opponents and locations to be determined once the tournament begins. Coach Mox also noted that MSU could add one more game to its non-conference ledger.

Missouri State hosts exhibitions with Lincoln and Southwest Baptist prior to the Nov. 5 opener at Minnesota.

The Missouri Valley Conference will release its schedule in the coming weeks.

The Lady Bears return nearly their entire roster from last season's Sweet 16 team, with 12 players back for the upcoming campaign. MSU went 25-10 overall and 16-2 in MVC play last season, rebounding from a 1-7 start to advance to the program's fourth Sweet 16.

Ticket information can be found online at www.MissouriStateBears.com/tickets.

Exhibitions
Oct. 28 vs. Lincoln • 7 p.m. • JQH Arena
Nov. 1 vs. Southwest Baptist • 7 p.m. • JQH Arena

Nov. 5 at Minnesota • TBA • Minneapolis, Minn.
Minnesota in 2018-19: The Gophers went 21-11 overall and 9-9 in the Big Ten, advancing to the second round of the WNIT
Series History: First Meeting

Nov. 8 vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi • 7 p.m. • JQH Arena • Preseason WNIT
TAMUCC in 2018-19: The Islanders posted a 17-16 record last year and lost by one point in the Southland Conference Tournament title game
Series History: First Meeting

Nov. 10-17 • Preseason WNIT
WNIT Breakdown: Missouri State's second round matchup in the WNIT will take place Nov. 10 against either Boise State or Portland State. The third round will take place Nov. 14, and a potential final is scheduled for Nov. 17. Times and locations will be announced at the conclusion of each round.

Nov. 22 vs. Santa Clara • 6 p.m. • JQH Arena
SCU in 2018-19: Santa Clara went 14-17 overall last season and 6-12 in the West Coast Conference
Series History: Santa Clara leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Broncos 77, Lady Bears 73, Nov. 24, 2018 in Santa Clara, Calif.

Nov. 25 at South Dakota • 7 p.m. • Vermillion, S.D.
USD in 2018-19: South Dakota finished 28-6 overall, earning a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament and losing to Clemson in the first round
Series History: South Dakota leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Coyotes 85, Lady Bears 74, Dec. 4, 2018 at JQH Arena

Dec. 1 vs. Kansas City • 2 p.m. • JQH Arena
KC in 2018-19: The Kangaroos went 16-15 overall and finished fourth in the Western Athletic Conference with a 9-7 league record
Series History: Missouri State leads, 6-1
Last Meeting: Lady Bears 81, Kangaroos 79, March 15, 2012 at JQH Arena

Dec. 4 vs. Wichita State • 6 p.m. • JQH Arena
WSU in 2018-19: Wichita State went 12-18 in its second season in the American Athletic Conference
Series History: Missouri State leads, 50-37
Last Meeting: Shockers 63, Lady Bears 60, Nov. 10, 2018 in Wichita, Kan.

Dec. 15 vs. Missouri • 2 p.m. • JQH Arena
MU in 2018-19: Mizzou went 24-11 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament
Series History: Missouri leads, 21-10
Last Meeting: Tigers 65, Lady Bears 61, Nov. 13, 2018 in Columbia, Mo.

Dec. 20 at Gonzaga • TBA • Spokane, Wash.
GU in 2018-19: Gonzaga owned a 29-5 final record and No. 13 RPI last year, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament
Series History: Gonzaga leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Bulldogs 70, Lady Bears 67, Dec. 16, 2018 at JQH Arena