Due West, S.C. – The Erskine Women's Basketball Team opens the New Year this Thursday on the road against in-state rival Southern Wesleyan University.  Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.

Coach Russ Gregg's squad closed out 2013 with two road victories, including a stunning 92 to 88 win over conference favorite Barton, to even their record at 4-4 on the season. 

Freshman point guard Raygon Hendrix earned Conference Carolinas Player of the Week honors.  Hendrix scored a career-high 26 points, going 7 of 9 from 3-point range, in a 74 to 72 win over non-conference opponent Claflin University.  Hendrix is currently second on the team averaging 11.1 points per game.  Fellow freshman Kristin Giles leads the team, averaging 12.3 points per game.

Thursday's game will give the Flying Fleet a peek at incoming conference member Southern Wesleyan University.  SWU is moving from NAIA to the NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas next season. 

Southern Wesleyan enters the match up at 3-6 overall.  SWU won their last game of 2013, defeating Columbia College 85 to 76.  The win snapped a four-game losing skid for the Warriors.

SWU has four players averaging double-digits on the year, led by Cayse Branyon's 15.8 points per game.  Branyon is a long-range threat, hitting 50% of her shots from behind the arc.

SWU won last year's game 69 to 54.

Both basketball teams return home to face in-state conference foe North Greenville University on Saturday.  Game times are set for 2:00 (women) and 4:00 p.m. (men).