Since Salem University reclassified to NCAA Division II in the early 1990's, the Tiger women's basketball team had never played two regular season games against Division I opponents in the same season. Not only does the 2020-21 women's basketball schedule include two games against Division I schools, both games take place during Thanksgiving Weekend. 
 
For the first time in more than 20 years, Salem University competes against a Division I women's basketball opponent as the Tigers travel to Newark, Del., this afternoon to take on University of Delaware. The game tips off at 2 p.m.

Spectators are not permitted, but Live Video (Pay-Per-View), Live Audio (Free) and Live Stats are available, courtesy Delaware.
 
Salem continues its Division I weekend trip Sunday afternoon as the Tigers head to State University. Tip-off is 4 p.m. at Norfolk, Va. 
 
Salem (0-1) is playing for the first time since a season-opening 84-72 loss at Georgetown College (Ky.). (Not the Big East Conference member Georgetown.) Alicia Smith scored 10 of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter to help the Tigers cut a 12-point halftime deficit down to one. 
 
Daniela Quesada added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Nerea Arambarri Fernandez finished with 15 points and four assists. Inari Jones shared game-high honors with eight rebounds. 
 
Salem, which ranked third in the nation in Division II with 10.7 three-pointers per game, connected on 12 three-pointers in its season-opener. 
 
The Tigers opened the 2019-20 season with an exhibition game at West Virginia University and have played several exhibition games against Division I opponents. Salem has also played regular season contests against current Division I schools who were still Division II members at the time, including Longwood University, North Carolina Central University and Northern Kentucky University. 
 
Salem's last regular season meeting against a Division I opponent occurred during the 1998-99 season and may require an asterisk. The Tigers faced High Point University, which was in its final year of transition from Division II to Division I. High Point officially gained Division I membership in 1999-2000. 
 
While Salem is among more than a dozen Division II schools to have begun its women's basketball season, Wednesday marks the first day Division I teams are permitted to start regular season play. The Blue Hens posted a 12-17 mark last year. Delaware's most famous women's basketball alum is 2015 WNBA MVP and 2013 Honda National Women's Basketball Player of the Year Elena Delle Donne. 
 
Norfolk State, which opens its season Wednesday at UNC Wilmington, went 19-11 last year. 
 
After this weekend, Salem's remaining schedule is against Division II opponents.