The South Dakota School of Mines men's and women's basketball teams have released their 2009-10 season, which once again appears to have both Hardrocker squads facing tough and challenging seasons.

The Lady Hardrockers open up with four games at home, facing the College of St. Mary on Oct. 31 and Hastings College Nov.1. They will then welcome old GPAC foes Dakota Wesleyan and Mount Marty College Nov. 6 and Nov. 7.

The South Dakota Mines women play a stretch of games against the Frontier Conference NAIA Div. I, traveling to Montana for bouts against the University of Great Falls (Nov. 11), Montana Tech (Nov. 13) and Rocky Mountain College (Nov. 14 and 21).

The Lady 'Rockers have joined with the SD Mines men's team to hold one big Thanksgiving tournament this year. The SD Mines and Black Hills State women will take on Mt Mercy College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Calumet College of St. Joseph (Whiting, Ind.) Nov. 27-28.

The Mines men will also have a tough and challenging non-conference schedule, playing three NCAA Div. II teams as well as the NAIA Div. 1 2009 National Championship team and a host of other squads that will be ranked in the NAIA preseason poll.

The Hardrockers start out at home against Rocky Mountain College, the NAIA Div. I national champs on Oct. 30 and face them again in Montana on Nov.14.

"Opening up with the national champs is great for the Hardrockers and will be a true test to start the season," said Hardrocker men's head coach Jason Henry. "It's not only exciting, it also shows the strength of our schedule - plus we play them twice within our first six games."

Mines welcomes GPAC opponents Dakota Wesleyan and Mount Marty Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 and then face teams from the competitive Frontier Conference, including the University of Great Falls (Nov. 11), Montana Tech (Nov. 13) and Rocky Mountain College (Nov. 14).

The Hardrockers also have a group of NCAA Div. II schools they face in Metro College out of Denver, Colo., on Nov. 21, Augustana College in Sioux Falls on Dec. 17 and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 30, during the Perkins Classic in Spearfish.