The Golden Eagles are playing some schedule hokey pokey.

Just when the College of Southern Idaho women’s basketball team puts one foot into the Scenic West Athletic Conference schedule, it has to pull it right back out.

Thanks to this year’s expanded SWAC schedule, CSI opened league play Nov. 19, about six weeks earlier than normal.

This week, the Eagles jump back into nonconference play, hosting the Boise Office Equipment Challenge today and Saturday. Next week, it’s back to SWAC with a road games at Colorado Northwestern Community College and the College of Eastern Utah.

It’s a situation CSI head coach Randy Rogers isn’t too happy about.

“It’s stupid,” said Rogers. “Our league’s messed up.”

Rogers doesn’t take issue with expanding the league slate from 15 to 20 games, but would prefer to have all of November to tune up for SWAC play with nonconference play, especially with this year’s youthful roster.

The players just hope to improve on a 4-3 start (1-1 SWAC) that has them out the NJCAA rankings after being preseason No. 8.

“Every game we play, we want to play with as much intensity as if it was a conference game,” said sophomore Kalika Tullock. “… every time we go on the court we’re not thinking about conference or nonconference, we’re just thinking win.”

CSI faces Lethbridge College of Canada today and takes on Northwest College (Wyo.) on Saturday.

Lethbridge suffered a 103-49 loss to CSI last year in a game Rogers said was one of the best for his 26-4 team of 2008-09. Fourth-year guard Kayla Lambert and third-year forward Natalie Johnson lead Lethbridge, which has numerous first-year players on its roster.

CSI dominated Northwest in a preseason scrimmage, but the Trappers have five players scoring in double figures, including Megan Smith (13.3 points) and Latvian guard Laura Purina (12.3).

But the focus for CSI is inward.

Rogers continues to mix up various lineups and go deep to his bench.

“What I need to do with this team, I feel, is get these kids some game experience,” he said.

Said Tullock: “The biggest thing with this team right now is inexperience. … Once we all come together as a team and get on the same level, I think we’re going to be really good. I do believe we have a lot of talent, but we’re not using all that talent to the best of our ability right now.”

Preseason All-American Shauneice Samms leads CSI with 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. She has 14 blocks on the season. Freshman point guard Daidra Brown has been a bright spot with 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and nearly five steals a game. In the post, Laurel Kearsley is adding 12.9 points and a team-high 9.4 rebounds.

Tullock, one of only four sophomores on the roster, is adding 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds while seeing her minutes vary. She’s doesn’t argue her up-and-down playing time, instead focusing on improving what she adds when she’s out there.

“Being a sophomore I do need to step up a lot more,” she said.

The next chance comes tonight.

Notes: Point guard Kiki Lockett (foot) will not play this week. Maddy Plunkett continues to battle knee trouble, but will play.