ETSU to Host NC State Thursday in WNIT First Round
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – On Monday evening, the ETSU women’s basketball team was named one of 32 automatic qualifiers for the 2015 Women’s National Invitation Postseason Tournament (WNIT) and will host at-large selection North Carolina State on Thursday, March 19, inside Brooks Gym. Game time will be released on Tuesday.
This selection marks the Bucs’ first appearance in a non-league postseason tournament since 2009-10 when the team fell to Xavier in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. ETSU last played in the WNIT in 2007 when it was defeated by Western Carolina in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The program is 1-2 all-time in this postseason tournament, but will host its first-ever postseason WNIT contest on Thursday.
After compiling a 21-11 overall record and finishing runner-up in the Southern Conference to Chattanooga in both the regular season and postseason conference championship, ETSU earned automatic qualifier distinction. In summary, the Bucs were offered an automatic berth in the postseason WNIT by being the highest-finishing team in its conference’s regular-season standings that was not selected for this year’s NCAA Tournament. In total, there are 32 automatic bids for the WNIT and 32 at-large selections.
NC State was picked as an at-large selection for the WNIT after compiling a 16-14 overall record and finishing 10th in the 15-team Atlantic Coast Conference. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two teams.
The dates for the 64-team tournament are as follows:
Round 1: March 18-20
Round 2: March 21-24
Round 3: March 25-27
Quarterfinals: March 28-30
Semifinals: April 1-2
Championship: April 4 (3 p.m. ET start)
All games are in single-elimination format.
The Bucs have experienced a remarkable turnaround in 2014-15; going from a 9-21 overall record in 2013-14 to 21 wins this year. This win total improvement is second-best in the country this season, behind only Ohio who currently holds a 16-game win progression. The Blue & Gold is only two wins away from tying a program record for victories in a season which was accomplished in 2009-10.
Furman To Play At McNeese State Thursday In WBI Tournament
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman’s women’s basketball team’s season will continue this Thursday when the Paladins travel to Lake Charles, La., to face the McNeese State Cowgirls in a first round matchup in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI). Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT at Burton Coliseum.
The winner of the Furman (19-13) vs. McNeese State (17-13) game will play the winner of the Texas Pan American vs. Louisiana-Layaette first round matchup.
If Furman and Texas Pan American win, the Paladins will host the second round contest on Sunday at a time to be determined. Opening round wins by Furman and Louisiana-Lafayette would keep the Paladins in Louisana to face the Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday at time to be determined.
Sixteen teams comprise the WBI Tournament that is dvided into East and West Regions. Furman is the No. 3 seed in the eight-team West Region. McNeese is the No. 6 seed.
Furman’s WBI appearance is the program’s first since the tournament originated in 2010 and second straight post-season berth. Last year the Paladins played Auburn in the WNIT.
The Paladins finished fifth in the Southern Conference regular season this year and beat fourth-seed Samford, 65-54, in SoCon Tournament quarterfinal round action before dropping a 68-55 verdict to regular season and eventual tournament champion Chattanooga.
Furman is led by a pair of consensus first team All-SoCon performers — senior forward Brittany Hodges (13.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and sophomore point guard Whitney Bunn (14.6 ppg, 223 assists) — and junior Holli Wilkins (12.3 ppg).
The Paladins are coached by Jackie Carson, who is in her fifth year at the helm.
Mercer Accepts Bid to WBI
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s basketball team has accepted an invitation to the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) Tournament, announced on Monday evening.
The Bears are slated to host Troy in the first round of the WBI Tournament this Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena.
The WBI Tournament is in its sixth year of existence and features 16 teams from across the nation who will play in a single elimination tournament format.
This is the second time in three years that Mercer has earned an invitation to the WBI Tournament and also the second time since the 1984-85 season that the Bears have played in the post-season. Under Head Coach Susie Gardner, Mercer has now had three consecutive winning seasons, which is the first time in program history that the Bears have done so.
Troy notched a 20-10 record for the 2014-15 season and after winning its eight final regular season games, fell to UL Lafayette in the Sun Belt Quarterfinals. The Trojans are led by Ashley Beverly-Kelley, who scored 17.7 points per game, including 19.8 ppg in Sun Belt games. Ronita Garrett averaged a double-double with 15.6 ppg and 11.2 rebounds a game. She also tallied 16.3 ppg and 11.7 rpg in league action.