FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Missouri State women's basketball team will be returning to the postseason for the first time in four years after receiving an at-large bid to the 2010 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Monday evening. To kick off the 16th post-season tournament trip in school history, the Lady Bears will host a first-round game at JQH Arena against Oral Roberts Friday (March 19) night at 7:05 p.m.
One of just 14 Division I women's basketball programs to post a turnaround of +10 games or more, Missouri State (20-10) finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season standings after being picked to finish seventh in the league's preseason poll under third-year head coach Nyla Milleson. The Lady Bears will be making their first postseason appearance since the 2006 NCAA Tournament, as well as their third WNIT appearance overall. MSU dropped an overtime decision to Eastern Kentucky in the opening round of the 2002 meet, then swept the WNIT field with five straight victories in 2005 to claim their first national tournament title.
The nation's highest-scoring team (86.1 ppg.), ORU is one of the aforementioned 14 schools to post a double-digit improvement in wins this season, entering the tournament with a 23-9 mark after going 13-17 last year. The Golden Eagles captured the Summit League regular-season crown, winning 14 of their last 15 contests before falling to South Dakota State in the championship game of the conference tournament last Tuesday.
Friday's meeting will be a rematch of the two clubs Dec. 19 match-up, in which the Lady Bears knocked off the Golden Eagles, 99-81, in Tulsa.
The 64-team, single-elimination WNIT will consist of 31 automatic berths and 33 at-large selections, with all games played at host school sites. An automatic bid was offered to each established Division I conference to the team that finished highest during the regular season and did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 33 at-large bids were filled by the top remaining teams available, as decided by a series of factors. All Division I teams with overall records of .500 or better are considered for the at-large berths.
Dates for the 2010 WNIT include first-round games on March 17-19, second-round contests on March 20-22, third-round match-ups on March 24-26, quarterfinal games on March 27-29, semifinal pairings on March 31-April 1, and the championship game on April 3. For more information, including a complete listing of game times and dates for the 2010 WNIT, visit the web site at www.womensnit.com.
Lady Bears' season ticket holders have until 5 p.m., Tuesday (March 16) to reserve their seats to Friday's WNIT opener, as well as to a potential second-round game, which would likely be held Sunday (March 21). Season ticket holders may also purchase additional tickets, based on availability. The remaining Lady Bears' ticket allotment will be available for sale to the general public at the Chevy Pickup Window and Athletics Box Office at JQH Arena, beginning at 10 a.m., on Tuesday (March 16), and all tickets may be picked up at that time.
Individual ticket prices for all WNIT games at JQH Arena are $5 for students, $10 for upper-level seats, $20 for lower-level seats and $25 for loge and court-side seats.
The MSU Athletics Box Office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at JQH Arena and can be reached by phone at (417) 836-7678. Season ticket holders may also notify the Box Office of their intent to hold their seats for the postseason by email at MissouriStateTix@MissouriState.edu.
