
Lady Bears Earn WBIT Bid, Will Travel to Illinois for First Round
March 17, 2024 | Women's Basketball
BRACKET
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Missouri State women's basketball (23-9) will take on the University of Illinois (14-15) in the opening round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament, the organization announced today.Â
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The Lady Bears and Fighting Illini will face off on Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. in Champaign, Ill. The game will stream on ESPN+.
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This marks the inaugural WBIT, which is an annual 32-team postseason invitation tournament for women's basketball owned and funded by the NCAA. The bid secures a ninth-straight postseason tournament appearance for the Lady Bears, excluding the 2019-20 Covid season.Â
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Missouri State owns a 23-9 record this season and finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings with a 15-5 conference ledger. The Lady Bears secured their seventh consecutive 20-win season and made it to the MVC Championship game before falling at the buzzer to the top-seeded Drake Bulldogs. Â
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Illinois is 14-15 on the season and owned an 8-10 record in Big Ten games. The Fighting Illini fell to Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.Â
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Tickets can be purchased through the University of Illinois beginning at 4 p.m. CT on Monday, March 18. Purchase tickets HERE.
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Missouri State women's basketball (23-9) will take on the University of Illinois (14-15) in the opening round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament, the organization announced today.Â
Â
The Lady Bears and Fighting Illini will face off on Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. in Champaign, Ill. The game will stream on ESPN+.
Â
This marks the inaugural WBIT, which is an annual 32-team postseason invitation tournament for women's basketball owned and funded by the NCAA. The bid secures a ninth-straight postseason tournament appearance for the Lady Bears, excluding the 2019-20 Covid season.Â
Â
Missouri State owns a 23-9 record this season and finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings with a 15-5 conference ledger. The Lady Bears secured their seventh consecutive 20-win season and made it to the MVC Championship game before falling at the buzzer to the top-seeded Drake Bulldogs. Â
Â
Illinois is 14-15 on the season and owned an 8-10 record in Big Ten games. The Fighting Illini fell to Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.Â
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Tickets can be purchased through the University of Illinois beginning at 4 p.m. CT on Monday, March 18. Purchase tickets HERE.
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