Indiana University Athletics
Indiana to Participate in the Preseason WNIT
6/9/2015 9:55:00 AM | Women's Basketball
IU will begin the 2015-16 season as part of the 16-team Preseason WNIT field.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind -- The Indiana women's basketball team will open the 2015-16 season by participating in the Preseason WNIT in November. The Hoosiers are one of 16 teams in the field this year as announced by the organizing group, Triple Crown Sports, on Tuesday. IU's opponent to begin the tournament, along with the entire bracket, will be announced later this month.
Along with Indiana, other teams participating in the Preseason WNIT include Alabama State (SWAC), Baylor (Big 12), Chattanooga (Southern), Dartmouth (Ivy), DePaul (Big East), Drexel (Colonial), Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun), McNeese State (Southland), Siena (Metro Atlantic), South Florida (American), Southern Illinois (MVC), Southern Miss (Conference USA), St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10), Tennessee State (Ohio Valley) and UT Arlington (Sun Belt). Of the 16 teams in the field, 10 of them advanced to postseason play in 2014-15.
"We are excited to get a chance to play in a challenging field for this year's Preseason WNIT to begin our season," head coach Teri Moren said. "This is another great opportunity early in the year to help prepare us for Big Ten play."
This will mark the third time that IU has participated in the Preseason WNIT and the first time since 2008.
Every team in the field is guaranteed three games in the tournament. Participating schools will host all games in campus facilities, including the semifinals and championship. The event will begin with round one taking place on Nov. 13, followed by round two on Nov. 15-17. The semifinals will take place on Nov. 19 followed by the championship game on Nov. 22. All consolation rounds (teams that lose in first two rounds) will be on either Nov. 20-21.
Moren will begin her second year at the helm of the Hoosier program in 2015-16. In her first year, IU averaged its most points for a single year since 1995-96 and won its first Big Ten Tournament game since 2009. Moren's Hoosiers also cracked the top five in the single season record book in 3-point field goals made (2nd), free throw percentage (4th), points scored (5th), points per game (5th) and 3-point field goal percentage (5th).
About the WNIT
The Preseason WNIT began in its modern form in 1994. Since its inception, over 200 teams representing all 32 conferences have competed in the tournament. It is organized and produced by Triple Crown Sports, a national sports event company based in Fort Collins, Colo. For more information on the WNIT visit: www.womensnit.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Sheets, rmsheets@indiana.edu
