Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Hoops' Season Extended with March 20 Spot in Postseason WNIT
March 17, 2008 | Women's Basketball
March 17, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University Falcons will face the University of Dayton of the A-10 Conference in the first round of the Postseason Women's National Invitational Tournament on March 20 at Anderson Arena. The announcement was made late today, March 17.
The Falcons, who posted a 25-7 overall record to date, earned the automatic bid to the WNIT after winning the Mid-American Conference regular season and will participate in the tournament for only the second time in program history. BGSU is 0-1 after dropping a 95-90 decision to Butler in the first round of the 1998 WNIT in BGSU's own Anderson Arena.
"We are excited about the opportunity to continue playing in the 2008 WNIT. The team is anxious to get back on the court after our heart breaking loss in the MAC Tournament. It has been a magical year and we would like to extend the season as long as possible," said seventh year head coach Curt Miller.
"I am also ecstatic for the opportunity for Kate Achter and Whitney Taylor to extend their careers. I will cherish the opportunity to coach them in their fourth and final postseason.
"Hosting this game is a true credit to our fans. Their continued support will make this game special for many reasons."
In his tenure with the Orange and Brown, Miller has led the Falcons to the postseason in what is now the fourth consecutive season. Under his direction, BGSU is 2-3 in the NCAA tournament; the 2008 WNIT will mark Miller and Co.'s first appearance in the postseason tournament.
Miller though is no stranger to the tournament as the 1999-2000 Colorado State University Rams reached the semifinals before losing 78-60 at the hands of eventual champion, University of Wisconsin. At the time, Miller was the associate head coach of the Mountain West affiliate. The previous season, he helped to guide the Rams to the preseason WNIT title.
Dayton, BGSU's first round opponent, holds a 25-8 record and a 9-5 league record. The Flyers fell in the semifinals of A-10 Conference to NCAA Tournament participant, Temple. All-time the Falcons are 8-8; Miller and his staff have never faced the Flyers.
To date, Miller and the Falcons are 57-30 (.655) in non-conference play; eleven of those 57 wins were earned this season.
The Women's National Invitation Tournament is an annual tournament involving 48 of the nation's top women's Division I basketball teams. All games, including the semifinals and championship, are hosted by participating schools at their home facility. Every round is single elimination.
The Postseason WNIT features 16 first-round games, followed by 16 second-round games, eight third-round games, four quarterfinal games, two semifinal games, and the championship. The championship game is televised. The event offers 31 automatic berths, one to each conference, and 17 at-large berths. The WNIT field and bracket is announced late on the evening of the NCAA Tournament selections.
The 48-team tournament is a single-elimination event with all games played at sites of host schools. The WNIT is committed to offering deserved opportunities to women's basketball programs, and the tournament expanded to 48 teams in 2007. For the first time in history, each of the nation's 31 conferences was guaranteed a spot in the Postseason WNIT. At the same time, those automatic berths did not affect the number of deserving at-large teams, which has stayed around 17 throughout the years.
For more information please visit: www.womensnit.com.
Some information courtesy of the Women's National Invitational Tournament
Tickets for the game will go on sale Tuesday, March 18 at 9am ET, and will be available by calling 877-BGSU TICKET. In person orders may also be placed at that time by 2007-08 BGSU Women's Basketball Season Ticket Holders at the Anderson Arena Box Office. Beginning at Noon ET, game tickets will go on sale to the general public over the phone, in person, and online at BGSUFALCONS.COM. Per WNIT guidelines, ticket prices for the game are as follows:
PRIME Chairback Reserved (Sections SS & RR) $13
Upper Level Chairback Reserved (Sections C-F & J-M) $11
Bench Reserved Adult (Sections R & S) $10
Bench Reserved Youth (Sections R & S) $8
General Admission Adult (Sections B-F, J-N & T-X) $9
General Admission Youth (Sections B-F, J-N & T-X) $7
BGSU Students $4
Any orders placed in advance will be available for pick-up from the Anderson Arena Box Office during regular business hours (M-F 9a-5p) leading up to game day, or at Will Call the day of the game. NO TICKETS WILL BE MAILED.
###BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
