UB Women's Hoops Invited to First-Ever WNIT, Travels to WVU Thursday
3/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
- WNIT Bracket
- WVU's Gameday Central
- UB at WVU WNIT Game Notes
- WNIT Gameday Central
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team has been invited to the Women's National Invitation Tournament, its second trip to a postseason tournament in program history and first ever to the WNIT. The Bulls will travel to West Virginia to face the Mountaineers on Thursday. A tip time will be announced Tuesday.
"I am thrilled to continue to take steps in growing our women's basketball program," said third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "I have been blessed with some terrific, hard-working coaches, incredible student-athletes and a relentless administration. Our vision is to grow this athletic department to new found heights. I am grateful to Danny White for this opportunity."
In the hunt for their first 20-win season in UB's Mid-American Conference era, the Bulls enter the tournament with an overall record of 19-12. UB is led by All-MAC Second-Team selection and MAC All-Tournament Team honoree Kristen Sharkey. It won four of its last five games earning a spot in the MAC semifinals for just the second time in program history.
"We're excited to play a great program from the Big 12 in West Virginia. Let's go Bulls!"
The Mountaineers enter the tournament with an overall record of 18-14 after a 7-11 showing in the Big 12. They picked up a 59-40 first-round win over Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament, before falling to Oklahoma, 67-55, in the quarterfinals. WVU won nine of their first 10 games this season.
Though they have never faced one another, the Bulls and Mountaineers share a common opponent from the regular season in St. Francis (PA). UB defeated the Red Flash 88-80 on Nov. 18, while WVU blanked St. Francis 101-46 on Dec. 29.
The winner of UB/WVU game will face the winner of Drexel and Hampton in the second round to be played March 21-24.
The Bulls, who are joined by five additional MAC schools, are 6-4 on the season against the WNIT field. UB has a 2-1 record against Western Michigan, went 1-0 against Ball State and Eastern Michigan, split with Akron and Toledo and fell to Tulsa.
In its 18th year, the WNIT is a 64-team, single elimination tournament. First-round action tips off Wednesday, March 18 and concludes Friday, March 20. Second-round games take place March 21-24, round three March 25-27, quarterfinals March 28-30 and semifinals April 1-2. The championship game will be played Saturday, April 4 and will be televised on CBS Sports Network at 3 pm. All games are hosted by participating schools.
The game will air live on ESPN 1520 AM with Sloane Martin on the call. Fans can also watch a live webstream or follow along via live stats or live tweets.
