2007 WNIT Bracket in PDF Format
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NORMAL, Ill. - After recording its first 20-plus win season since the 1989-90 campaign, Illinois State's women's basketball team was awarded with its second postseason berth in the past three seasons, as it was selected for the 2007 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Redbirds will host Rice in the first-round of the 48-team field. Tip-off from Redbird Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday (March 13), at 8 a.m. by calling 309-438-8000. General admission tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for both youth and ISU students.
Illinois State and Rice have met just twice in women's basketball, with both teams claiming wins on their respective home floors. The Redbirds captured a 76-74 overtime win at Redbird Arena on Nov. 15, 1998, and the Owls upended ISU, 66-51, in Houston on Nov. 19, 1999.
If Illinois State advances to the second round, the Redbirds will face South Dakota State, who received a first-round bye. The time and location of the potential second-round game has not been determined.
Illinois State has appeared in four recognized WNIT Postseason Tournaments; the Redbirds have a 3-9 all-time record in the tournament. ISU's most successful finish was in the 1987-88 season, when the `Birds finished fourth overall in the field.
Illinois State head coach Robin Pingeton was thrilled to learn that her team's season would extend into the postseason.
"We are extremely excited about the opportunity to play in the postseason WNIT," said Pingeton. "It has been a tremendous year for our program, and I know that none of us were ready for the season to end. Our girls have worked extremely hard, and have shown great dedication and commitment to rebuilding this program. It is very rewarding to see all of their hard work pay off."
ISU won 21 games this season for the fifth time in program history, and advanced to the State MVC Tournament semifinals, where the Redbirds were edged by sixth-seeded Creighton, 59-56.
