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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
Tournament Dates Round #1 – March 19-21 Round #2 – March 22-25 Round #3 – March 26-28 Quarterfinals – March 29-31 Semifinals – April 2-3 All games hosted by participating schools www.womensnit.com @WomensNIT | #WNIT
Championship Game Saturday, April 5, 3 p.m. ET Nationally Televised LIVE in HD Play-by-Play: Thad Anderson Color Analyst: Ceal Barry
DirecTV: CH 221 Dish: CH 158
WNIT NOTES
- During Round One of the WNIT, 25 of the 32 games (.781) were won by the home team. In Round Two, 13 of the 16 games (.812) were won by the home team.
- Both Auburn and Bowling Green advanced to Round Three of the WNIT in 2013. Auburn advanced to the quarterfinals after knocking off Tulane, 72-52. Bowling Green fell to eventual champion Drexel, 50-47. - Auburn and South Florida have won the WNIT in previous years; the Tigers in 2003 and the Bulls in 2009. Both teams are looking to become the first to win the WNIT twice. - Five teams from mid-major conferences have won the WNIT since its inception in 1998: Drexel (2013), Toledo (2011), Wyoming (2007), Missouri State (2005), and Creighton (2004). - Mississippi State’s double OT win over Southern Miss was the first 2-OT game since Round One in 2013 (Washington 65, Eastern Washington 60). It has been the only game to go OT in the tournament so far this year. The last 3-OT game was in 2007 occurring twice: Illinois State 71, Rice 61 (Round One) and Wyoming 89, Kansas State 79 (quarterfinals).
- CBS Sports Network will televise the WNIT championship game for the sixth year. The broadcast team includes Thad Anderson (play-by-play) and legendary coach Ceal Barry (analyst). Anderson has worked as a play-by-play announcer for 19 years in basketball, baseball, softball, and football. Barry served as Head Coach at the University of Colorado for 22 years where she compiled a 427-242 record, 12 NCAA Tournament ap- This year’s field tied the WNIT record for most schools that were pearances, including six times in the Sweet 16 and three times in the Elite crowned regular-season champions in their respected conferences (10 Eight, 13 20-win seasons, four conference championships and assorted teams): High Point (Big South), Iona (Metro Atlantic), Navy (Patriot), Lacoach of the year honors. mar (Southland), Indiana State (MVC), Colorado State (MWC), Arkansas State (Sun Belt), Green Bay (Horizon), South Dakota State (Summit), -The official website of the WNIT is www.womensnit.com. We post reand Bowling Green (MAC). Only SDSU and BGSU remain in the field. caps, scores, and next-round matchups within minutes of the conclusion of games. You can also follow the WNIT on Twitter @WomensNIT. - Conference USA led the tournament field with six schools selected. Please use #WNIT in all tweets. Only UTEP remains heading into Round Three. All four Big Ten schools that started the tournament are still playing. The SEC and Pac-12 have Field of 16 two schools remaining in the field. - 12 of the 16 teams entering Round Three have won 20 or more games this season. Of the 64 teams selected for the tournament, 35 teams had recorded 20 or more wins on the season. This was one team shy of tying the all-time WNIT record.
- Marquette’s Katherine Plouffe broke the WNIT record for most rebounds in a game against Indiana State in Round One with 26. The previous record was held by Sophia Young of Baylor with 25 in 2003. Plouffe also broke the record for most defensive rebounds in a game with 20. This mark surpassed Colorado’s Chucky Jeffery who recorded 16 in 2012. - Jamierra Faulkner of Southern Miss tied the record for most assists in a game with 13 against Lamar in Round One. She joins three other players: Ariana Elegado - Cal Poly (2012), Kelsey Corbin - Ball State (2007), and Dee Dee Pate - Wisconsin (1999). - UTEP’s 4,500 fans in Round One and 4,703 fans in Round Two were the largest announced crowds in this year’s WNIT so far. - Two teams playing in Round Three are making their first ever WNIT appearance: UTEP and Rutgers.
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School Auburn Bowling Green Colorado George Washington Indiana Michigan Minnesota Mississippi State Northwestern Rutgers San Diego Seton Hall South Florida South Dakota State UTEP Washington
Conference SEC MAC Pac-12 A-10 Big Ten Big Ten Big Ten SEC Big Ten AAC WCC Big East AAC Summit C-USA Pac-12
Record 19-14 29-4 19-14 23-10 20-12 20-13 22-12 21-13 17-15 24-9 24-8 20-13 21-12 24-9 26-7 19-13
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
SCHOOL NOTES
Auburn Auburn beat Mississippi State twice during the regular season - 82-74 in Starkville and 51-43 at home… Auburn is making its fifth overall appearance in the WNIT (2003, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014) with an overall record of 13-3…The Tigers won the tournament in 2003, made the third round in 2007, lost in the second round in 2011 and reached the quarterfinals last season. Bowling Green The Falcons and Michigan Wolverines played nearly five months ago, with BG winning by a 63-52 final. That game, on Nov. 8, 2013, was the season opener for both teams, and was the first game of the Iona Tip-Off Tournament in New Rochelle, N.Y…The 2013-14 season marks the Falcons’ sixth appearance in the WNIT, and the third in as many years. BGSU has a record of 5-5 in the tourney to date. The Falcons are 5-4 in WNIT home games, with records of 2-2 at venerable Anderson Arena and 3-2 at the Stroh Center. Colorado This is the sixth meeting between Colorado and UTEP and the first since November 1982. The Buffaloes won all five previous meetings, four of which came when the two programs were members of the AIAW Intermountain Conference from 1976-79…This is Colorado’s fifth trip to the postseason WNIT, and third in the last four years, with an overall record of 11-4. The Buffaloes reached back-to-back quarterfinals in 2011 (3-1) and 2012 (3-1), the 2008 semifinals (3-1) and also participated in the 1999 event (1-1). George Washington The Colonials make their third trip (2002, 2009) to the WNIT. GW is 3-2 all-time in the WNIT after the win over Villanova. GW reached the second round of the 2002 event but fell to Florida Gulf Coast in the first round in 2009…The Colonials faced a total of 11 teams that are participating in the postseason, posting an 8-7 mark against six NCAA Tournament teams (California, Maryland, Georgia, Saint Joseph’s, Dayton, Fordham) and five WNIT squads (North Carolina A&T, American, Duquesne, VCU, St. Bonaventure). Indiana Indiana’s first appearance in the postseason since 2009, when they were in the WNIT...Indiana won its 20th game of the season with the RoundTwo win over Marquette, marking the sixth time in program history that an IU team has won 20 or more games in a season… With winning its second straight postseason game, it marks the first time IU has won back-to-back national postseason tournament games since 2009 when the Hoosiers topped Dayton (second-round bye) and Bowling Green (third round) in the WNIT. The Hoosiers improved to 10-6 all-time in the WNIT and 7-1 in WNIT games played in Assembly Hall. Michigan Michigan recorded its 20th win of the season with its win over Duquesne, the sixth time Michigan has reached the 20-win plateau. It is the third straight 20-win season for Michigan….It is the fifth straight 20-win season for a Kim Barnes Arico-coached team. She is now the first coach in U-M history to string together back-to-back seasons….Michigan finished with 17 assists against Duquesne, pushing its season total to 512. It set a new school record, breaking the previous best of 500 (1980-81). Minnesota Minnesota has appeared in the Postseason WNIT three times (2007, 2013, 2014) since Triple Crown Sports took over the event in 1998…The Maroon and Gold holds a 3-2 record in WNIT appearances following their win over SMU…The Gophers 22 wins is the most since the 26-win campaign in 2004-05. Mississippi State The Bulldogs are 4-1 all-time at home in the WNIT…State recorded its 21st win of the season against Southern Miss, the most since the 200910 team went 21-13…The Bulldogs’ last time advancing to the WNIT third round was in 2007 where they fell to Western Kentucky, 56-53…They advanced to the quarterfinals in 2001 before losing to James Madison, 63-61. Northwestern Northwestern defeated Indiana in the last meeting between the two schools on Jan. 30, 58-52…Northwestern has had solid second halves in each of its two WNIT wins so far. Against Ball State, NU went 14-of-22 from the field for 63.5 percent in the second half and then followed that up with a 75.9 percent clip (22-29) in the second half of its win over IUPUI. Combined, the Wildcats are 36-of-51 for 70.6 percent in the second half of WNIT games so far…NU has played in the WNIT three times (2010, 2011, 2014) and holds a 5-2 record…The Wildcats advanced to Round Three in 2010 before falling to Michigan, 65-44.
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
Rutgers The Rutgers women’s basketball team is playing in the WNIT for the first time in program history… Rutgers improved to 24-9 on the year with its win over Harvard. RU reaches the 24-win mark for the first time since the 2007-08 season when the Scarlet Knights ended the year at 27-7 overall… With its second-ever WNIT victory, the Scarlet Knights improved to 106-63 in post-season action…RU improved to 14-3 at home in 2013-14 and 149-23 at the RAC since the 2002-03 season. The squad’s 14 home wins are the most since the 2007-08 season, as head coach C. Vivian Stringer guided Rutgers to at least 14 home wins for the seventh time in her tenure. San Diego San Diego has made seven postseason appearances in the history of the program…This marks the fourth trip to the WNIT for USD, and third year in a row…USD is 7-3 all-time in WNIT games, posting an 0-1 record in 2006-07, then having a magical run to the Final Four in 2011-12, going 4-1… Last season, USD defeated Hawaii in the first round in San Diego, then fell on the road to Utah…USD picked up an 82-59 win over Cal Poly this season in the first round, followed by Monday’s thrilling 60-57 win over Montana…USD defeated Washington in the Elite Eight of the 2012 WNIT, 58-47, the last time both teams have met. Seton Hall The Pirates are making their sixth postseason appearance in program history, and the first since 2007…Seton Hall is playing in the WNIT for the fourth time, and the Pirates had failed to advance past the second round of the tournament in each of its last three appearances…With its victory over Princeton in Round Two in Walsh Gym, Seton Hall improved to 20-13 overall, reaching the 20-win plateau for just the eighth time in program history and the first since 1995, a year the Hall advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers leads the all-time series against Seton Hall 32-9, but the Pirates snapped a 12-game losing streak to their in-state rival dating back to 2002 with a 45-42 win last season in South Orange. South Florida USF opponents are shooting .356 from the field this season, the lowest opponent FG percentage in Bulls’ history…The Bulls are 15-0 this year when scoring more than 70 points. USF started the season 0-7 when scoring 70 points or less, and are now 5-12 in that situation…USF won the WNIT in 2009 and is looking to become the first team ever to win the tournament for the second time. The Bulls defeated Kansas 75-71 in front of a Kansas and Big 12 conference record-setting crowd of 16,113 fans at venerable Allen Fieldhouse. South Dakota State The Jackrabbits sport a 16-0 record at home this year and own a 19-game home win streak…The Round Three game vs. Minnesota will mark the sixth meeting between the Jackrabbits and the Golden Gophers. South Dakota State is 4-1 vs. Minnesota, winning the last three games. The last time Minnesota and SDSU met was Dec. 9, 2008, in Minneapolis and the Jacks came home with a 65-55 win…The Jackrabbits are making their eighth consecutive Division I postseason appearance after accepting their third Women’s NIT invitation. SDSU qualified for the Women’s NIT in 2007 and 2008 while completing its transition to Division I…SDSU is 4-2 all-time in WNIT games. UTEP The Miners, who received an at-large bid to the event, are making their first appearance in the WNIT. UTEP declined a bid in 2013 due to a depleted roster as a result of injuries….It marks the second time in the past three seasons and third occasion overall that the Miners will play postseason basketball… UTEP is 76-21 since the start of the 2011-12 season, including 26-7 this year, and have registered 55 double-digit wins in that stretch… UTEP’s 4,500 fans in Round One and 4,703 fans in Round Two were the largest announced crowds in this year’s WNIT so far. Washington Plum led Washington with 31 points, highlighted by a 14-of-16 performance from the field against Oregon. It was a milestone night for the Husky freshman as she now has 680 points on the season to break the Husky single-season record of 661 set by Giuliana Mendiola back in 2004…In addition to Plum taking over as the single-season UW scoring leader, Jazmine Davis scored 22 points against Oregon surpassing 600 points for the season, becoming just the third Husky to do so…Washington is 13-1 in games they hold their opponent under 70 points…The Huskies are 13-0 when having a better field goal percentage than their opponent…Plum and Davis make up the nation’s second-highest scoring backcourt duo at 40.1 points per game. Only Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome of UT Martin (43.4) are scoring more.
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Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at S. Dak. St.
IUPUI 72
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Cent.Mich.
Ball State 65 Central Mich. 66
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at N'western
Northwestern 69
Belmont 47
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Indiana
Indiana 48
Marquette 63
7:05 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Indiana St.
Indiana St. 61
Missouri 51
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at Creighton
Creighton 77
Butler 61
7 pm PT Mon. 3/24 at Oregon
Washington 93
Round 2 March 22-25
IUPUI 52
2 pm CT Sun. 3/23 at N'western
Northwestern 88
Indiana 72
7 pm ET Sat. 3/22 at Indiana
Marquette 69
Creighton 51
2 pm CT Sun. 3/23 at S. Dak. St.
S. Dakota St. 62
SMU 70
5 pm CT Sun. 3/23 at Minnesota
Minnesota 77
UTEP 76
7 pm MT Mon. 3/24 at UTEP
Saint Mary's 64
Colorado 79
7 pm MT Sat. 3/22 at Colorado
Southern Utah 68
San Diego 60
7 pm MT Mon. 3/24 at Montana
Montana 57
Oregon 85
Texas Southern 72 South Dakota St. 78
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at SMU
SMU 84
Green Bay 60
7 pm CT Wed. 3/19 at Minnesota
Minnesota 62
Arkansas St. 64
7 pm MT Fri. 3/21 at UTEP
CSU Bakersfield 68 UTEP 74
6 pm PT Fri. 3/21 at Saint Mary's
Saint Mary's CA 75
TCU 71
7 pm MT Wed. 3/19 at Colorado
Colorado 78
Southern Utah 71
7 pm MT Thur. 3/20 at Colo. St.
Cal Poly 59 Colorado State 56
6 pm PT Thur. 3/20 at San Diego
San Diego 82
Washington St. 78
7 pm MT Wed 3/19 at Montana
Montana 90
Pacific 63
7 pm PT Thur. 3/20 at Oregon
Oregon 90
Hawaii 50
7 pm PT Fri. 3/21 at Washington
Washington 67
Round 1 March 19-21
Northwestern
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at Indiana
Indiana
South Dakota St.
7 pm CT Thur. 3/27 at S. Dak. St.
Minnesota
UTEP
7 pm MT Fri. 3/28 at UTEP
Colorado
San Diego
7 pm PT Wed. 3/26 at Wash.
Washington
Round 3 March 26-28 Quarterfinals March 29-31 Semifinals April 2-3
All game times are according to host school’s time zone.
CHAMPIONS
2014 Postseason WNIT
Championship at TBA 3 p.m. ET Sat. April 5 CBS Sports Network
20
14 Semifinals April 2-3
Quarterfinals March 29-31
Bowling Green 76
Miss. St. 74 2 OT
Seton Hall 75
5 pm ET Sun 3/23 at Seton Hall
Princeton 74
Auburn 82
S. Miss 66 2OT
South Florida 75
George Wash. 76
Stetson 56
2 pm ET Sun. 3/23 South Florida at South Florida
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at South Florida
1 pm ET Sun George Wash. 3/23 at Villanova
Villanova 66
Old Dominion 59
6 pm CT Mon Auburn 3/24 at Auburn
7 pm CT Thur. 3/27 at MSU
Mississippi St. 7 pm CT Mon. 3/24 at MSU
Seton Hall
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at Rutgers
Rutgers 63
7 pm ET Mon
Rutgers 3/24 at Rutgers
Harvard 52
St.Bonaventure 65
7 pm ET Mon. Bowling Green 3/24 at BGSU
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at BGSU
Duquesne 52
3/24 at Michigan
Michigan 68
Round 2 March 22-25
Michigan 7 pm ET Mon.
Round 3 March 26-28
Mt. St. Mary's 52
High Point 62
Lamar 60
Stetson 70
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Miami
Miami 63
NC A&T 50
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at South Florida
East Carolina 68 South Florida 56
7 pm ET Wed. 3/19 at G. Wash.
George Wash. 86
Quinnipiac 66
7 pm ET Wed. 3/19 at Villanova
Villanova 74
Navy 60
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at ODU
Old Dominion 68
Furman 64
6 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at Auburn
Auburn 78
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at S. Miss
Southern Miss 75
Tulane 68
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at MSU
Mississippi St. 77
American 60
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Seton Hall
Seton Hall 63
VCU 76
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Princeton
Princeton 94
Delaware 61
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Rutgers
Rutgers 65
Harvard 90
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Iona
Iona 89
Charlotte 62
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure 81
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at BGSU
Bowling Green72
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at Duquesne
Duquesne 62
Stony Brook 48
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at Michigan
Michigan 86
Round 1 March 19-21
2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
DREXEL CAPTURES 2013 WNIT CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE BY PERIODS
Utah Drexel
1ST 2ND F 24 19 43 21 25 46
Attendance: 1,922 Site: Daskalakis Athletic Center, Philadelphia
Records 23-14 28-10
By Drexel Athletics
PHILADELPHIA -- Taylor Wootton will end her career with a win. The senior forward, who has played more games than anyone who has ever worn a Drexel uniform, saved one of her best games for last as she scored a game-high 16 points and added six rebounds to help guide the Drexel women’s basketball team to the 2013 WNIT championship with a 46-43 victory over Utah. Wootton, who has played in a Dragon-record 131 games, became just the 21st player in Drexel women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career points early in the second half, and finished her career with 1,003. Hollie Mershon will end her career with a win. The senior guard played just one game less than Wootton over the course of her career, and finished the season as Drexel’s leading scorer. She was named the WNIT Most Valuable Player after a performance that saw her score 14 points, including 12 in the second half. Mershon drove down the left side and scored with 21 seconds remaining to give the Dragons a 44-43 lead, and after a Utah turnover, Mershon hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to put the Dragons up by their final margin of three points.
Sideline Photos
Renee Johnson-Allen will end her career with a win. The senior guard finished with six points and three rebounds after a season in which she became arguably the Dragons’ best rebounder despite her 5’6” stature. Johnson-Allen, who started the season’s final 15 games, figured into one of the championship game’s most important plays late in the contest. With the Utes up by a point and taking the ball out of bounds under their own basket, Wootton tipped the inbounds pass to JohnsonAllen, who somehow kept the ball inbounds and helped Drexel regain possession with 30 seconds remaining. That led to Mershon’s go-ahead layup nine seconds later. Drexel (28-10) set a school record for wins and became the first Philadelphia Division I women’s basketball team to win a postseason championship as it completed its run through the WNIT with the victory over Utah (23-14). The Dragons trailed for nearly the entire first half as the Utes seemed to have an answer every time Drexel got close. After seeing a five-point lead in the second half evaporate, the Dragons fought back with Mershon’s late heroics to bring home the championship and bring the Daskalakis Athletic Center crowd of 1,922 storming onto the court to celebrate with their team.
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Sideline Photos
STATS COMPARISON Utah Points 43 FG Made-Attempted 16-47 FG Percentage 34.0% 3PT Made-Attempted 7-21 3PT Percentage 33.3% FT Made-Attempted 4-5 FT Percentage 80.0% Rebounds 34 Turnovers 9
Drexel 46 19-53 35.8% 5-17 29.4% 3-4 75.0% 30 1
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RECORD BOOK INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Most Points - Game 45 Tamika Whitmore, Memphis vs. Arkansas St., 3/17/99 Most Points - Tournament 147 Danielle McCray, Kansas (2009) Most Field Goals Made - Game 18 Aisha Hollans, University of Southern California vs. Washington, 3/17/02 Most Field Goals Made - Tournament 54 Toni Young, Oklahoma State (2012) Best Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 12 attempts) .917 Kelsey Kahle, Portland State (11 for 12) vs. Portland, 3/19/09 Most 3-Pointers - Game 9 Jordan Jones, South Carolina vs. NCA&T, 3/21/08 Most 3-Pointers - Tournament 22 Jenny Lingor, Missouri State (2005) Best 3-point Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 6 attempts) 100.0 Valerie Nainima, Long Island (6 for 6), vs. Iona, 3/15/07 Most Free Throws - Game 17 Hanna Zavecz (17 of 24), Wyoming vs. Kansas State, 3/28/07 Most Free Throws - Tournament 47 Hanna Zavecz, Wyoming (2007) Best Free Throw Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 13 attempts) 100.0 Crystal Kelly, Western Kentucky (14 for 14), vs. Minnesota, 3/19/07 100.0 Krysten Boogaard, Kansas (13 for 13), vs. Prairie View A&M, 3/17/10 100.0 Kristi Cirone, Illinois State (13 for 13), vs. Marquette, 3/26/09 100.0 Shantia Grace, South Florida (13 for 13), vs. St. Bonaventure, 3/29/09 Most Rebounds - Game 26 Katherine Plouffe, Marquette vs. Indiana State, 3/20/14 Most Rebounds - Tournament 68 Sophia Young, Baylor (2003) Most Offensive Rebounds - Game 12 Shauntal Nobles, Texas Tech vs. University of San Diego, 3/22/12 Most Offensive Rebounds - Tournament 20 Janese Banks, Wisconsin (2007) Most Defensive Rebounds - Game 20 Katherine Plouffe, Marquette vs. Indiana State, 3/20/14 Most Defensive Rebounds - Tournament 49 Liz Donohoe, Oklahoma State (2012) Most Assists - Game 13 Ariana Elegado, Cal Poly vs. Washington, 3/14/12 13 Kelsey Corbin, Ball State vs. Kentucky, 3/19/07 13 Dee Dee Pate, Wisconsin vs. Memphis, 3/20/99 13 Jamierra Faulkner, Southern Miss vs. Lamar, 3/20/14 Most Assists - Tournament 43 Yolanda Paige, West Virginia (2005) Most Blocks - Game 10 Hillary Carlson, University of Wyoming, vs. Nevada, 3/19/10 Most Blocks - Tournament 22 Allyssa DeHaan, Michigan State (2008) Most Steals - Game 10 Shala Crook, Ball State vs. Valparaiso, 3/16/02 Most Steals - Tournament 18 Tonya Washington, Florida (2000) 18 Bell Tonbi, Florida (2000)
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TEAM RECORDS Most Points - Game 107 University of Wisconsin vs. Siena College, 03/14/99 Most Points - Tournament 452 University of Wyoming (2007) Most Field Goals - Game 45 University of Illinois vs. Wisconsin Green Bay, 3/15/01 Most Field Goals - Tournament 179 Florida (2000) Best Shooting Percentage - Game .618 South Carolina vs. Hartford, 3/18/07 Most 3-Pointers - Game 17 Missouri State vs. Iowa, 3/28/05 Most 3-Pointers - Tournament 58 Missouri State (2005) Best 3-point Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 10 attempts) .750 University of Wyoming (9 for 12), vs. Nevada, 3/15/07 Most Free Throws - Game 37 University of Wyoming (37 of 52), vs. Kansas State, 3/28/07 Most Free Throws - Tournament 122 University of Wyoming (2007) Best Free Throw Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 15 attempts) 100.0 University of Wisconsin (20 for 20), vs. Western Kentucky, 3/28/07 Most Rebounds - Game 62 Fresno State vs. Santa Clara, 3/21/03 62 Missouri State vs. Oral Roberts, 3/19/10 Most Rebounds - Tournament 273 University of California-Berkeley (2010) Most Offensive Rebounds - Game 32 South Florida vs. Florida, 3/18/10 Most Offensive Rebounds - Tournament 85 University of Wisconsin (2007) Most Defensive Rebounds - Game 44 Illinois State vs. Rice, 3/15/07 Most Defensive Rebounds - Tournament 184 Oklahoma State (2012) Most Assists - Game 28 Kansas State vs. Idaho State, 3/17/06 Most Assists - Tournament 102 Oklahoma State (2012) Most Turnovers - Game 30 Eastern Illinois vs. Marquette, 3/18/10 30 Oral Roberts vs. Missouri State, 3/19/10 Most Turnovers - Tournament 106 James Madison University (2012) Most Steals - Game 23 Northern Colorado vs. Colorado, 3/14/12 Most Steals - Tournament 60 Houston (2002) Most Blocks - Game 16 South Florida vs. Coppin State, 3/19/07 Most Blocks - Tournament 31 James Madison University (2012)
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
WNIT HISTORY
The Postseason WNIT began in 1998 with 16 teams playing for a postseason crown. The event has undergone four expansions throughout, but its mission has remained the same: To give deserving teams a quality opportunity to play exciting games for a postseason title. Following the inaugural year, the field doubled to 32 teams and remained that way until 2006 when a renewed commitment was made to schools. The WNIT expanded to a 40-team field to give spots to teams that won their regular-season conference title but did not win their conference tournament and therefore were excluded from the NCAA Tournament. The WNIT furthered that commitment to conferences in 2007, when it expanded to 48 teams and awarded an automatic berth to each conference. The number of at-large berths remained at 17 until 2010, when the WNIT felt that the level of women’s basketball warranted an expansion to the 64-team field. The Postseason WNIT is the second longest running postseason tournament in women’s college basketball history behind the NCAA Tournament. Since its inception in 1998, the WNIT has afforded hundreds of opportunities for schools in every conference to play in the postseason. WNIT games showcase the best of women’s basketball, both with fan excitement (The 2009 championship was played in front of a Big 12 record 16,113 fans at Kansas) and level of play (teams that do well in the Post WNIT often make a huge jump the following year to performing well in the NCAA Tournament).
ATTENDANCE RECORDS The 1998 inaugural year attendance for a 16-team field was 50,479. Attendance for the next seven years when the event expanded to 32 teams averaged 83,207 per year. The WNIT attendance record of 18,018 fans in a championship game was set at the 2001 Postseason WNIT finale at New Mexico. The championship game for the 16 years of the postseason event averages nearly 10,000 spectators. Here is a look at the championship game numbers: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Penn State at Baylor Wisconsin at Arkansas Florida at Wisconsin Ohio State at New Mexico Houston at Oregon Auburn at Baylor UNLV at Creighton West Virginia at SMS Marquette at Kansas State Wisconsin at Wyoming Marquette at Michigan State South Florida at Kansas Miami at California Southern Cal at Toledo JMU at Oklahoma State Utah at Drexel
10,057 14,163 13,006 18,018 6,835 7,414 4,180 8,871 13,340 15,462 7,818 16,113 2,523 7,301 6,157 1,922
TOP-10 CROWDS 1. New Mexico - 18,018 Ohio State at New Mexico, Championship Game 2001 2. Kansas - 16,113 South Florida at Kansas, Championship Game 2009 3. Wyoming - 15,462 Wisconsin at Wyoming, Championship Game 2007
PAST CHAMPIONS 2013 – Drexel 2012 – Oklahoma State 2011 – Toledo 2010 – California 2009 – South Florida 2008 – Marquette 2007 – Wyoming 2006 – Kansas State 2005 – Missouri State 2004 – Creighton 2003 – Auburn 2002 – Oregon 2001 – Ohio State 2000 – Wisconsin 1999 – Arkansas 1998 – Penn State
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4. Arkansas - 14,163 Wisconsin at Arkansas, Championship Game 1999 5. Kansas State - 13,340 Marquette at Kansas State, Championship Game 2006 6. Wisconsin - 13,006 Florida at Wisconsin, Championship Game 2000 7. Wyoming - 12,225 Kansas State at Wyoming, Semifinal Game 2007 8. Wyoming - 11,253 South Dakota State at Wyoming, Quarterfinal Game 2007 9. New Mexico - 11,213 Drake at New Mexico, Quarterfinal Game 1999 10. New Mexico - 11,090 Hawaii at New Mexico, Semifinal Game 2001 Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
YEAR-BY-YEAR OVERVIEW 1998 – The Postseason WNIT began in March of 1998 and involved 16 teams from around the country. Penn State defeated Baylor in Waco, Texas in front of 10,057 extremely vocal hometown fans. Attendance for the two semifinal games and championship game averaged 7,970 spectators per game.
2009 - South Florida relied on veteran leadership and took a cue from the 2008 Marquette team to win three straight road games, including a championship at Kansas. South Florida edged the Jayhawks 75-71 in front of a Kansas and Big 12 conference record-setting crowd of 16,113 fans at venerable Allen Fieldhouse.
1999 – The event was expanded to involve 32 schools. Arkansas and Wisconsin drew a WNIT record 14,161 women’s basketball fans for the championship matchup at Arkansas.
2010 – California won six straight games, including two on the road, to capture its first national title. The Golden Bears defeated Miami 73-61 in a championship game that showcased some of the nation’s best upand-coming players.
2000 – The tournament saw Wisconsin reach the championship game for the second year in a row. This time, however, Wisconsin was victorious against Florida in front of a crowd of 13,006 fans in Madison, Wis. 2001 – Ohio State overcame a 12-point deficit against New Mexico to beat the host Lobos at The Pit in front of 18,018 fans. This championship game sold out eight hours after tickets went on sale to the general public. The sell-out was the third fastest in the history of the facility. 2002 – Oregon scored with 2.4 seconds remaining to give Oregon the Women's NIT championship with a 54-52 victory over Houston before a season-high 6,835 fans at McArthur Court at Eugene, Ore. 2003 – Auburn overcame a six-point Baylor lead in the final two and a half minutes to win the championship game. Auburn edged Baylor 6463 in front of a deafening crowd of 7,314 at Waco, Texas. The winning basket came with 3.2 seconds left in the contest.
2011 – Toledo steamrolled its way to a championship that energized the entire community. The Rockets hosted all six games, defeating Delaware, Auburn, Alabama, Syracuse, Charlotte, and USC. Toledo sold out its semifinal and championship games at more than 7,000 fans each, which set school and conference attendance records. 2012 – Oklahoma State wrapped up an emotional season that started with the Cowgirls losing head coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna in a plane crash. The season ended with an amazing storybook finish as the Cowgirls won game after game, until they defeated JMU 75-68 to win the Postseason WNIT title. 2013 – Drexel (28-10) set a school record for victories and captured the program’s first postseason title by defeating Utah 46-43 after taking the lead with 21 seconds left in the championship game. The Dragons’ route to the title included wins over Auburn, Bowling Green, and Florida.
2004 – Creighton dominated UNLV from start to finish for a 73-52 victory in front of 4,180 fans in Omaha. This was the second largest home crowd in school history for Creighton. 2005 – Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) defeated West Virginia 78-70 in the championship. A sellout crowd of 8,870 vocal fans witnessed the final game for the team before the school changed its name to Missouri State. Jenny Lingor set the WNIT scoring record with 116 points in five games and the team made a WNIT record 58 3-pointers during their tournament run. 2006 – Kansas State overcame a one-point halftime deficit and Marquette’s hot 3-point shooting to win the WNIT championship. The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 13,340 – at the time the third largest in WNIT history. 2007 – In the 10th year of the Postseason WNIT, Wyoming rolled with six straight wins, including a 72-56 victory over Wisconsin in the championship. The entire state of Wyoming got behind the Cowgirls, as they sold out the final game in less than 10 hours, and drew 52,541 fans for the entire event, including 15,462 for the championship. 2008 - Marquette beat the odds and became the first team to win three road games in the Postseason WNIT. The Golden Eagles topped Michigan State 81-66 in front of 7,818 fans at the Breslin Center to capture their first postseason championship.
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Tournament Dates Round #1 – March 19-21 Round #2 – March 22-25 Round #3 – March 26-28 Quarterfinals – March 29-31 Semifinals – April 2-3 All games hosted by participating schools www.womensnit.com @WomensNIT | #WNIT
Championship Game Saturday, April 5, 3 p.m. ET Nationally Televised LIVE in HD Play-by-Play: Thad Anderson Color Analyst: Ceal Barry
DirecTV: CH 221 Dish: CH 158
WNIT NOTES
- During Round One of the WNIT, 25 of the 32 games (.781) were won by the home team. In Round Two, 13 of the 16 games (.812) were won by the home team.
- Both Auburn and Bowling Green advanced to Round Three of the WNIT in 2013. Auburn advanced to the quarterfinals after knocking off Tulane, 72-52. Bowling Green fell to eventual champion Drexel, 50-47. - Auburn and South Florida have won the WNIT in previous years; the Tigers in 2003 and the Bulls in 2009. Both teams are looking to become the first to win the WNIT twice. - Five teams from mid-major conferences have won the WNIT since its inception in 1998: Drexel (2013), Toledo (2011), Wyoming (2007), Missouri State (2005), and Creighton (2004). - Mississippi State’s double OT win over Southern Miss was the first 2-OT game since Round One in 2013 (Washington 65, Eastern Washington 60). It has been the only game to go OT in the tournament so far this year. The last 3-OT game was in 2007 occurring twice: Illinois State 71, Rice 61 (Round One) and Wyoming 89, Kansas State 79 (quarterfinals).
- CBS Sports Network will televise the WNIT championship game for the sixth year. The broadcast team includes Thad Anderson (play-by-play) and legendary coach Ceal Barry (analyst). Anderson has worked as a play-by-play announcer for 19 years in basketball, baseball, softball, and football. Barry served as Head Coach at the University of Colorado for 22 years where she compiled a 427-242 record, 12 NCAA Tournament ap- This year’s field tied the WNIT record for most schools that were pearances, including six times in the Sweet 16 and three times in the Elite crowned regular-season champions in their respected conferences (10 Eight, 13 20-win seasons, four conference championships and assorted teams): High Point (Big South), Iona (Metro Atlantic), Navy (Patriot), Lacoach of the year honors. mar (Southland), Indiana State (MVC), Colorado State (MWC), Arkansas State (Sun Belt), Green Bay (Horizon), South Dakota State (Summit), -The official website of the WNIT is www.womensnit.com. We post reand Bowling Green (MAC). Only SDSU and BGSU remain in the field. caps, scores, and next-round matchups within minutes of the conclusion of games. You can also follow the WNIT on Twitter @WomensNIT. - Conference USA led the tournament field with six schools selected. Please use #WNIT in all tweets. Only UTEP remains heading into Round Three. All four Big Ten schools that started the tournament are still playing. The SEC and Pac-12 have Field of 16 two schools remaining in the field. - 12 of the 16 teams entering Round Three have won 20 or more games this season. Of the 64 teams selected for the tournament, 35 teams had recorded 20 or more wins on the season. This was one team shy of tying the all-time WNIT record.
- Marquette’s Katherine Plouffe broke the WNIT record for most rebounds in a game against Indiana State in Round One with 26. The previous record was held by Sophia Young of Baylor with 25 in 2003. Plouffe also broke the record for most defensive rebounds in a game with 20. This mark surpassed Colorado’s Chucky Jeffery who recorded 16 in 2012. - Jamierra Faulkner of Southern Miss tied the record for most assists in a game with 13 against Lamar in Round One. She joins three other players: Ariana Elegado - Cal Poly (2012), Kelsey Corbin - Ball State (2007), and Dee Dee Pate - Wisconsin (1999). - UTEP’s 4,500 fans in Round One and 4,703 fans in Round Two were the largest announced crowds in this year’s WNIT so far. - Two teams playing in Round Three are making their first ever WNIT appearance: UTEP and Rutgers.
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School Auburn Bowling Green Colorado George Washington Indiana Michigan Minnesota Mississippi State Northwestern Rutgers San Diego Seton Hall South Florida South Dakota State UTEP Washington
Conference SEC MAC Pac-12 A-10 Big Ten Big Ten Big Ten SEC Big Ten AAC WCC Big East AAC Summit C-USA Pac-12
Record 19-14 29-4 19-14 23-10 20-12 20-13 22-12 21-13 17-15 24-9 24-8 20-13 21-12 24-9 26-7 19-13
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SCHOOL NOTES
Auburn Auburn beat Mississippi State twice during the regular season - 82-74 in Starkville and 51-43 at home… Auburn is making its fifth overall appearance in the WNIT (2003, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014) with an overall record of 13-3…The Tigers won the tournament in 2003, made the third round in 2007, lost in the second round in 2011 and reached the quarterfinals last season. Bowling Green The Falcons and Michigan Wolverines played nearly five months ago, with BG winning by a 63-52 final. That game, on Nov. 8, 2013, was the season opener for both teams, and was the first game of the Iona Tip-Off Tournament in New Rochelle, N.Y…The 2013-14 season marks the Falcons’ sixth appearance in the WNIT, and the third in as many years. BGSU has a record of 5-5 in the tourney to date. The Falcons are 5-4 in WNIT home games, with records of 2-2 at venerable Anderson Arena and 3-2 at the Stroh Center. Colorado This is the sixth meeting between Colorado and UTEP and the first since November 1982. The Buffaloes won all five previous meetings, four of which came when the two programs were members of the AIAW Intermountain Conference from 1976-79…This is Colorado’s fifth trip to the postseason WNIT, and third in the last four years, with an overall record of 11-4. The Buffaloes reached back-to-back quarterfinals in 2011 (3-1) and 2012 (3-1), the 2008 semifinals (3-1) and also participated in the 1999 event (1-1). George Washington The Colonials make their third trip (2002, 2009) to the WNIT. GW is 3-2 all-time in the WNIT after the win over Villanova. GW reached the second round of the 2002 event but fell to Florida Gulf Coast in the first round in 2009…The Colonials faced a total of 11 teams that are participating in the postseason, posting an 8-7 mark against six NCAA Tournament teams (California, Maryland, Georgia, Saint Joseph’s, Dayton, Fordham) and five WNIT squads (North Carolina A&T, American, Duquesne, VCU, St. Bonaventure). Indiana Indiana’s first appearance in the postseason since 2009, when they were in the WNIT...Indiana won its 20th game of the season with the RoundTwo win over Marquette, marking the sixth time in program history that an IU team has won 20 or more games in a season… With winning its second straight postseason game, it marks the first time IU has won back-to-back national postseason tournament games since 2009 when the Hoosiers topped Dayton (second-round bye) and Bowling Green (third round) in the WNIT. The Hoosiers improved to 10-6 all-time in the WNIT and 7-1 in WNIT games played in Assembly Hall. Michigan Michigan recorded its 20th win of the season with its win over Duquesne, the sixth time Michigan has reached the 20-win plateau. It is the third straight 20-win season for Michigan….It is the fifth straight 20-win season for a Kim Barnes Arico-coached team. She is now the first coach in U-M history to string together back-to-back seasons….Michigan finished with 17 assists against Duquesne, pushing its season total to 512. It set a new school record, breaking the previous best of 500 (1980-81). Minnesota Minnesota has appeared in the Postseason WNIT three times (2007, 2013, 2014) since Triple Crown Sports took over the event in 1998…The Maroon and Gold holds a 3-2 record in WNIT appearances following their win over SMU…The Gophers 22 wins is the most since the 26-win campaign in 2004-05. Mississippi State The Bulldogs are 4-1 all-time at home in the WNIT…State recorded its 21st win of the season against Southern Miss, the most since the 200910 team went 21-13…The Bulldogs’ last time advancing to the WNIT third round was in 2007 where they fell to Western Kentucky, 56-53…They advanced to the quarterfinals in 2001 before losing to James Madison, 63-61. Northwestern Northwestern defeated Indiana in the last meeting between the two schools on Jan. 30, 58-52…Northwestern has had solid second halves in each of its two WNIT wins so far. Against Ball State, NU went 14-of-22 from the field for 63.5 percent in the second half and then followed that up with a 75.9 percent clip (22-29) in the second half of its win over IUPUI. Combined, the Wildcats are 36-of-51 for 70.6 percent in the second half of WNIT games so far…NU has played in the WNIT three times (2010, 2011, 2014) and holds a 5-2 record…The Wildcats advanced to Round Three in 2010 before falling to Michigan, 65-44.
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
Rutgers The Rutgers women’s basketball team is playing in the WNIT for the first time in program history… Rutgers improved to 24-9 on the year with its win over Harvard. RU reaches the 24-win mark for the first time since the 2007-08 season when the Scarlet Knights ended the year at 27-7 overall… With its second-ever WNIT victory, the Scarlet Knights improved to 106-63 in post-season action…RU improved to 14-3 at home in 2013-14 and 149-23 at the RAC since the 2002-03 season. The squad’s 14 home wins are the most since the 2007-08 season, as head coach C. Vivian Stringer guided Rutgers to at least 14 home wins for the seventh time in her tenure. San Diego San Diego has made seven postseason appearances in the history of the program…This marks the fourth trip to the WNIT for USD, and third year in a row…USD is 7-3 all-time in WNIT games, posting an 0-1 record in 2006-07, then having a magical run to the Final Four in 2011-12, going 4-1… Last season, USD defeated Hawaii in the first round in San Diego, then fell on the road to Utah…USD picked up an 82-59 win over Cal Poly this season in the first round, followed by Monday’s thrilling 60-57 win over Montana…USD defeated Washington in the Elite Eight of the 2012 WNIT, 58-47, the last time both teams have met. Seton Hall The Pirates are making their sixth postseason appearance in program history, and the first since 2007…Seton Hall is playing in the WNIT for the fourth time, and the Pirates had failed to advance past the second round of the tournament in each of its last three appearances…With its victory over Princeton in Round Two in Walsh Gym, Seton Hall improved to 20-13 overall, reaching the 20-win plateau for just the eighth time in program history and the first since 1995, a year the Hall advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers leads the all-time series against Seton Hall 32-9, but the Pirates snapped a 12-game losing streak to their in-state rival dating back to 2002 with a 45-42 win last season in South Orange. South Florida USF opponents are shooting .356 from the field this season, the lowest opponent FG percentage in Bulls’ history…The Bulls are 15-0 this year when scoring more than 70 points. USF started the season 0-7 when scoring 70 points or less, and are now 5-12 in that situation…USF won the WNIT in 2009 and is looking to become the first team ever to win the tournament for the second time. The Bulls defeated Kansas 75-71 in front of a Kansas and Big 12 conference record-setting crowd of 16,113 fans at venerable Allen Fieldhouse. South Dakota State The Jackrabbits sport a 16-0 record at home this year and own a 19-game home win streak…The Round Three game vs. Minnesota will mark the sixth meeting between the Jackrabbits and the Golden Gophers. South Dakota State is 4-1 vs. Minnesota, winning the last three games. The last time Minnesota and SDSU met was Dec. 9, 2008, in Minneapolis and the Jacks came home with a 65-55 win…The Jackrabbits are making their eighth consecutive Division I postseason appearance after accepting their third Women’s NIT invitation. SDSU qualified for the Women’s NIT in 2007 and 2008 while completing its transition to Division I…SDSU is 4-2 all-time in WNIT games. UTEP The Miners, who received an at-large bid to the event, are making their first appearance in the WNIT. UTEP declined a bid in 2013 due to a depleted roster as a result of injuries….It marks the second time in the past three seasons and third occasion overall that the Miners will play postseason basketball… UTEP is 76-21 since the start of the 2011-12 season, including 26-7 this year, and have registered 55 double-digit wins in that stretch… UTEP’s 4,500 fans in Round One and 4,703 fans in Round Two were the largest announced crowds in this year’s WNIT so far. Washington Plum led Washington with 31 points, highlighted by a 14-of-16 performance from the field against Oregon. It was a milestone night for the Husky freshman as she now has 680 points on the season to break the Husky single-season record of 661 set by Giuliana Mendiola back in 2004…In addition to Plum taking over as the single-season UW scoring leader, Jazmine Davis scored 22 points against Oregon surpassing 600 points for the season, becoming just the third Husky to do so…Washington is 13-1 in games they hold their opponent under 70 points…The Huskies are 13-0 when having a better field goal percentage than their opponent…Plum and Davis make up the nation’s second-highest scoring backcourt duo at 40.1 points per game. Only Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome of UT Martin (43.4) are scoring more.
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Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at S. Dak. St.
IUPUI 72
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Cent.Mich.
Ball State 65 Central Mich. 66
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at N'western
Northwestern 69
Belmont 47
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Indiana
Indiana 48
Marquette 63
7:05 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Indiana St.
Indiana St. 61
Missouri 51
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at Creighton
Creighton 77
Butler 61
7 pm PT Mon. 3/24 at Oregon
Washington 93
Round 2 March 22-25
IUPUI 52
2 pm CT Sun. 3/23 at N'western
Northwestern 88
Indiana 72
7 pm ET Sat. 3/22 at Indiana
Marquette 69
Creighton 51
2 pm CT Sun. 3/23 at S. Dak. St.
S. Dakota St. 62
SMU 70
5 pm CT Sun. 3/23 at Minnesota
Minnesota 77
UTEP 76
7 pm MT Mon. 3/24 at UTEP
Saint Mary's 64
Colorado 79
7 pm MT Sat. 3/22 at Colorado
Southern Utah 68
San Diego 60
7 pm MT Mon. 3/24 at Montana
Montana 57
Oregon 85
Texas Southern 72 South Dakota St. 78
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at SMU
SMU 84
Green Bay 60
7 pm CT Wed. 3/19 at Minnesota
Minnesota 62
Arkansas St. 64
7 pm MT Fri. 3/21 at UTEP
CSU Bakersfield 68 UTEP 74
6 pm PT Fri. 3/21 at Saint Mary's
Saint Mary's CA 75
TCU 71
7 pm MT Wed. 3/19 at Colorado
Colorado 78
Southern Utah 71
7 pm MT Thur. 3/20 at Colo. St.
Cal Poly 59 Colorado State 56
6 pm PT Thur. 3/20 at San Diego
San Diego 82
Washington St. 78
7 pm MT Wed 3/19 at Montana
Montana 90
Pacific 63
7 pm PT Thur. 3/20 at Oregon
Oregon 90
Hawaii 50
7 pm PT Fri. 3/21 at Washington
Washington 67
Round 1 March 19-21
Northwestern
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at Indiana
Indiana
South Dakota St.
7 pm CT Thur. 3/27 at S. Dak. St.
Minnesota
UTEP
7 pm MT Fri. 3/28 at UTEP
Colorado
San Diego
7 pm PT Wed. 3/26 at Wash.
Washington
Round 3 March 26-28 Quarterfinals March 29-31 Semifinals April 2-3
All game times are according to host school’s time zone.
CHAMPIONS
2014 Postseason WNIT
Championship at TBA 3 p.m. ET Sat. April 5 CBS Sports Network
20
14 Semifinals April 2-3
Quarterfinals March 29-31
Bowling Green 76
Miss. St. 74 2 OT
Seton Hall 75
5 pm ET Sun 3/23 at Seton Hall
Princeton 74
Auburn 82
S. Miss 66 2OT
South Florida 75
George Wash. 76
Stetson 56
2 pm ET Sun. 3/23 South Florida at South Florida
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at South Florida
1 pm ET Sun George Wash. 3/23 at Villanova
Villanova 66
Old Dominion 59
6 pm CT Mon Auburn 3/24 at Auburn
7 pm CT Thur. 3/27 at MSU
Mississippi St. 7 pm CT Mon. 3/24 at MSU
Seton Hall
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at Rutgers
Rutgers 63
7 pm ET Mon
Rutgers 3/24 at Rutgers
Harvard 52
St.Bonaventure 65
7 pm ET Mon. Bowling Green 3/24 at BGSU
7 pm ET Thur. 3/27 at BGSU
Duquesne 52
3/24 at Michigan
Michigan 68
Round 2 March 22-25
Michigan 7 pm ET Mon.
Round 3 March 26-28
Mt. St. Mary's 52
High Point 62
Lamar 60
Stetson 70
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Miami
Miami 63
NC A&T 50
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at South Florida
East Carolina 68 South Florida 56
7 pm ET Wed. 3/19 at G. Wash.
George Wash. 86
Quinnipiac 66
7 pm ET Wed. 3/19 at Villanova
Villanova 74
Navy 60
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at ODU
Old Dominion 68
Furman 64
6 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at Auburn
Auburn 78
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at S. Miss
Southern Miss 75
Tulane 68
7 pm CT Thur. 3/20 at MSU
Mississippi St. 77
American 60
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Seton Hall
Seton Hall 63
VCU 76
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Princeton
Princeton 94
Delaware 61
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Rutgers
Rutgers 65
Harvard 90
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at Iona
Iona 89
Charlotte 62
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure 81
7 pm ET Thur. 3/20 at BGSU
Bowling Green72
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at Duquesne
Duquesne 62
Stony Brook 48
7 pm ET Fri. 3/21 at Michigan
Michigan 86
Round 1 March 19-21
2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
DREXEL CAPTURES 2013 WNIT CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE BY PERIODS
Utah Drexel
1ST 2ND F 24 19 43 21 25 46
Attendance: 1,922 Site: Daskalakis Athletic Center, Philadelphia
Records 23-14 28-10
By Drexel Athletics
PHILADELPHIA -- Taylor Wootton will end her career with a win. The senior forward, who has played more games than anyone who has ever worn a Drexel uniform, saved one of her best games for last as she scored a game-high 16 points and added six rebounds to help guide the Drexel women’s basketball team to the 2013 WNIT championship with a 46-43 victory over Utah. Wootton, who has played in a Dragon-record 131 games, became just the 21st player in Drexel women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career points early in the second half, and finished her career with 1,003. Hollie Mershon will end her career with a win. The senior guard played just one game less than Wootton over the course of her career, and finished the season as Drexel’s leading scorer. She was named the WNIT Most Valuable Player after a performance that saw her score 14 points, including 12 in the second half. Mershon drove down the left side and scored with 21 seconds remaining to give the Dragons a 44-43 lead, and after a Utah turnover, Mershon hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to put the Dragons up by their final margin of three points.
Sideline Photos
Renee Johnson-Allen will end her career with a win. The senior guard finished with six points and three rebounds after a season in which she became arguably the Dragons’ best rebounder despite her 5’6” stature. Johnson-Allen, who started the season’s final 15 games, figured into one of the championship game’s most important plays late in the contest. With the Utes up by a point and taking the ball out of bounds under their own basket, Wootton tipped the inbounds pass to JohnsonAllen, who somehow kept the ball inbounds and helped Drexel regain possession with 30 seconds remaining. That led to Mershon’s go-ahead layup nine seconds later. Drexel (28-10) set a school record for wins and became the first Philadelphia Division I women’s basketball team to win a postseason championship as it completed its run through the WNIT with the victory over Utah (23-14). The Dragons trailed for nearly the entire first half as the Utes seemed to have an answer every time Drexel got close. After seeing a five-point lead in the second half evaporate, the Dragons fought back with Mershon’s late heroics to bring home the championship and bring the Daskalakis Athletic Center crowd of 1,922 storming onto the court to celebrate with their team.
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Sideline Photos
STATS COMPARISON Utah Points 43 FG Made-Attempted 16-47 FG Percentage 34.0% 3PT Made-Attempted 7-21 3PT Percentage 33.3% FT Made-Attempted 4-5 FT Percentage 80.0% Rebounds 34 Turnovers 9
Drexel 46 19-53 35.8% 5-17 29.4% 3-4 75.0% 30 1
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RECORD BOOK INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Most Points - Game 45 Tamika Whitmore, Memphis vs. Arkansas St., 3/17/99 Most Points - Tournament 147 Danielle McCray, Kansas (2009) Most Field Goals Made - Game 18 Aisha Hollans, University of Southern California vs. Washington, 3/17/02 Most Field Goals Made - Tournament 54 Toni Young, Oklahoma State (2012) Best Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 12 attempts) .917 Kelsey Kahle, Portland State (11 for 12) vs. Portland, 3/19/09 Most 3-Pointers - Game 9 Jordan Jones, South Carolina vs. NCA&T, 3/21/08 Most 3-Pointers - Tournament 22 Jenny Lingor, Missouri State (2005) Best 3-point Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 6 attempts) 100.0 Valerie Nainima, Long Island (6 for 6), vs. Iona, 3/15/07 Most Free Throws - Game 17 Hanna Zavecz (17 of 24), Wyoming vs. Kansas State, 3/28/07 Most Free Throws - Tournament 47 Hanna Zavecz, Wyoming (2007) Best Free Throw Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 13 attempts) 100.0 Crystal Kelly, Western Kentucky (14 for 14), vs. Minnesota, 3/19/07 100.0 Krysten Boogaard, Kansas (13 for 13), vs. Prairie View A&M, 3/17/10 100.0 Kristi Cirone, Illinois State (13 for 13), vs. Marquette, 3/26/09 100.0 Shantia Grace, South Florida (13 for 13), vs. St. Bonaventure, 3/29/09 Most Rebounds - Game 26 Katherine Plouffe, Marquette vs. Indiana State, 3/20/14 Most Rebounds - Tournament 68 Sophia Young, Baylor (2003) Most Offensive Rebounds - Game 12 Shauntal Nobles, Texas Tech vs. University of San Diego, 3/22/12 Most Offensive Rebounds - Tournament 20 Janese Banks, Wisconsin (2007) Most Defensive Rebounds - Game 20 Katherine Plouffe, Marquette vs. Indiana State, 3/20/14 Most Defensive Rebounds - Tournament 49 Liz Donohoe, Oklahoma State (2012) Most Assists - Game 13 Ariana Elegado, Cal Poly vs. Washington, 3/14/12 13 Kelsey Corbin, Ball State vs. Kentucky, 3/19/07 13 Dee Dee Pate, Wisconsin vs. Memphis, 3/20/99 13 Jamierra Faulkner, Southern Miss vs. Lamar, 3/20/14 Most Assists - Tournament 43 Yolanda Paige, West Virginia (2005) Most Blocks - Game 10 Hillary Carlson, University of Wyoming, vs. Nevada, 3/19/10 Most Blocks - Tournament 22 Allyssa DeHaan, Michigan State (2008) Most Steals - Game 10 Shala Crook, Ball State vs. Valparaiso, 3/16/02 Most Steals - Tournament 18 Tonya Washington, Florida (2000) 18 Bell Tonbi, Florida (2000)
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TEAM RECORDS Most Points - Game 107 University of Wisconsin vs. Siena College, 03/14/99 Most Points - Tournament 452 University of Wyoming (2007) Most Field Goals - Game 45 University of Illinois vs. Wisconsin Green Bay, 3/15/01 Most Field Goals - Tournament 179 Florida (2000) Best Shooting Percentage - Game .618 South Carolina vs. Hartford, 3/18/07 Most 3-Pointers - Game 17 Missouri State vs. Iowa, 3/28/05 Most 3-Pointers - Tournament 58 Missouri State (2005) Best 3-point Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 10 attempts) .750 University of Wyoming (9 for 12), vs. Nevada, 3/15/07 Most Free Throws - Game 37 University of Wyoming (37 of 52), vs. Kansas State, 3/28/07 Most Free Throws - Tournament 122 University of Wyoming (2007) Best Free Throw Shooting Percentage - Game (min. 15 attempts) 100.0 University of Wisconsin (20 for 20), vs. Western Kentucky, 3/28/07 Most Rebounds - Game 62 Fresno State vs. Santa Clara, 3/21/03 62 Missouri State vs. Oral Roberts, 3/19/10 Most Rebounds - Tournament 273 University of California-Berkeley (2010) Most Offensive Rebounds - Game 32 South Florida vs. Florida, 3/18/10 Most Offensive Rebounds - Tournament 85 University of Wisconsin (2007) Most Defensive Rebounds - Game 44 Illinois State vs. Rice, 3/15/07 Most Defensive Rebounds - Tournament 184 Oklahoma State (2012) Most Assists - Game 28 Kansas State vs. Idaho State, 3/17/06 Most Assists - Tournament 102 Oklahoma State (2012) Most Turnovers - Game 30 Eastern Illinois vs. Marquette, 3/18/10 30 Oral Roberts vs. Missouri State, 3/19/10 Most Turnovers - Tournament 106 James Madison University (2012) Most Steals - Game 23 Northern Colorado vs. Colorado, 3/14/12 Most Steals - Tournament 60 Houston (2002) Most Blocks - Game 16 South Florida vs. Coppin State, 3/19/07 Most Blocks - Tournament 31 James Madison University (2012)
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2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
WNIT HISTORY
The Postseason WNIT began in 1998 with 16 teams playing for a postseason crown. The event has undergone four expansions throughout, but its mission has remained the same: To give deserving teams a quality opportunity to play exciting games for a postseason title. Following the inaugural year, the field doubled to 32 teams and remained that way until 2006 when a renewed commitment was made to schools. The WNIT expanded to a 40-team field to give spots to teams that won their regular-season conference title but did not win their conference tournament and therefore were excluded from the NCAA Tournament. The WNIT furthered that commitment to conferences in 2007, when it expanded to 48 teams and awarded an automatic berth to each conference. The number of at-large berths remained at 17 until 2010, when the WNIT felt that the level of women’s basketball warranted an expansion to the 64-team field. The Postseason WNIT is the second longest running postseason tournament in women’s college basketball history behind the NCAA Tournament. Since its inception in 1998, the WNIT has afforded hundreds of opportunities for schools in every conference to play in the postseason. WNIT games showcase the best of women’s basketball, both with fan excitement (The 2009 championship was played in front of a Big 12 record 16,113 fans at Kansas) and level of play (teams that do well in the Post WNIT often make a huge jump the following year to performing well in the NCAA Tournament).
ATTENDANCE RECORDS The 1998 inaugural year attendance for a 16-team field was 50,479. Attendance for the next seven years when the event expanded to 32 teams averaged 83,207 per year. The WNIT attendance record of 18,018 fans in a championship game was set at the 2001 Postseason WNIT finale at New Mexico. The championship game for the 16 years of the postseason event averages nearly 10,000 spectators. Here is a look at the championship game numbers: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Penn State at Baylor Wisconsin at Arkansas Florida at Wisconsin Ohio State at New Mexico Houston at Oregon Auburn at Baylor UNLV at Creighton West Virginia at SMS Marquette at Kansas State Wisconsin at Wyoming Marquette at Michigan State South Florida at Kansas Miami at California Southern Cal at Toledo JMU at Oklahoma State Utah at Drexel
10,057 14,163 13,006 18,018 6,835 7,414 4,180 8,871 13,340 15,462 7,818 16,113 2,523 7,301 6,157 1,922
TOP-10 CROWDS 1. New Mexico - 18,018 Ohio State at New Mexico, Championship Game 2001 2. Kansas - 16,113 South Florida at Kansas, Championship Game 2009 3. Wyoming - 15,462 Wisconsin at Wyoming, Championship Game 2007
PAST CHAMPIONS 2013 – Drexel 2012 – Oklahoma State 2011 – Toledo 2010 – California 2009 – South Florida 2008 – Marquette 2007 – Wyoming 2006 – Kansas State 2005 – Missouri State 2004 – Creighton 2003 – Auburn 2002 – Oregon 2001 – Ohio State 2000 – Wisconsin 1999 – Arkansas 1998 – Penn State
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4. Arkansas - 14,163 Wisconsin at Arkansas, Championship Game 1999 5. Kansas State - 13,340 Marquette at Kansas State, Championship Game 2006 6. Wisconsin - 13,006 Florida at Wisconsin, Championship Game 2000 7. Wyoming - 12,225 Kansas State at Wyoming, Semifinal Game 2007 8. Wyoming - 11,253 South Dakota State at Wyoming, Quarterfinal Game 2007 9. New Mexico - 11,213 Drake at New Mexico, Quarterfinal Game 1999 10. New Mexico - 11,090 Hawaii at New Mexico, Semifinal Game 2001 Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
2014 POSTSEASON WNIT Notes and Records www.womensnit.com
YEAR-BY-YEAR OVERVIEW 1998 – The Postseason WNIT began in March of 1998 and involved 16 teams from around the country. Penn State defeated Baylor in Waco, Texas in front of 10,057 extremely vocal hometown fans. Attendance for the two semifinal games and championship game averaged 7,970 spectators per game.
2009 - South Florida relied on veteran leadership and took a cue from the 2008 Marquette team to win three straight road games, including a championship at Kansas. South Florida edged the Jayhawks 75-71 in front of a Kansas and Big 12 conference record-setting crowd of 16,113 fans at venerable Allen Fieldhouse.
1999 – The event was expanded to involve 32 schools. Arkansas and Wisconsin drew a WNIT record 14,161 women’s basketball fans for the championship matchup at Arkansas.
2010 – California won six straight games, including two on the road, to capture its first national title. The Golden Bears defeated Miami 73-61 in a championship game that showcased some of the nation’s best upand-coming players.
2000 – The tournament saw Wisconsin reach the championship game for the second year in a row. This time, however, Wisconsin was victorious against Florida in front of a crowd of 13,006 fans in Madison, Wis. 2001 – Ohio State overcame a 12-point deficit against New Mexico to beat the host Lobos at The Pit in front of 18,018 fans. This championship game sold out eight hours after tickets went on sale to the general public. The sell-out was the third fastest in the history of the facility. 2002 – Oregon scored with 2.4 seconds remaining to give Oregon the Women's NIT championship with a 54-52 victory over Houston before a season-high 6,835 fans at McArthur Court at Eugene, Ore. 2003 – Auburn overcame a six-point Baylor lead in the final two and a half minutes to win the championship game. Auburn edged Baylor 6463 in front of a deafening crowd of 7,314 at Waco, Texas. The winning basket came with 3.2 seconds left in the contest.
2011 – Toledo steamrolled its way to a championship that energized the entire community. The Rockets hosted all six games, defeating Delaware, Auburn, Alabama, Syracuse, Charlotte, and USC. Toledo sold out its semifinal and championship games at more than 7,000 fans each, which set school and conference attendance records. 2012 – Oklahoma State wrapped up an emotional season that started with the Cowgirls losing head coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna in a plane crash. The season ended with an amazing storybook finish as the Cowgirls won game after game, until they defeated JMU 75-68 to win the Postseason WNIT title. 2013 – Drexel (28-10) set a school record for victories and captured the program’s first postseason title by defeating Utah 46-43 after taking the lead with 21 seconds left in the championship game. The Dragons’ route to the title included wins over Auburn, Bowling Green, and Florida.
2004 – Creighton dominated UNLV from start to finish for a 73-52 victory in front of 4,180 fans in Omaha. This was the second largest home crowd in school history for Creighton. 2005 – Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) defeated West Virginia 78-70 in the championship. A sellout crowd of 8,870 vocal fans witnessed the final game for the team before the school changed its name to Missouri State. Jenny Lingor set the WNIT scoring record with 116 points in five games and the team made a WNIT record 58 3-pointers during their tournament run. 2006 – Kansas State overcame a one-point halftime deficit and Marquette’s hot 3-point shooting to win the WNIT championship. The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 13,340 – at the time the third largest in WNIT history. 2007 – In the 10th year of the Postseason WNIT, Wyoming rolled with six straight wins, including a 72-56 victory over Wisconsin in the championship. The entire state of Wyoming got behind the Cowgirls, as they sold out the final game in less than 10 hours, and drew 52,541 fans for the entire event, including 15,462 for the championship. 2008 - Marquette beat the odds and became the first team to win three road games in the Postseason WNIT. The Golden Eagles topped Michigan State 81-66 in front of 7,818 fans at the Breslin Center to capture their first postseason championship.
Media Contact: Andy Hansen | (970) 672-0517 | [email protected] www.womensnit.com 3930 Automation Way - Fort Collins, CO 80525
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