DePaul University Athletics
Preseason WNIT Bracket Announced
6/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
June 23, 2010
CHICAGO - The pairings for the 2010 Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament were announced today and DePaul has been slated to host Valparaiso on Friday, November 12 at 7 p.m. at McGrath Arena.
The Blue Demons and Crusaders meet for the 17th time in November, but the first since Dec. 29, 2004 when the two teams met at the Blue Sky Restaurant Classic in Hanover, New Hampshire. DePaul won the 2004-05 meeting 75-49, and holds a perfect 16-0 record over Valpo.
The winner of the opening round game will play either Missouri State or Lamar on Nov. 14 or 15. Second round times and location will be announced at a later date. DePaul holds a 3-0 series advantage over Missouri State, while Lamar and the Blue Demons have never met.
The 16-team invitation-only Preseason WNIT field features 14 teams coming off of postseason play. Seven teams won their conference tournaments in 2009-2010: Austin Peay, Hampton, JMU, Lamar, South Dakota State, St. Francis PA, and Utah Valley. Other teams that also earned postseason experience were Charlotte, DePaul, Florida, Iona, Missouri State, Purdue, and Toledo. Central Florida and Valparaiso round out the field for this year's Preseason WNIT.
DePaul returns all five starters from a team that went 21-12 and made the program's eighth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance in 2009-10.
