Bucknell Women's Basketball to Play at Hartford Thursday in WNIT
3/13/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 13, 2007
2007 Postseason WNIT Bracket
LEWISBURG, Pa. - By virtue of winning the Patriot League regular-season title, the Bucknell women's basketball team earned an automatic berth into the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) and will play at Hartford on Thursday, March 15, it was announced late Monday night. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
The Bison (20-10) won their second Patriot League title with a school-record 12-2 conference mark, but fell to eighth-seeded Colgate in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament. Bucknell will be making its second postseason tournament appearance, having appeared in the NCAA field in 2002. The Bison did appear in the preseason WNIT in 2002 and fell to regional rival Penn State 86-72.
"Our whole team is excited about playing in the WNIT," commented Bucknell 10th-year head coach Kathy Fedorjaka, who was the Patriot League Coach of the Year. "Having this opportunity is great for our program. It is a national tournament and we are going to give tremendous effort. It was disappointing to lose to Colgate in the (Patriot League) Tournament, but I am happy the team has a chance to respond."
This will be the second-ever meeting between Bucknell and Hartford. The Bison participated in the Hartford Tournament in December 1993 and upended the host Hawks 68-57.
Hartford (24-8) was the top seed in the America East Tournament, but was upset by UMBC in Sunday's championship tilt, 48-46. The Hawks had won 15 consecutive games, and 17 of 18, before dropping that decision to the Retrievers.
Hartford is led by eighth-year head coach Jennifer Rizotti, a two-time All-American who led Connecticut to an undefeated season and a national championship as a player in 1995. She picked up America East Coach of the Year honors this season. The Hawks also had three players earn all-conference plaudits as Danielle Hood and Ikea Witt were first-team selections and freshman Diana Delva earned third-team and all-rookie honors.
The winner of the Bucknell-Hartford contest will play South Carolina in the WNIT second round. The site and date of the possible second-round contest has yet to be determined.