March 19, 2013. Appalachian State women’s basketball will compete in the postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament after earning a berth into the 64-team field released late Monday evening.
The Mountaineers (20-10) will face in-state rival UNC Charlotte (24-5) for a first round matchup on Friday, March 22. Tipoff and ticket information will be announced Tuesday.
The 49ers advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Buick Atlantic 10 Championship before dropping a 48-47 loss to Temple University on March 9. The WNIT bid marks the 11th straight postseason campaign for the 49ers.
The Mountaineers met Charlotte in one previous meeting under Head Coach Darcie Vincent, with the 49ers taking the 74-57 decision on Nov. 20, 2009.
Monday’s selection places Appalachian in its third consecutive WNIT appearance under Coach Vincent, who has led the Mountaineers to four straight postseason appearances in her five seasons at Appalachian State.
Vincent guided the Mountaineers to a WBI Championship in her second season with the team (2009-10), and this year’s bid will mark Appalachian’s fourth WNIT appearance since the tournament’s inception in 1969. The Mountaineers dropped a tough first round loss in 2011 to South Carolina (67-54), but advanced to the tournament’s sweet sixteen last season, where they eventually fell to Virginia (74-58).
Women’s basketball also made an appearance in the 1987 NWIT, which is no longer contested, reaching the third round before falling in a six point loss to DePaul (88-82).
The 2013 WNIT field includes 31 teams that earn an automatic berth and 33 teams that receive an at-large bid. The postseason tournament will open with first round games Wednesday through Friday, March 20-22.
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