ISU hosts Central Michigan in WNIT Thursday

[March 15, 2012]  NORMAL -- The Illinois State women's basketball team will host Central Michigan in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Redbird Arena. It is the second straight season that ISU has started postseason WNIT play by hosting CMU. The Redbirds received an at-large bid into the postseason WNIT and will make their fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament.

Illinois State is making its 11th overall appearance in the WNIT (1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and the fifth in the last six seasons. The Redbirds are 18-16 all-time in the tournament, including an 11-3 mark in the last three years, and have advanced to the semifinals in each of the last three seasons.

Central Michigan, a member of the Mid-American Conference, is 20-15 and also received an at-large bid. The Chippewas finished fifth in the MAC with a record of 8-8 and lost to Eastern Michigan 72-71 in the conference tournament championship game.

Illinois State leads the all-time series with Central Michigan 7-1. ISU won the first six meetings, with four in the 1970s and a home-and-home series in 1994-95. Central Michigan's only win, a 72-62 game, came on Nov. 25, 2001, in Redbird Arena. When ISU and CMU faced off last season in the opening round of the WNIT, the Redbirds won 72-59 in Normal.

The WNIT awards an automatic berth to each of the nation's 31 conferences. The spot goes to the team that finishes the highest in the regular-season conference standings but does not advance to the NCAA tournament. If there is a tie, the WNIT abides by the conference tiebreaker. To be considered for a WNIT automatic or at-large berth, a team must have an overall record of .500 or better. The WNIT field expanded from 48 to 64 teams in 2010.

All games will be at the home arena of a participating school, and first-round games will be played Wednesday through Friday.

Tickets for the ISU home game with Central Michigan went on sale Tuesday morning. The cost is $11 for general admission and $8 for youth under the age of 18. Reggie's Kids Club members must purchase a ticket to attend. Illinois State students will receive free admission. Red Alert members need to present their passes at the door, and all other students should pick up a ticket prior to the game.

Tickets may be purchased in person at the Illinois State Athletic Ticket Office in Redbird Arena, over the phone by calling 309-438-8000 or online at GoRedbirds.com.

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WNIT bracket

[Text from file received from Illinois State]