Huskers to Host First Round of Preseason WNIT

Lincoln - Nebraska women’s basketball team will open its 2004-05 season by playing host to Western Illinois in the first round of the 2004 Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln on Friday, Nov. 12.

The Huskers, who produced one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation last season by finishing with an 18-12 overall record and advancing to the second round of the 2004 Postseason WNIT, will be the lone representative from the Big 12 Conference in the 16-team tournament field. Fellow Big 12 school Texas Tech won the 2003 Preseason WNIT title.

The tournament will mark Nebraska’s second appearance in the history of the Preseason WNIT, as the Huskers made their only other appearance in 1997. NU advanced to the championship game in 1997 before falling at Connecticut.

"We are definitely excited about the opportunity to play in the Preseason WNIT, and even more excited to host our first-round game," Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. "We are going to have a young team this year, so it will be good to start building our level of experiences against quality Division I opponents early in the season to prepare us for the challenges in the Big 12."

Nebraska’s first-round opponent, Western Illinois, finished the 2003-04 season with a 20-9 overall record after winning the Mid-Continent Conference regular-season title.

If the Huskers are able to advance to the second round, they would play the winner of the Notre Dame vs. Illinois State game on Sunday, Nov. 14. Notre Dame will host Illinois State in South Bend, Ind., on Nov. 12. All games in the Preseason WNIT will be played at home sites, which will be determined after each round.

Nine of the 16 teams in the tournament earned postseason bids in 2003-04, including Nebraska, Notre Dame, Duke, Middle Tennessee State and South Florida from the Huskers’ side of the bracket. Ohio State, Arizona, Saint Joseph’s and Rice also earned postseason bids and will be on the other side of the tournament bracket.

The semifinals of the tournament are set for Wednesday, Nov. 17, with the championship game to be played on Nov. 20 or Nov. 21.

For season ticket information please contact the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-8BIGRED or visit Huskers.com.

2004 Preseason WNIT (First-round games, all times TBA)
Friday, Nov. 12
Illinois State at Notre Dame
Western Illinois at Nebraska
Davidson at Duke
South Florida at Middle Tennessee State

Bowling Green at Ohio State
Boston at Saint Joseph’s
Saint Mary’s (Calif.) at Arizona
McNeese State at Rice