WNIT Bracket Set, TXST To Play At Rice

“We are really excited about playing in the WNIT and representing the Sun Belt Conference,” head coach Zenarae Antoine said.

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women’s basketball team earned an automatic bid into the 2018 Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WNIT) and will play Rice (22-9, 10-6 C-USA) on Thursday at 7 p.m. the WNIT committee announced on Monday evening.

“We are really excited about playing in the WNIT and representing the Sun Belt Conference,” head coach Zenarae Antoine said. “Our team has worked really hard this season and it is always welcoming to extend your season into the postseason.”

Thursday’s game will mark the second appearance and third WNIT game in program history. The Southland Conference championship team of 2007-08 made the team’s first WNIT, winning its first round game against Prairie View A&M, 84-83.

The victory stands as the program’s lone national postseason victory. Texas State was eliminated in the second round of the WNIT, stumbling at Texas Tech, 82-49.

Texas State is making its fourth postseason appearance in the last five years. The Bobcats played in the Women’s Basketball Invitational in 2014, 2015 and 2017, all under the guidance of Coach Antoine.

The Rice Owls closed out the season 22-9 and 10-6 inside Conference-USA play. The Owls finished the regular season as the fifth seed in the C-USA tournament, losing in the quarterfinals to top seeded UAB by a score of 67-55.

Rice is led by redshirt sophomore Erica Ogwumike, a first team all-conference selection. Ogwumike averaged a shade over 17 points and nine rebounds per contest.

Nicole Iademarco earned second-team honors after scoring 13.5 points per contest while shooting 35.1 percent from behind the 3-point line.

The winner between the Bobcats and Owls are bracketed to face the winner of New Mexico and St. Mary’s.

For all things Texas State women’s basketball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

#AllForTXST

2018 Postseason WNIT Schedule
First Round
March 14-16
Second Round
March 17-20
Third Round
March 21-23
Fourth Round
March 24-26
Semifinals
March 28-29
Championship
March 31 – 2 pm CT