2016 Preseason WNIT first round matchups unveiled
First round matchups and game times for the 2016 Preseason WNIT were unveiled today. The tournament features seven first-round games on Nov. 11 and one on Nov. 12.
Round two of the 16-team event will take place Nov. 13 and 14. The semifinals are Nov. 17. The title game will be played on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. ET and televised by CBS Sports Network.
Friday, Nov. 11
Central Michigan at Notre Dame, 7 p.m. ET
Furman at Fordham, 7 p.m. ET
North Texas at Little Rock, 7:30 p.m. ET
Abilene Christian at Missouri, 8 p.m. ET
Elon at Green Bay, 8 p.m. ET
Omaha at Colorado State, 9 p.m. ET
Eastern Washington at Washington, 10 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 12
UTRGV at Nebraska, 2 p.m. ET
Teams making their Preseason WNIT debut include Abilene Christian, Central Michigan, Elon, Fordham, Green Bay, Missouri, Omaha and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Teams in the tournament for the second time include Eastern Washington (2005), Furman (1997), Little Rock (2009), North Texas (2006) and Washington (1994-champions).
Joining the event for the third time is Colorado State (1998-champions, 2002) and Nebraska (1997, 2004); Notre Dame is in the mix for the fifth time (1996, 2004-champions, 2007, 2011). In the 2015 Preseason WNIT Championship, Baylor defeated DePaul, 86-72. Both teams later advanced to the NCAA Tournament; DePaul reached the Sweet 16, and Baylor made it to the quarterfinals.
The tournament features a three-game guarantee, so if a team loses in the championship bracket before it has played three games, it will play in the consolation bracket.
