Women's Hoop back in the WNIT

From Mgoblue.com
http://www.mgoblue.com/basketball-w/article.aspx?id=112342

Michigan Returns to Postseason for First Time Since 2002

• 2008 WNIT Bracket
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan women’s basketball program will return to postseason play for the first time in six years. The Wolverines were selected to compete in the Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) late Monday evening (March 17). The Wolverines earned one of 18 at-large berths and drew a first-round bye in the 48-team field. U-M will host the winner of Virginia Commonwealth and Charlotte in the second round next Monday (March 24) at 7 p.m. in Crisler Arena. It marks the seventh postseason appearance in the 35-year history of the Maize and Blue program.

Ticket prices for Monday's game are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors, students and children under 18. To purchase your tickets today please call (866) 296-MTIX (6849), visit www.mgoblue.com/tickets, or purchase them at the door. The game can also be heard live on radio station WTKA (AM 1050).

"We are very excited to get the opportunity to extend our season with a berth into the WNIT," said first-year head coach Kevin Borseth. "Our team has worked very hard to position itself for this chance. We're most excited for our seniors who have never played into the postseason."

Michigan will make its third appearance in the Postseason WNIT. In 1999, the Wolverines traveled to Kalamazoo, Mich., and earned a 73-64 first-round victory over Western Michigan before U-M dropped a 69-68 decision to Michigan State in Ann Arbor three days later. Michigan returned to the tournament in 2002 and fell to Valparaiso by a score of 62-49 in a first-round game in Crisler Arena.

Borseth has guided his teams to 12 straight postseason appearances, including WNIT berths in 2000 and 2006 while at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Borseth has made 17 overall postseason appearances in his 26-year head coaching career.

Borseth and his staff led the Wolverines to a 17-13 record in their first season in Ann Arbor, marking the program’s highest win total in six years. U-M finished the Big Ten Conference season tied for sixth place at 9-9, which was their highest finish in the league standings since 2001. Michigan also won a Big Ten Tournament game for the first time in four years -- a 64-54 triumph over Penn State on March 6.

Virginia Commonwealth enters the WNIT with a 25-7 overall record, including a 13-5 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Rams won seven straight before they fell to No. 14-ranked Old Dominion 71-64 in the title game of the CAA Championship on March 16. The Wolverines hold an all-time record of 1-0 against VCU.

Charlotte carries an 18-13 overall record into the tournament, including a 9-5 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The 49ers won four of their last six regular season games before they dropped a 77-53 decision to Dayton in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Tournament on March 8. Michigan and Charlotte have split two previous meetings.

Virginia Commonwealth and Charlotte will meet in the first round on Saturday (March 22) in Charlotte, N.C.

Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423