 |
 Head Coach Kellie Harper and her 2008-09 squad will open the season at North Carolina in the first round of the Preseason WNIT. |
 |
July 7, 2008
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball will make its first appearance in school history in the Preseason WNIT facing perennial power-house North Carolina in the first round at 7 p.m. November 14 at the Dean Dome. The Lady Catamounts were announced today as one of the 16 teams participating in the preseason event that tips off the 2008-09 season.
"We are excited to be playing in the Preseason WNIT," said Head Coach Kellie Harper. "We know this is a great opportunity for our team and program."
This will be the third appearance for Western Carolina in a WNIT event. The past two seasons, the Lady Catamounts have earned a bid in the Postseason WNIT. The club will join 11 teams that played in the postseason last spring: Arizona State, Cleveland State, Illinois State, Indiana, Liberty, MTSU, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Robert Morris, VCU and Xavier. Also in the WNIT field is Ball State, Lafayette, Tulane, and UC Riverside.
The WNIT will be played in the format introduced in 2007, where each team is guaranteed to play three games in the MTE format. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 21-23.
The eight teams who lose their first games will be re-grouped into "Consolation bracket quads," which are two four-team pools. One team in each pool will be selected to host the other three teams. Each team will play two games for a total of three in the tournament. These are called Consolation Rounds 1 and 2.
Western Carolina had a record-setting season in 2007-08, ending the year 25-9, breaking the school record for most wins in a season. The club also notched its first back-to-back 20 win season in school history.
In her four-year tenure at the helm of the Western Carolina women's basketball team, Head Coach Kellie Harper has led her club to the Southern Conference Tournament finals three of her four years, earning the tournament title in 2005 with a double overtime victory, 97-95, over Georgia Southern.
|
|
 |
First-round Preseason WNIT games
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Robert Morris (23-10) at Xavier (24-9), 3 p.m. ET
Western Carolina (25-9) at North Carolina (33-3), 7 p.m. ET
VCU (26-8) at Liberty (28-4), 7 p.m. ET
Ball State (15-15) at Indiana (18-15), 7 p.m. ET
Illinois State (26-7) at Tulane (16-14), 8 p.m. ET
Cleveland State (19-14) at Arizona State (22-11), 8 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
UC Riverside (14-16) at Oklahoma (22-9), 3 p.m. ET
Lafayette (14-16) at MTSU (22-12), 8 p.m. ET
