Kansas Women To Play In WNIT In Allen Fieldhouse

March 13, 2006

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LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas women’s basketball team under second year head coach Bonnie Henrickson has been selected to play in the postseason WNIT. The Jayhawks will play the University of Northern Iowa on Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. Should the Jayhawks win, KU would play the University of Mississippi on Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.

The postseason appearance is Kansas’ first since 2000 and 17th in school history.

Northern Iowa (19-10) is making its third appearance in the WNIT after finishing third in the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season standings. Ole Miss (16-13) is also making its third appearance in the WNIT.

KU has never played in the WNIT under its current format, but did play in the NWIT twice — in 1978 and 1991 — when it was an eight-team tournament. The NWIT later went to 16 teams until its final year of 1996. There was no NWIT tournament in 1997. In 1998, the tournament was brought back under the new name WNIT and in 1999, the field expanded to 32 teams. This year, the tournament has expanded to 40 teams.

The Jayhawks earned the postseason bid after posting a 16-12 overall record. The mark represented Kansas’ first winning season since the 1999-2000 season when KU went 20-10 and was selected to play in its 11th NCAA Tournament.

Tickets will be available at www.kuathletics.com or by calling 1-800-34-HAWKS. Prices are $8 for adults and $4 for students and youth.

More information will be available Tuesday.