March 15, 2008

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University locked up the Big Sky Conference's automatic berth into the WNIT (Women's National Invitation Tournament) by virtue of top-seeded Montana's 101-65 win over the #3 Montana State Bobcats in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game. The Bengals earned the Big Sky's automatic berth as the second-place team in the conference.

The Bengals, who qualified for the WNIT in both 2004 and 2006, will learn their fate on late Monday night, as the WNIT pairings will come out after the NCAA Tournament pairings are determined. A total of 48 schools will participate in the WNIT, including 31 automatic qualifiers from each of the NCAA's 31 conferences. The highest-seeded team in each league that does not qualify for the NCAA Tournament earns the automatic berth for conference. With the #1 seed Montana winning the conference tournament title, the league's automatic berth falls to the #2 seed, which was Idaho State (20-9).

The Bengals in 2004 traveled to Iowa State, losing 72-59, and in 2006, they lost in the first round to the eventual WNIT champions Kansas State 88-68. Both of those games were on the road, and ISU's opening game of the 2008 WNIT will also be on the road. The WNIT will have 16 first round games, and those games will take place from Wednesday through Friday, March 19-21. The 16 second round games will take place from Saturday through Monday, from March 22-24.

Idaho State will receive word by 10:00 pm Monday, and the WNIT official website will have all the pairings as well as www.isubengals.com. The WNIT's site is www.womensnit.com. The game will also continue the brilliant careers of ISU seniors Natalie Doma, a Wooden finalist and a member of the 2008 Big Sky Tournament All-Tournament team, and Andrea Lightfoot.