March 17, 2008

2008 Women's NIT Bracket

Pocatello, ID --- The NCAA Tournament has a clause for their bracket gurus to try and avoid rematches in the first two rounds. Apparently, that clause doesn't exist in the WNIT. Idaho State University drew their instate rivals the Boise State Broncos in the first round of the WNIT, forcing a rematch of a game won by the Broncos in Reed Gym earlier this season 78-74. The game is scheduled for Thursday at Taco Bell Arena, and the time of the game will be determined sometime on Tuesday.

The winner of the game between Idaho State (20-9) and Boise State (23-7) will have to make a quick turnaround to get to Fort Worth, Texas to take on Texas Christian (20-11) in the second round on either March 22, 23, or 24.

The Bengals earned the Big Sky's automatic bid into the WNIT by virtue of their 12-4 record in the Big Sky, which was good for second place. Montana earned the conference's NCAA berth, in effect passing the WNIT's automatic berth to the Bengals. For Boise State, it was a similar situation. The Broncos finished tied for first with Fresno State at 14-2, but they were the #2 seed in the WAC Tournament, and BSU lost in the semifinals to #3 seed New Mexico State. However, top seeded Fresno State won the tournament, putting the Broncos in the WNIT.

Texas Christian went 13-3 in the Mountain West and was 20-11 overall, finishing second in the league behind Utah, but a string of upsets in the league tournament meant New Mexico, the fourth-place team, earned the automatic bid, and the NCAA then selected regular season champion Utah, and third-place Wyoming as well.

The Broncos lead the all-time series 38-18, and they have won the last four in the series. Earlier this season in Pocatello, the Broncos squeezed out a 78-74 victory in front of 1,395 fans. In the game the Broncos held off a furious second half rally that saw ISU cut the lead to two points in the closing seconds. Natalie Doma, a finalist for the Wooden Award, had an unreal game with 27 points and 20 rebounds while the Broncos were led by Jessica Thompson who had 21 points and four steals including a key steal with 38 seconds left to prevent ISU from getting off a shot to tie.

Ticket information will be available at www.isubengals.com, and at www.broncosports.com. Tickets go on sale Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. at all Select-a-Seat outlets and at the Boise State Varsity Athletic Ticket Office. The full brackets are available at www.womensnit.com.