Looking Ahead to the WNIT

By Amanda Ottaway

Thursday, March 8, 2012

It was rough going for a couple of days after we lost to Samford in the semifinals of the Southern Conference tournament. We spent the night in Asheville, so we were able to spend time with our families and watch our men’s semifinal game Sunday night. Our elimination was pretty upsetting, but Samford is an extremely solid, well-coached team. They ended up winning the tournament. So it’s time for us to move on…

Although we didn’t win the conference championship and get an NCAA tournament bid, we do have a place in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), thanks to our regular season championship. So you haven’t seen the last of us yet! The first round starts next week – we’ll either play the 14th, the 15th, or the 16th. But we won’t know our opponent (or the location or date or time) of the game until late, late Monday night the 12th, after the women’s NCAA tournament pairings are announced. We’re confident, though. We know that we underperformed at the SoCon tournament, and that we can get back on track and do well in the WNIT. We’re excited for postseason play!

We had Monday and Tuesday off, and then came back to practice yesterday. Today we practiced and then lifted with Coach Rowan (strength and conditioning coach). We’ll do the same tomorrow. It’s spring break, so there aren’t many people on campus, which is fine with us; we entertain each other pretty well. The highlights of the week have been a trip to Our Town Cinemas, some good Indian food, a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie night, a little shopping, and Shneeka’s flat tire. Sounds like a good spring break to me.

Keep checking for updates about the WNIT! And, of course, send the men’s team your best wishes in the NCAA tournament! Go ‘Cats!!

Peace, perseverance, and March Madness –
Otto