Black Bears to challenge Bobcats in WNIT

The University of Maine women’s basketball team (26–8) will play at host Quinnipiac (24–8) on Friday, March 18, in the first round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).

Both teams were selected for the WNIT after losing in their respective conference tournament championships.

In a thriller, UAlbany nipped UMaine 59–58 in the America East final while Quinnipiac, which won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season, lost to Iona 69–53 in the MAAC tournament championship. The loss broke the Bobcats’ 19-game win streak.

Maine and Quinnipiac have played twice before, with the Bobcats winning in 2007 and 2009.

The Black Bears also played in the WNIT last season, losing 71–60 to Villanova in the first round. It will be UMaine’s fifth overall appearance in the WNIT, as the squad advanced in 1990, 2003 and 2005. In 1990, the Black Bears topped Wyoming 68–48.

Friday’s game time will be announced Tuesday afternoon. Stay tuned to goblackbears.com or follow UMaine women’s basketball on Twitter for postseason updates.

To see the WNIT field and matchups, view the full bracket online.