Preseason WNIT Brackets Announced; Hawks Open at Home

First-round pairings for the 2011 Preseason WNIT have been announced, and the University of Hartford will host Manhattan in an opening-round game on Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. This game will serve as the 2011-12 season opener for the Hawks.

The 16-team field features three top-10 teams: Baylor, Notre Dame, and UCLA. With a first-round victory, the Hawks would face the winner of a first-round game between Long Island University and Drexel.

Should the Hawks lose their opening-round game, Hartford would fall into the consolation bracket, which consists of two four-team pools where each participating team is guaranteed two games at a single site to be determined following the first round.

Overall, the talent loaded field is stacked with nine teams who played in the 2010 postseason, five in the NCAA field of 64, two in the WNIT field of 64 and two in the newly formed Women’s Basketball Invitational, which consisted of 16 teams. 

The Hawks are coming off of their fifth America East Championship and sixth trip to the NCAA Championship. Hartford entered the 2010 America East Championship presented by Newman’s Own as the fourth seed and defeated top-seeded UMBC and second seed Boston University en route to their fifth title. The win over Boston University came on the Terriers' home court.

Overall, Hartford returns eight letterwinners and four starters after losing three seniors to graduation. The rising junior class will look to build upon a season where they provided 50 percent of the teams scoring. Alex Hall, 5’-7” guard, returns after being named the 2011 America East Championship Most Outstanding Player, while fellow classmate Ruthanne Doherty, 5-11 forward, earned her second postseason honor when she earned Third Team All-Conference distinction.

2011 WNIT BRACKET