March 17, 2010

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MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's basketball team opens play in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Thursday, March 18 against Eastern Illinois, the automatic qualifier out of the Ohio Valley Conference, at 7 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center.

The game can be heard live via the airwaves on WJYI 1340 AM with Lance Davis calling the action.

The selection into the 64-team field marks the eighth-consecutive postseason berth for MU, who complied an 16-15 overall record and a 6-10 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. It is also the 15th post-season appearance in program history, 12th since head coach Terri Mitchell began her tenure at Marquette in 1996.  

The Golden Eagles are 12-6 all-time in WNIT/NWIT play. Marquette was a participant in the 2009 WNIT, dropping a 51-50 decision at Illinois State in the third round.

The Panthers (23-10) will be making their first national postseason appearance since losing to Colorado in the 1988 NCAA Tournament. Eastern won its first regular-season Ohio Valley Conference Championship this season and advanced to the OVC Tournament title game.

Eastern is led by the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player and Freshman of the Year Ta’Kenya Nixon with 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Marquette and Eastern Illinois have met just once before during the 1986-87 season. The Panthers won that game, 93-57, in Charleston, Ill.

The winner of Thursday’s game will play the winner of Illinois/Western Kentucky in the second round March 20-23. Date and site are to be determined.