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FGCU women make debut in WNIT Friday

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Special to the Daily Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

Florida Gulf Coast’s first-round game of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament tips off at 7 p.m. Friday against South Florida.

The Eagles (21-8) earned the automatic bid to the WNIT by finishing second in the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season standings and are participating in the tournament for the first time in program history.

By earning a spot in the WNIT, the Eagles are the first team in history to play in the WNIT in their first year as a Division I program. No current A-Sun team has won a postseason game as a member of the conference. The last A-Sun team to win a postseason game was Florida International in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament, when the Panthers defeated Marquette 59-45.

FIU also was the last A-Sun team to win a game in the WNIT. The Panthers defeated Butler 79-75 (OT) in the first round of the 1993 tournament.

USF (16-15) lost in the quarterfinals of the Big East Conference Tournament to West Virginia. The Eagles have never played USF in women’s basketball.

The Eagles currently are 9-5 (.643) in non-conference play and 11-2 (.846) overall at home this season.

The single-elimination WNIT involves 48 Division I women’s teams. All games, including the semifinals and championship, are hosted by participating schools at their own facility.

Tickets are now on sale at $12 apiece on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can purchase tickets at the FGCU ticket office in person or by calling the ticket office at (239) 590-7145, or online at FGCUAthletics.com.

FGCU students will be admitted free at the student gate with a student ID. USF students will be charged $5 with a student ID. Parking also is free of charge.

The WNIT championship game will be televised.