Ole Miss Hosts WNIT Tourney, Lady Rebs Play UT Martin Wednesday

Photo courtesy Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics

After posting a 17-13, 7-9 SEC record, the Ole Miss women’s basketball team is back in the postseason accepting a bid to the 2015 postseason WNIT on Monday. The Rebels will take on UT Martin on Wednesday night in Oxford at 7 p.m.

This will be Ole Miss’ 23rd trip to the postseason and the first since an appearance in the WNIT in 2009-10. Ole Miss has played in the WNIT seven times and has a 2-5 all-time record, reaching the third round in 2008-09.

Photo courtesy Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics

“This team is very deserving of the opportunity to play in the postseason,” coach Matt Insell said. “They have done all that we have asked of them this season and have worked hard to get to this point. We are looking forward to getting back on the court for our first round game against UT Martin on Wednesday.”

Ole Miss enters the WNIT on the heels of a 72-61 loss to Arkansas in the second round of the SEC tournament back on March 5, while UT Martin enters with a 22-10 record after a 64-60 overtime loss to Tennessee State in the Ohio Valley tournament final.

“We’re very excited to still be playing,” senior forward Tia Faleru said. “This is as late as any of us have played in our career here at Ole Miss and we’re ready to get back on the court. We are focused on taking this postseason one game at a time and first up is UT Martin on Wednesday.”

Tickets for Wednesday’s game will be available beginning on Tuesday March 17 at 8 a.m. Tickets will be $6 for the general public for the first four rounds and will increase to $7 for the semifinals and finals should Ole Miss host those rounds. Ole Miss students will get in for free with their Ole Miss student ID for the first two rounds, while student tickets for the third round will be $4. Student tickets will be $5 for the semifinals and finals should Ole Miss host those rounds.

The 64-team tournament is a single-elimination event with all games played at sites of host schools. The WNIT is committed to offering deserved opportunities to women’s basketball programs, and the 2015 Postseason WNIT features a full 64-team bracket.

The field will consist of 32 automatic berths — one from each conference — and 32 at-large teams. The intention of the WNIT selection committee is to select the 32 best available at-large teams in the nation. At-large teams must have a .500 overall record or better to be considered.

For further ticket information go to OleMissTix.com or call the Ole Miss Ticket Office at 1-888-REB-TKTS (732-8587). For all Ole Miss women’s basketball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB and on Facebook at Ole Miss Women’s Basketball. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell.