The FIU women's basketball team will make its first postseason appearance since 2005-06 when they host Stetson in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament 7 p.m. Thursday at The Branch.
The Hatters went 23-10 overall, 7-8 on the road, and lost the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship game to Florida Gulf Coast -- the other school FIU's Sun Belt Player of the Year Jerica Coley considered -- 67-39. They're lead in scoring (16.6 per game), steals (2.61), assists (4.79 per game), free throw shooting percentage (.864) and three-point shooting percentage (.379) by 5-4 junior guard Victoria McGowan.
As far as common opponents...FIU whipped Jacksonsille, 63-37, but Stetson went one better -- beating the Dolphins 93-86 in overtime on the road and 73-63 in Jacksonville. Stetson beat FAU 52-37 at home while FIU lost by one at home and two in Boca to the Woodsies; Both lost to Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson by the aforementioned score and FIU by the later mentioned minisculre margins.
Stetson got the Atlantic Sun Conference's automatic bid while FIU got an at-large bid to their sixth Women's postseason NIT. Unfortunately, FIU's on spring break. It would be nice for at least the lower seats in The Branch to be full for a postseason game.
Should the Panthers win Thursday, they would play the winner of Thursday's FAU vs. South Florida game.
