FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team has been selected to play in the 2014 Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI). The Stags received the sixth seed will face third-seeded Bryant University on March 19 at 7pm in Smithfield, R.I.
It is Fairfield's second consecutive appearance in the WBI and the third in program history. In addition, it is Fairfield's fourth national postseason berth in the last five seasons. Last season, the Stags defeated St. Francis (PA) in the opening round to advance to the quarterfinals where they fell to Penn on a buzzbeater.
The Stags (20-10; 15-5 MAAC) made their first WBI appearance in 2010, receiving the fifth seed in the East Region of the tournament and advancing to the second round. In the first round, Fairfield hosted No. 4 Towson University at Alumni Hall, and behind 24-point, 10-rebound Stephanie Geehan double-double, earned a 69-55 victory, their first-ever postseason win. A quick turn-around had the Stags in Boone, N.C. three days later where Fairfield fell to the eventual WBI Champion, Appalachian State.
Wednesday's game will be the first-ever meeting between the Stags and the Bulldogs. Bryant went 17-14 overall and 11-7 in the NEC. The Bulldogs advanced to the NEC semifinals where they fell to top-seeded Robert Morris.
The winner of Wednesday's contest will face the winner of No. 2 Bucknell/No. 7 Maine in the East Region quarterfinals, March 22-23. Eastern Michigan earned the top-seed in the East Region and will face No. 8 Evansville while fourth-seeded UIC faces fifth-seeded IPFW.
In the West Region, Grand Canyon earned the top-seed and will face Boise State. Rounding out the West Region are Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, College of Charleston, USC Upstate, Northern Kentucky, and McNeese State.