In a thrilling culmination of the women's collegiate basketball season, several teams from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) are gearing up for their respective matches in the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), highlighting a historic moment for schools like Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, and Utah Valley University.
Abilene Christian University (ACU) takes the spotlight as they prepare to host Northwestern State in the WNIT's first round on March 20 at 6 p.m. CT at Moody Coliseum. This marks ACU's first postseason tournament game in four years, with an impressive record of 20 wins and 12 losses this season, including a 9-7 mark in conference play. The Wildcats tied for fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) standings, achieving their most victories and best winning percentage since the 2019-20 season. ACU's last appearance in a postseason tournament occurred in 2021 when they reached the Women's Basketball Invitational.
The winner of the ACU versus Northwestern State matchup will advance to face Central Arkansas on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Conway, Arkansas, which adds more stakes to this exciting contest. The Wildcats have faced Northwestern State frequently in the past, leading the all-time series 6-2, and have won their last six encounters, with the most recent victory dating back to the 2019-20 campaign.
Meanwhile, Northwestern State is relishing its own historic stride to the postseason, qualifying for the WNIT for the first time since the 2015-16 season, a feat that also brings the Lady Demons to a winning record for the first time in years after finishing fifth in the Southland Conference with a 12-8 record. Their overall performance stands at 16 wins and 15 losses. The Demons previously reached the WNIT four times, achieving a solid record of 6-4, with three of those appearances leading them to the third round.
On the court, Abilene Christian ranks second in the WAC for field goal percentage at 43.2%, while Northwestern State counters with the 20th-best field goal defense nationally, holding opponents to 36.6%. The Lady Demons excel at defending three-point attempts, ranking first in the Southland, allowing just 27.3% from beyond the arc. The ACU Wildcats are known for their effective offense, averaging 71.1 points per game. They will benefit from the return of standout guard Payton Hull, who previously missed 13 games due to an injury but returned for the WAC Tournament with a stellar performance against Utah Valley.
Hull, a dynamic player who was named the WAC Freshman of the Year, averages 18.4 points alongside her impressive rebounding and assist averages. The Wildcats will also look to their strong guard lineup with Bella Earle and Emma Troxell contributing significantly to the team's points. Earle is on the cusp of breaking ACU’s Division I record for minutes played in a single season.
In other action, Utah Valley University (UVU) prepares to make its first postseason appearance in the WNIT, facing Air Force on March 21 at 6:30 p.m. MT. The Wolverines have shown great form, winning five of their last seven games, including a notable victory against fourth-seeded Abilene Christian in the WAC tournament. Tahlia White and Amanda Barcello will lead the charge for UVU, having combined for an impressive 50 points in their previous matchup.
UVU's playoff journey mirrors its previous NCAA experience when they competed against Stanford in 2021. With a solid overall record of 18-12, the Wolverines aim to build upon their momentum even as they face an Air Force team with a 18-14 season record. The winner of this game is set to play Washington State on March 24.
Further showcasing the WAC's strong basketball programs, Tarleton State will host its first-ever NCAA Division I postseason tournament game at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville on March 23 at 2 p.m. The Texans received a bye, advancing to face the winner of the matchup between Lindenwood and Tulsa, which takes place on March 20. Tarleton won the WAC’s automatic bid by finishing second in the league and achieving a record-setting 20 wins—their best performance to date.
The Texans' journey to this point has been remarkable, achieving unprecedented success after being predicted to finish sixth in the conference's preseason poll. Tarleton was also the only WAC team to secure a first-round bye for the WNIT, demonstrating the growth of the program over the past few years.
As the WNIT commences, fans can look forward to an exciting couple of weeks, with matches slated to display the impressive skills of young athletes across the WAC. With teams like ACU, UVU, and Tarleton showcasing their talent, the tournament promises to be a thrilling experience for players and supporters alike.
