The Utah women’s basketball team has earned an at-large bid into the WNIT for the third straight postseason, and it will host UNLV on Thursday in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
The WNIT announced its 64-team field on Monday evening. Tipoff times are expected to be announced Tuesday. First-round games will take place between Wednesday and Friday, and second-round games take place March 17-20, third-round games March 21-23, fourth-round March 24-26, semifinals March 28-29 and the championship game on March 31.
The Utes (17-13) were the only Pac-12 team in the WNIT field and one of 32 at-large selections.
The Utes and UNLV (19-11) will meet in the WNIT for the first time in the series history for the former Mountain West foes. The Utes have gone 31-14 all-time against UNLV.
The Utes have not played since losing to Colorado, 66-56, in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament on March 1. They went into the conference tournament with their top two scorers, junior forward Megan Huff and junior wing Daneesha Provo, coming off injuries. Huff, an all-conference selection, played 18 minutes and scored nine points against Colorado, while Provo did not play.
The postseason berth, the third in a row for the program, extends the season for seniors Tilar Clark, Tanaeya BoClair and Emily Potter. Senior Wendy Anae has not played this season due to injuries.
Last season, the Utes lost in the first round of the WNIT to UC Davis. They advanced to the third round of the WNIT following the 2015-16 season with wins over Montana State and Gonzaga before falling to Oregon.
