Colorado To Play In 2011 WNIT

BOULDER - The University of Colorado is one of 64 teams selected to participate in the 2011 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

Colorado, 15-15 overall, will open WNIT play by hosting UC Riverside on Thursday, March 17, at the Coors Events Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The winner of Thursday's game will face either Cal Poly or California in a second round matchup this weekend (March 19-21).

UC Riverside is 19-12 overall and finished third in the Big West Conference at 11-5.

Colorado finished 6-10 in the Big 12 Conference, its best league mark since 2007. The Buffaloes are one of three Big 12 teams in the field joining Kansas and Oklahoma State.

"We are very excited," first-year CU head coach Linda Lappe said. "We feel like it's a great stepping stone for our program. I'm happy for our players, they've worked hard all season long and one of our goals was to get to the postseason. I'm happy that we're going to get that opportunity."

Colorado returns to postseason play for the 19th time in team history and first time since 2008 when the Buffaloes made a run to the semifinals of the WNIT (3-1). It is Colorado's third trip to the postseason WNIT. The Buffaloes went 1-1 in 1999, coach Lappe's freshman season at CU.

Tickets for Thursday's game will go on sale at 8:30 a.m. at the Colorado Athletic Ticket Office with prices starting at $9 for general admission seats. Season ticket holders will be able to claim their seats until Tuesday at 5 p.m. An email will be sent to season ticket holders at 8 a.m. Tuesday explaining the process. Those do not receive an email should call 303-492-5858. Any unclaimed tickets will be released to the general public Tuesday night.

WNIT Ticket Prices
$16 - Courtside
$13 - Mid Courtside
$11 - Corners, Reserved Bleachers
$9 - General Admission