FORT COLLINS, COLO. – The University of Denver women's basketball team has received an automatic bid to the WNIT for the second time in school history after finishing 17-13 overall and 10-6 in the Summit League (third place). Denver will take on New Mexico (24-6, 14-4) out of the Mountain West Conference on Thursday in the first round of the tournament.

The Pioneers will participate in an NCAA sanctioned postseason event for the third time in the school's DI history, joining the 2011 NIT team and the 2001 NCAA Tournament team.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity, but even more than that I'm very happy for our players and coaching staff," said head coach Jim Turgeon. "They have all worked extremely hard and we have made tremendous strides over the last two years. This is how March is supposed to be at DU!"  

Denver, which finished third in the league, received the automatic bid for the WNIT after South Dakota State (AQ) and South Dakota were both named into the field of 64 for the NCAA Tournament.

The Pios will enter the NIT coming off one of their strongest seasons in recent history, recording at least 17 wins for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Turgeon's squad features one of the nation's most prolific offenses, as DU averages 80.6 points per game (ninth in the NCAA). Junior Madison Nelson, who was named Second-Team All-League, leads the Pioneers, scoring 16.0 points per game while grabbing a league-high 8.9 boards per contest. Lauren Loven (14.3 points per game) and Samantha Romanowski (11.8 points per game) who were both named honorable mention all-league, are joined by Claire Gritt (10.8 points per game) and Courtney Smith (10.4 points per game) as the four other double-figure scorers for Turgeon's team.

Denver will try and win its first-ever NCAA sanctioned postseason game after losing to Virginia Tech in the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and BYU in the NIT in 2011.

Game times will be announced by officials on Tuesday, March 19. For complete information on the tournament, visit www.womensnit.com.

DENVER ATHLETICS TICKETS: For all Denver Athletics ticket inquiries, call 303-871-GOAL (4625), or visit DenverPioneers.com.

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