TOWSON, Md. ? Head coach Joe Mathews and the Tiger women's basketball team will kick-off its 2009-10 season by participating in the Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament. Mathews and the Tigers will travel to West Virginia for the first game of the tournament on Friday November 13.

The Tigers will be participating in a preseason national tournament for the first time in program history and participating in a national tournament for the first time since they were in the NIT in 1969.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to participate in the Pre-season WNIT,” said Mathews. It is another step toward competing at a national level.”

Mathews added, “it should provide us an early look at the potential for the upcoming season by playing against such a tremendous field that the WNIT offers.  Triple Crown Sports is a well respected organization and does a marvelous job promoting women's basketball.” 

Towson is guaranteed to play three games as part of the Preseason WNIT, which features 16 teams from across the country. The winner of the game between the Tigers and Mountaineers will advance to face the winner of the Marist-North Carolina A&T game on either November 15 or 16. The loser of the Tigers' first round game will move into a four-team consolation bracket, which will be played November 20-22.

Of the teams participating in this year's Preseason WNIT, 11 participated in the postseason last year, including Ohio State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Bowling Green, Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia Tech, Marist, New Mexico, North Carolina A&T, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Winthrop. Along with the Tigers, Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, North Colorado and UTEP complete the Preseason WNIT field.

The Tigers are coming off a 17-13 season and a berth in the Colonial Athletic Association quarter-finals. Towson returns its top five leading scorers from last year, including senior guard Shanae Baker-Brice, who was a first team All-CAA selection and led the Tigers with a 17.0 point per game average. Also returning are the Tigers' leading rebounders from a year ago in seniors Katrina Wheeler (8.4 rpg) and Kandace Davis (6.8 rpg).

West Virginia finished the 2008-09 season with an 18-15 record, which included wins over Louisville, Syracuse and Providence.

“We are appreciative of their invitation to the tournament and look forward to representing the CAA," remarked Mathews.

The rest of the Tigers' 2009-10 schedule will be announced later this summer.

-- TIGERS --