Preseason WNIT Bracket in PDF Format
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June 26, 2003

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The 16-team field for the 2003 Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament was announced Thursday, pairing UC Santa Barbara against the University of San Diego in first round action.

The eight-time defending Big West Conference champion Gauchos open their 2003-04 campaign vs. the Toreros on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1:00 p.m. in the Thunderdome, where they own the nation's second-longest home winning streak at 23 games. Santa Barbara is 9-6 all time against San Diego, a member of the West Coast Conference which posted a 13-17 record last season.

The winner of the UCSB-USD showdown will advance to meet either Utah or Southeast Missouri State on Monday, Nov. 17. All WNIT contests will be held at home sites, which are determined following each round. The championship game is slated for Sunday, Nov. 23.

The Preseason WNIT, now in its 10th year, features seven teams which advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. Western Kentucky, Utah, Liberty, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Santa Barbara and Texas Tech all played in the Big Dance, with the latter three ranked among the nation's top-25 in the final Associated Press writer's poll. Texas Tech, which defeated UCSB 72-68 in the NCAA Second Round a year ago, looms as a potential semifinal opponent for the Gauchos.

A school may participate in the Preseason WNIT no more than once in a four-year period. Additionally, only one institution per conference may play in the tournament in the same season.

The Gauchos' only previous appearance in the event came in 1999, when they defeating UNLV, TCU and Illinois before falling in the championship game to then-third-ranked Georgia in Champaign, Ill. Santa Barbara went on to finish that season with a school-best 30-4 overall record and No. 9 national ranking.

In 2003-04 the Gauchos will feature seven returnees - including All-American Lindsay Taylor - and five newcomers as they attempt to advance to the NCAA tourney for an eighth consecutive year. Santa Barbara's complete schedule for the upcoming season will be released later this summer. UCSB concluded the 2002-03 campaign with a 27-5 overall record and No. 18 national ranking.

More detailed Preseason WNIT information, including tournament records and results, can be found online at www.womensnit.com.