DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team is in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for the second-consecutive season. Drake (22-9) will host Sacred Heart (20-12) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 at the Knapp Center in the first round of the 64-team postseason tournament. This is the first-ever meeting between Drake and Sacred Heart.
 
Drake was edged by Missouri State, 65-61, in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this past Saturday. The Lady Bears made four free throws in the final minutes to pull out the win as they went on to win the MVC Tournament by beating UNI the next day. Freshman Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) had a great game against MSU with 19 points and 13 rebounds for her fifth career double-double as Rhine was named to the MVC All-Tournament team.
 
Drake has previously appeared in the WNIT 11 times, including making a run to the WNIT final four in 1999. The Bulldogs own a 13-12 all-time record in 25 WNIT games. One year ago, Drake lost to Eastern Michigan, 80-70, in the first round of the WNIT after nearly rallying from a double-digit first-half deficit to the Eagles.
 
Sacred Heart is making its second-ever appearance in the WNIT after previously being in the tournament back in 2012-13. The Pioneers rebounded from a 2-10 start to the season, their worse in program history, by winning 18 of 20 games to close the season to win the Northeast Conference regular season title. Sacred Heart lost to Robert Morris, 56-51, in the NEC title game. Redshirt junior Hannah Kimmel leads the Pioneers in scoring at 16.7 points per game and in rebounding at 7.7 per game.
 
The winner of Drake vs. Sacred Heart will face the winner of Nebraska vs. UNI, who play Thursday night in Lincoln, Neb.
 
Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for youth (ages 3-18). All seats are reserved seating throughout the Knapp Center. Fans purchasing tickets online may pick their own seats then enter the arena using their credit card or Flash Seats app at the gate in order to avoid ticket office and will call lines on game day. Parking for the first-round WNIT game will be free and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.