Butler will travel to Illinois State on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. ET for the first round of the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Bulldogs, who advanced to the second round of the 2009 event, will be making their fourth WNIT appearance in school history.
Butler (23-9) finished second in the Horizon League's regular-season standings and lost in the finale of the Speedway Horizon League Championship. Illinois State (24-7) won the Missouri Valley Conference's regular-season title and lost in the semifinals of the League tournament.
The first-round WNIT contest will be played at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.
Butler posted a 59-58 victory in the opening round of the 2009 WNIT at Duquesne and then suffered a 58-49 setback in round two at Marquette.
The Bulldogs give the Horizon League a third postseason team for the first time in its 24 seasons of women's basketball. Cleveland State became an NCAA Tournament automatic qualifier by winning the conference tourney on Sunday, while Green Bay secured the League's first-ever "Big Dance" at-large bid on Monday.
The WNIT awards an automatic berth to each of the nation's 31 Division I conferences. The spot goes to the team that finishes the highest in the regular-season conference standings that does not advance to the NCAA Tournament.
To be considered for a WNIT automatic or at-large berth, a team must have an overall record of .500 or better. The WNIT field expanded from 48 to 64 teams this season.
Butler Assistant SID Josh Rattray contributed to this report
Tags: Butler - Women's Basketball
