The Chattanooga Mocs Women’s Basketball team will make its debut in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) on Thursday, March 19, against the No. 1 seeded North Dakota State Bison. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time at the Scheels Center in Fargo, North Dakota, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
About the WBIT
The WBIT is a 32-team national tournament in its third year. It includes regular-season conference champions that did not receive bids to the NCAA Tournament, as well as other teams that missed at-large bids. The Semifinal and Championship games are scheduled for March 30 and April 1 in Wichita, Kansas.
Chattanooga enters the tournament with a 20-10 record and a Southern Conference (SoCon) Regular Season Championship. North Dakota State holds a 28-4 record, having won the Summit League Regular Season with a 15-1 record. But, NDSU was among the First Four Out of the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting North Dakota State
The Bison boast the 19th-ranked offense in the nation, averaging 79.2 points per game, and are eighth in the country in point differential, outscoring opponents by 20.3 points per game. They are led by forward Avery Koenen, the Summit League Player of the Year, who averages a double-double with 19.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
Scouting Chattanooga
The Mocs will be playing their first game in 11 days, following their loss in the SoCon Championship game to Samford. Chattanooga led the SoCon in field goal percentage (42.1%) and 3-point percentage (32.7%) during conference play. The team is led by SoCon Player of the Year Caia Elisaldez, who averages 16.5 points and 5.2 assists per game.
If Chattanooga wins, they are likely to play either No. 4 St. John’s or Columbia on Sunday in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WBIT?
The Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament is a 32-team national tournament made up of regular-season conference champions who did not receive bids to the NCAA Tournament, and other quality teams that missed out on an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
What is Chattanooga’s record?
Chattanooga is 20-10 overall and 10-4 in the Southern Conference.
What is North Dakota State’s record?
North Dakota State is 28-4 overall and 15-1 in the Summit League.
What factors will be most crucial for the Chattanooga Mocs as they begin their journey through the WBIT?
