WNIT BRACKET

HAMPTON, Va. -- The Hampton University women's basketball team will travel to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on the Lady Dukes of James Madison University on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the first round of the 2010 Preseason WNIT.

The 16-team invitation-only field features 14 teams coming off of postseason play. Seven teams won their conference tournaments in 2009-2010: Austin Peay, Hampton, JMU, Lamar, South Dakota State, St. Francis PA, and Utah Valley. Other teams that also earned postseason experience were Charlotte, DePaul, Florida, Iona, Missouri State, Purdue, and Toledo. Central Florida and Valparaiso round out the field for this year's Preseason WNIT.

The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Nov. 12-13 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 14-15; semifinals will be Nov. 17-18; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 21. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 19-20. All games are hosted by participating schools, and sites are announced by the end of the preceding round.

The Lady Pirates are coming off a spectacular season by winning 20 games, taking the MEAC Tournament Championship and facing Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The team went 20-12 in David Six's first year as head coach, winning its first conference title since 2004.

The Lady Pirates are returning 10 players from last year's squad, while adding four talented recruits.

The Lady Dukes, defending Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Champions, went 26-7 last season. Coached by Kenny Brooks, JMU returns 11 players – including First Team All-CAA senior Dawn Evans (24.6 ppg, 4.6 apg in 2009-10).

The Lady Dukes lead the head-to-head series against Hampton 2-0, winning 68-50 in Harrisonburg on Dec. 29, 2005, and taking a 54-45 decision at the HU Convocation Center on Dec. 9, 2006.

For more information on the Preseason WNIT, visit the tournament's official website at www.womensnit.com.   For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please call Derrick Coles, Assistant Sports Information Director, at (757) 727-5906, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.