HOUSTON- The Texas Southern women's basketball team returns to the postseason for the first time in seven years as they'll host Saint Mary's College Thursday night inside the H&PE Arena for a WNIT contest.
The team earned the SWAC's Automatic Qualifier by virtue of its second-place finish this season and it also marks the team's fourth NIT Appearance overall and first postseason appearance since 2015.
TSU participated in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 NIT Tournaments while hosting a Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) contest in 2018. This mark's the team's first time ever hosting an NIT contest inside the H&PE Arena.
Located in Moraga, Calif. and members of the West Coast Conference, the Gaels are making their first appearance in the WNIT since 2019 and their 13th appearance in program history.
They finished sixth in WCC play with an overall mark of 14-16 as both teams have common opponents in Cal Baptist. The teams last met Dec. 14, 1998 as SMC won 77-50. SMC is 2-0 all-time against the SWAC as they defeated Prairie View A&M in 2007.
Thursday's game also marks a SWAC reunion of sorts as both head coaches graduated from Alcorn State.
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at
www.swac.org.