WBI Website

DETROIT (3/18/2013) -- For the first time since the early years of Titan basketball, the Detroit women will make it back-to-back years in the postseason as UDM accepted an invitation to play in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) and will receive the top seed in the bracket's East Region, pitting the red, white and blue against the Belmont Bruins on Thursday.

This is the first career meeting between the two schools and the game is set for 7:00 p.m., at Calihan Hall.

“We are excited to be rewarded with a postseason bid to the WBI and we feel very fortunate to continue our season,” said head coach Autumn Rademacher. “The team is thrilled to be able to lace up their shoes one more time with the opportunity to win a WBI championship. It is great for our program to be recognized for our efforts this year and the experience will be priceless when it comes to future postseason tournaments.”

Belmont – a member of the Ohio Valley Conference – was 18-12 on the season and 11-5 in conference play, finishing third in the OVC's East Division. Seeded third in their conference tournament, the Bruins won their quarterfinals game against SIU Edwardsville (62-45) before falling in the semifinals to Tennessee Tech, 61-57.

The Bruins do not have a player averaging double figures in scoring, but have five players between 8.4 and 9.9 points per game, led by Katie Brooks' 9.9 ppg., and team-high 3.1 apg. Jordan Coleman is tallying 9.6 points and a team-best 10.2 rebounds, while Jordyn Luffman is adding 8.9 ppg. 

The Titans – who were in the WNIT last year - last played in back-to-back postseasons when they were in four straight to start their program history, participating in state college tournaments from 1978-81 as well as Region 5 Tournaments from 1979-81. In its history, UDM has also played in the NCAA Tournament in 1997 as well as the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Tournament in 1980.

Detroit finished the regular season at 17-13, its first back-to-back winning seasons since 2001 (17-12) and 2002 (16-14), and was fourth in the Horizon League at 9-7.

After seeing the men's side place a record six teams in the postseason field, this is the third year that a HL team will play in the WBI following Wright State (2011, 2012) and Cleveland State (2011). Detroit is also the third team in the conference to play in the postseason this year joining Green Bay (NCAA) and Youngstown State (WNIT).

Run by Sport Tours International, the Women's Basketball Invitational is in its fourth season provides a choice for postseason worthy Division I Women's teams who wish to continue their season, but who do not qualify for the NCAA tournament. The 16 team event will take place over two weeks with all games being played on campus sites.

Notable teams that have participated in the past have been Louisville, Memphis, Minnesota and Washington, and the past winners have been Appalachian State in 2010, UAB in 2011 and Minnesota last season.

If the Titans defeat Belmont, they will host the winner of the Northern Kentucky-College of Charleston either on Saturday or Sunday.

For the full bracket, click here.