Idaho women’s basketball returns to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, receiving the Big Sky Conference’s automatic bid for the 2019 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Vandals will travel to Los Angeles, Calif., for a first-round matchup against Loyola-Marymount on Thursday, March 21.

Game time will be announced by WNIT officials today.

“We couldn’t be more excited to play in such a prestigious tournament as the WNIT,” Head Coach Jon Newlee said. “I know Charity (Elliott, LMU coach) does a great job with her program, and we are looking forward to playing such a talented and well-coached team.”

The selection marks the Vandals’ third appearance in the prestigious postseason tourney. Before the tournament’s 1998 resurrection, Idaho won the 1986 WNIT with wins over Fresno State, Norte Dame and NW Louisiana. This Idaho team’s most recent appearance came last season where they lost in the first round against UC Davis.

Idaho has been to the NCAA Tournament four times with three trips under the helm of head coach Jon Newlee (1985, 2013, 2014 and 2016).

The Big Sky Regular-Season Champions finished the season 20-11, after falling to Portland State in the conference tournament semifinals. Idaho earned the Big Sky’s auto-bid finishing at the No. 1 seed at the end of the conference season.