FORT COLLINS, Colo.—The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to the postseason for the third consecutive season, earning the Big Sky Conference's automatic bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). Idaho will travel to UC Davis on Thursday to open the first round. It will be Idaho's fifth postseason appearance in the last six seasons.  

Idaho's appearance in the 64-team WNIT field will be its first since the tournament was resurrected in 1998. The Vandals won the 1986 WNIT with wins over Fresno State, Notre Dame and NW Louisiana. 

"Losing in the Big Sky Championship game was tremendously disappointing," head coach Jon Newlee acknowledged. "That being said, being able to continue our season in the prestigious WNIT is fantastic for our program and our fans. We are all excited at the chance to play in the postseason for the fifth time in the last six years. What a great opportunity for our young players to gain even more postseason experience and for our seniors to continue their great season."

Idaho finished the season 19-13, after dropping the Big Sky Championship game to No. 1 seeded Northern Colorado. Idaho received the Big Sky's auto-bid finishing at the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky season.

UC Davis went 14-2 in the Big West and is 25-6 overall. The Aggies earned the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament but got upset in the championship game by fifth-seeded CSUN, 63-55. Davis has been in one of the top-shooting teams in the nation this season. They are 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (46.7) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (38.9).    

Game times will be announced by officials on Tuesday, March 13. 

Idaho made a run in the WBI last season, advancing to the semifinals against Rice. Idaho opened with wins over Utah State and Eastern Washington. The win over Utah State was Idaho's first postseason victory since the Vandals won the WNIT. Idaho has been to the NCAA Tournament four times (1985, 2013, 14, 16).

First-round action begins Wednesday, March 14 and continues through Friday, March 16. Round 2 games take place March 17-20; Round 3 games are March 21-23, Round 4 runs March 24-26, and the semifinals are March 28-29. The championship game will be held at 3 p.m. ET on March 31, and televised on CBS Sports Network. All games are hosted by participating schools.
 
The tournament will feature five teams from both the Atlantic 10 and Big Ten. There are four teams from Conference USA and the Mountain West; three teams each come from the American, Big 12, Big East, Colonial, Horizon and MAC.