The Arizona State University women’s basketball team has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2012 Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Sun Devils will open play in the WNIT on Friday at 7 p.m. when they travel to Stockton, Calif., to take on Pacific.
The Sun Devils (20-11, 10-8 Pac-12) are making their 13th consecutive postseason appearance (eight NCAA Tournaments and five WNITs) after winning 20 games for the seventh time in eight seasons.
ASU finished in fourth place in the Pac-12 regular season standings and made it to the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, where it held second-ranked Stanford to its lowest point total of the season in a 52-43 loss to the Cardinal.
The Sun Devils were one of the top defensive teams in the country throughout the season. They finished the regular season ranked 11th in the nation in both field goal percentage defense (33.9) and blocked shots (5.8 bpg) and 13th in scoring defense (52.5 ppg). ASU was the Pac-12 leader in scoring defense, blocked shots and steals (10.6 spg), was second in field goal percentage defense and turnover margin (+2.1) and third in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.7) and assists (13.4 apg).
Pacific (17-13, 10-6) finished tied for third in the Big West. The Tigers advanced to the semifinals of the Big West Tournament, where they were defeated by eventual tournament champion UC Santa Barbara.
The winner of Friday’s game, which will be only the second all-time meeting between ASU and Pacific (ASU won 90-65 in 1982), will play either Cal State Northridge (17-13) or San Diego (22-8) in the second round.
