Thanks to a questionable call with 13.9 seconds left in regulation, the University of Denver women's basketball team eventually lost 70-60 in double overtime to Arkansas-Little Rock in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Pioneers held a 54-51 lead at the time, but even though DU's Brianna Culberson appeared to have established her position in the lane, she was assessed with a foul when UALR's Kim Sitzmann crashed into her. Sitzmann's field goal counted, and she tied the score on her subsequent free throw. The Trojans advance to meet Middle Tennessee in the championship game.This was a heartbreaking way for the Pioneers season to end, but DU still has an outside shot at a bid to the Women's NIT. The WNIT selection committee awards an automatic bid to each team that finishes the highest in the regular-season conference standings but does not advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers will get that bid if the NCAA selection committee decides to take both UALR and Middle Tennessee.
Based on CollegeRPI.com, Middle Tennessee's current rating of 31 virtually guarantees an at-large NCAA bid even if the Blue Raiders lose in the Sun Belt Championship Game. However, UALR's current rating of 72 probably means the Trojans will not get an at-large NCAA bid in the event of a loss. Thus, if UALR wins, the Pioneers will likely get the Sun Belt's automatic WNIT bid by virtue of their 3rd-place regular season finish.
Photo of Brianna Culberson courtesy of DenverPioneers.com.
