2013 Women's National Invitation Tournament

The 2013 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 64 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2013 Women's NCAA tournament. The annual tournament began on March 20 and ends on April 6. All games were played on the campus sites of participating schools. It was won by the Drexel Dragons.[1][2]

2013 Women's National Invitation Tournament
Season2012–13
Teams64
Finals siteDaskalakis Athletic Center
Philadelphia
ChampionsDrexel (1st title)
Runner-upUtah (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachDenise Dillon (1st title)
MVPHollie Mershon (Drexel)
Attendance1,922 (championship game)
Women's National Invitation Tournaments
«2012 2014»

Participants

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The following 64 teams are the teams selected to participate in the 2013 WNIT. 31 teams have earned automatic berths into the tournament from being the highest-ranked team in their conference that failed to make the NCAA women's tournament. 33 teams earned an at-large bid into the WNIT by having a winning record but failing to make the NCAA Women's Tournament.[3]

Final Four games

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Utah faced Kansas State in one semifinal of the WNIT played at Kansas State. Utah appeared to be in control early on, leading 21–7 with eight minutes to go in the first half, and still led by 12, 35 – 23 with just under 14 minutes left to go in the game. Utah scored the 39th point with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the game, but did not score again in regulation; Kansas State scored eight straight to tie the game at 39 points apiece. Despite scored only 13 points in the second half, Utah then scored 15 points in the five minutes of overtime to only 7 for the Wildcats to win the game 54–46 to advance to the championship game.[4][5] Michelle Plouffe was the leading scorer for Utah with 24 points.[6]

In the other semi final, the Drexel Dragons faced the Florida Gators. The Dragons were behind early but scored 11 consecutive points to take a 10 point lead halfway through the first half. Florida pulled within five points in the second half, Drexel pushed the lead back up to double digits in maintain that lead almost all the  rest of the game. Florida could lead to eight points in the final minute but Drexel hung on to win 67–57. Hollie Mershon had a double double with 28 points and 10 assists for Drexel.[7]

In the championship game, Utah pulled out to a slim three point lead at halftime in a low-scoring game 24–21. Drexel reclaimed the lead in the second half, but Utah was up by a single point, 43–42 with less than a minute remaining in the game. Drexel Senior Holly Mershon hit a layup with 22 seconds left in the game to give the Dragons a one point lead. Utah failed to score then fouled Mershon who hit  two free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. Mershon ended with 14 points while her teammate Taylor Wootton recorded 16 points including passing the 1000 point mark for her career. The final score was 46–43 giving the 2013 WNIT championship to the Drexel Dragons.[8] Holly Mershon was named the tournament MVP.[9][10]

Bracket

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Region 1

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First round
March 20–22
Second round
March 23–25
Third round
March 27–28
Fourth Round
March 30
        
Washington 65
Eastern Washington 60
Washington 78
Pacific 85
Pacific 69
UALR 65
Pacific 55
Utah 60
Long Beach St 49
Utah 56
Utah 61
San Diego 50
San Diego 61
Hawaii 49
Utah 58
St. Mary's 55
San Diego State 69
UCSB 46
San Diego State 58
BYU 69
BYU 69
Idaho State 54
BYU 55
St. Mary's 59
Wyoming 63
Northern Colorado 71
Northern Colorado 58
St. Mary's 68
St. Mary's 68
Seattle University 51

Region 2

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First round
March 20–22
Second round
March 23–25
Third round
March 28
Fourth Round
March 30
        
Minnesota 51
Ball State 54
Ball State 53
Northern Iowa 48
Marquette 59
Northern Iowa 61
Ball State 48
Kansas State 60
Kansas State 72
Texas Southern 44
Kansas State 57
Illinois State 48
Illinois State 63
IUPUI 47
Kansas State 66
Illinois 48
Toledo 63
Butler 49
Toledo 61
Youngstown State 43
Youngstown State 63
Indiana State 51
Toledo 55
Illinois 63
Illinois 73
Miami (OH) 60
Illinois 62
Eastern Illinois 54
Missouri 58
Eastern Illinois 60

Region 3

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First round
March 20–22
Second round
March 23–25
Third round
March 27–28
Fourth Round
March 30
        
WKU 88OT
East Carolina 77
WKU 66
Auburn 84
Auburn 80
UAB 57
Auburn 72
Tulane 52
Arkansas 67
Memphis 57
Arkansas 48
Tulane 60
Tulane 65
Sam Houston State 57
Auburn 43
Drexel 56
Drexel 59
Iona 50
Drexel 82
Harvard 72
Hartford 57
Harvard 61
Drexel 50
Bowling Green 47
Duquesne 71
Akron 66
Bowling Green 61
Duquesne 54
Bowling Green 76
SMU 70

Region 4

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First round
March 20–22
Second round
March 23–25
Third round
March 27
Fourth Round
March 30
        
Boston U 61
Sacred Heart 49
Boston U 44
Fordham 58
Fordham 55
Army 46
Fordham 61
James Madison 77
James Madison 77
North Carolina A&T 64
James Madison 72
NC State 66
NC State 60
Richmond 55
James Madison 80
Florida 85
Old Dominion 73
Davidson 82
Davidson 60
Charlotte 72
Charlotte 79
Appalachian State 61
Charlotte 65
Florida 67
FGCU 51
Winthrop 65
Winthrop 53
Florida 84
FIU 68
Florida 75

Semifinals and championship game

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Played at host schools

Semifinals
April 3
Championship Game
April 6
      
Utah 54OT
Kansas State 46
Utah 43
Drexel 46
Drexel 67
Florida 57

All-tournament team

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Source:[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Drexel Women Beat Utah 46-43 To Win WNIT Title". April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Drexel Dragons Win 2013 WNIT Championship". womensnit.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "2013 Postseason WNIT Bracket (PDF) - WNIT Pre and Post Tournament" (PDF). womensnit.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "Utah - Kansas State gamecast". ESPN.
  5. ^ "Utah women advance to WNIT title game". www.ksl.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "Utah - Kansas State boxscore". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "WBB WNIT Championship". DrexelNow. April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Utah vs. Drexel - Game Recap - April 6, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "Drexel Dragons Win 2013 WNIT Championship". womensnit.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Women's Basketball Captures the 2013 WNIT Championship". Drexel University Athletics. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "Drexel Dragons Win 2013 WNIT Championship". womensnit.com. April 6, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2022.