The UNI women's basketball team is competing in a post-season tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 years.

The Panthers are preparing to face Minnesota in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. UNI is scheduled to play the Golden Gophers at 6:30 PM Friday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

The 64-team WNIT field was announced Monday evening, after the NCAA Tournament selections were unveiled. UNI was awarded the Missouri Valley Conference's automatic bid into the WNIT after Missouri State and Drake were awarded trips to the NCAA Tournament.

The Panthers previously made WNIT appearances in 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2006, 2003 and 2001. They have a 3-7 record all-time in the tournament.

Coach Tanya Warren's squad finished the MVC Tournament with a 20-12 record after falling to eventual champion Missouri State in the semifinals Saturday afternoon.

Karli Rucker was named to the All-Tournament team after being picked as a First-Team All-MVC selection at the end of the regular season. The sophomore from Eldridge, Iowa (North Scott High School) averages 14.7 points per game and scored 39 combined points in the two MVC tournament games.

Minnesota enters the WNIT with a 20-10 record, which includes a 9-9 mark in Big Ten Conference play.

The Panthers and Gophers have met 10 times in history. Their last meeting was in Cedar Falls in 2014, a 73-55 win by Minnesota. UNI also played the Golden Gophers in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) championship game in 2012.

UNI has a 0-5 record in Minneapolis.

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