The semifinal matchups of the 2010 Women’s Basketball Invitational are set as four teams will battle on Thursday, March 25 for the right to advance to the championship game in the inaugural postseason event. The "First Four" features both of the top seeds from the West and East sides of the WBI bracket. In Thursday’s West semifinal, #1 seed Memphis hosts #2 seed Texas A&M Corpus Christi at 7 p.m. The homestanding Tigers are 19-13 on the season following WBI victories over UMKC and Wichita State. Memphis has been led throught the WBI by sophomore guard Brittany Carter and junior guard Alex Winchell. Carter is tied for the WBI scoring lead with 47 points after two games, good for a 23.5 ppg average while Winchell is averaging 16.0 ppg. The Islanders of Corpus Christi bring a school-record 24 wins into Thursday’s showdown thanks to thrilling WBI victories over Cal State Bakersfield and Washington. Jade Davis has paced the Islander offense, scoring 30 points against Bakersfield and 17 more against Washington and is tied with Memphis’ Carter with tournament scoring honors at 23.5 ppg.
A pair of Southern Conference rivals will square off in the East semifinal as #1 seed Appalachian State hosts #2 seed College of Charleston at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Boone, NC. App State has beaten C of C in the two previous meetings, winning by 16 points in Boone and by three points in overtime in Charleston. The 21 win Mountaineer squad has had a balanced scoring attack in the WBI but junior guard Sue Ramirez leads ASU with a 15.5 ppg average in victories over Charleston Southern and Fairfield. College of Charleston, 21-11 on the year after wins over Morehead State and Bradley, has been led by versatile senior guard Ericka Williams. Williams has led C of C in scoring and rebounding in the WBI, posting 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest.
The two semifinal winners will meet for the WBI championship at the site of the highest remaining seed. If the two teams remaining are the same seed then the school with the highest end-of-season RPI will host the game. The title game will be held either Sunday (Mar. 28) or Monday (Mar. 29). Continual WBI updates will be posted on the official website, www.womensbasketballinvitational.com.
by: Bret Seymour, Sport Tours International