The Charlotte women's basketball team has extended its consecutive postseason appearance streak to 11 following the announcement that the 49ers will participate in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for the 10th time in the program's 38-year history. Charlotte, who will play host to in-state foe Appalachian State in the first round at 7 p.m.,Thursday, March 21, in Halton Arena, is one of only 12 schools nationally to reach the postseason in each of the last 11 seasons and the lone non-BCS member of the elite dozen.
The Niners received their 12th overall postseason berth after posting a 24-5 record during the season, including a school-record 13-game win streak on their way to a second-place finish in the Atlantic 10. Charlotte was one of seven schools from the conference to earn either an NCAA or WNIT bid this year.
The WNIT berth is the fourth straight for the 49ers, one shy of the school-record run from 2004-08. Overall, Charlotte is 10-9 in the event, with its 4-1 record advancing to the 2011 semifinals marking the program's most successful appearance.
This year marks the seventh time in which the 49ers will play host to a WNIT first-round game and the fourth-straight year, dating back to 2010. Despite having a game on its home floor for first-round action, Charlotte has only advanced to the second round or further four times with 2010 and 2011 witnessing a second-round contest inside Halton Arena.
Head coach Cara Consuegra made her postseason debut with the Niners a year ago, in the WNIT first round against Wake Forest.
This year's 49ers squad was led by All-America candidate and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Jennifer Hailey. She became just the second Charlotte player in program history to receive the top honor from a conference, joining Kristin Wilson in 1986-87 by the Sun Belt.