By The Record
Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM
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After losing its last two games, thus ending its chances for an NCAA Tournament bid, the Pacific women’s basketball team has been disgruntled to say the least.
The Tigers (21-9), however, can get back to basketball Thursday. Pacific earned its fourth consecutive bid to the WNIT Monday, and hosts Sacramento State (16-15) at Spanos Center. The tip off time is yet to be announced, but should become available today.
Pacific lost its regular-season finale and its West Coast Conference Tournament opener, both to USF. And it did not sit well.
“We lost twice in one week to the same team, and that wasn’t expected,” Tigers coach Lynne Roberts said. “As a staff, and as players, we were ticked off, we hate losing.”
Sacramento State played one team from the WCC this year — losing 99-91 to Saint Mary’s. Roberts doesn’t know much about the Hornets yet, only that they score in bunches, averaging 86 points per game.
“We’re going to dive into film tonight and figure more out,” Roberts said.
The Hornets have won five of their last six, and lost their Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal, 81-79 in overtime against Northern Colorado.
Pacific — which after upsets over BYU and Gonzaga was listed as an NCAA Tournament bubble team by ESPN — may have been disappointed initially, but it is fired up for postseason basketball. The Tigers’ best WNIT appearance was two years ago, winning twice before falling to Utah in the third round. Last season, Oregon beat Pacific in their WNIT opener, and three years ago, the Tigers lost to now-WCC foe San Diego in the second round.
“I know this team wanted to make it to the NCAA Tournament, but we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us,” Roberts said. “We were hoping to get a home game and we are happy to have one.”
Yet, the motivation from the USF losses remains.
Said Roberts: “It’s been a long two weeks of festering on something that ticked us off.”