Dayton received a bid late Monday when the bracket was announced. Dayton has played in the NCAA tournament in eight of the last 10 seasons and has played in the NIT the other two seasons (2016 and 2019). Its postseason run started with NIT berths in 2008 and 2009.
"We are excited about the opportunity to play again in the postseason for the 12th straight year," coach Shauna Green said in a press release. "We've had a great week of practice and ready to get on the court to compete again. Northwestern is a very talented team and we are anxious to start our preparation for them."
Dayton (17-13) has not played since losing 61-52 to Virginia Commonwealth in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament on March 9 in Pittsburgh.
Northwestern (16-14), where Green was an assistant coach during the 2015-16 season, is 16-14. It was 9-9 in the Big Ten and lost to Michigan State in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.
The Dayton-Northwestern winner will play Toledo or Seton Hall in the second round on a date to be announced.
» PHOTOS: Dayton vs. VCU
This will be Dayton’s fourth NIT appearance. It lost 97-93 at home to Florida in the first round in 2000, lost 64-52 at Bowling Green in 2008, won at Oakland 70-55 in the first round in 2009 before losing 59-57 at Indiana and lost 89-72 at Western Kentucky in 2016.
Dayton is 2-4 against Northwestern. The Flyers lost the last meeting 76-70 in overtime in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2007 in the Women’s Sports Foundation Tournament.
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