For the fifth consecutive season, the Hatters will be playing postseason basketball.
Stetson has been working hard all week in preparation for Friday's WNIT opener against Richmond at the Edmunds Center.
The Hatters are looking forward to putting last week's A-Sun semifinal loss behind them and competing for a WNIT Championship.
"We struggled with it at first because we really wanted to get into the NCAA Tournament, but now I think we have come to grips with it, and everyone is excited to play," sophomore DeAsia Beal. "We can't wait for Friday."
Playing in the WNIT gives the Hatters several opportunities. First, the team is hosting an NCAA postseason game for the first time ever. Second, the Hatters have a chance to equal and surpass last year's mark of advancing to the second round of the WNIT.
Third, it extends the careers of the senior class, who have won a total of 97 games since the start of the 2011-12 season. That marks the highest win-total for any four-year class in school history.
"I think everyone changed their mindset," Beal said. "We all decided to play for (the seniors), so that we can extend their season and get a few more wins under our belt."
Jama Sharp has played in 132 career games and C.J. Coddington has played in 131, the second and third-highest totals in school history. Fellow senior Myeisha Hall has played in 55 games at Stetson and in 98 collegiate games overall.
"I am excited to keep on playing with my teammates and keep playing under coach Bria," Coddington said. "It is not exactly where we wanted to be, but I am excited to see what we can do."
Stetson (23-7) and Richmond (18-13) will tip-off at 7 p.m. Friday night with live coverage on ESPN3 and WSBB radio. The winner will advance to take on the winner of the Youngstown State-Duquesne game at a date and location to be announced.
"They have a good inside game and a good perimeter game," head coach Lynn Bria said about Richmond. "They really are a good team. The more I watch them, the more impressed I am with them. They are well coached, and they play hard. It's going to be a good game for us. We are going to have everybody playing well on both ends."
Stetson continues to present a balanced attack on offense. Along with Iowa, the Hatters are one of two teams in the nation with four players averaging 13.0 points per game or more: Brianti Saunders (13.9), Sharp (13.9), Hall (13.5), and Amber Porter (13.2). Overall, Stetson's offense ranks 42nd in the NCAA with a 71.9 scoring average.
In addition, Aisha Turner is coming off two solid performances in the Atlantic Sun Championship. The Hatter sophomore was 10-of-12 from the field, 2-of-2 from behind the arc, and she averaged 12.5 points per game.
"I think Aisha is playing better and with more condifence," Bria said. "She is getting used to our system and what we want her to do."
Ticket prices are just $10 for reserved seats, $8 for general admission, and $5 for children age 3-17. All Stetson students are free with a valid Stetson ID. Season ticket holders must purchase tickets in order to attend the game. Season ticket cards will not be a valid form of entry on Friday.
Tickets can be purchased at the Edmunds Center box office, by phone at (386) 738-HATS, as well as online at GoHatters.com/tix.
In addition to the ESPN3 and WSBB broadcasts, live stats, the Stetson women's basketball twitter feed, and the HatCheck text messaging system will provide live updates as well.
