Despite failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for what would have been their second appearance in as many years, the SMU Mustangs will still play in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

Game match ups and schedules were released following the NCAA Selection Show on Monday night, but were unavailable at press time.

The Mustangs dropped a 62-51 loss to the University of Central Florida in the semi-final round of the Conference USA Championships during Spring Break, but earned an invite to the WNIT after winning becoming the 2008-09 champions of C-USA. Had the Mustangs won back-to-back titles at the Conference USA Tournament, they would have received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

SMU defeated East Carolina University in the second round of the conference tournament after receiving a first-round bye, but could not pull off the win over the projected No.12 team of the season.

The Mustangs’ appearance in the postseason marks the team’s 10th postseason appearance in the program’s history, including last year’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach Rhonda Rompola is responsible for leading the Mustangs to their debut postseason appearance in the 1992-93 season when SMU was the first team in the program’s history to advance in a national postseason tournament, reaching the championship game of the WNIT.

The Mustangs lost to Notre Dame in round one of the NCAA Tournament last year. UCF will be the only team representing Conference USA in March Madness.

The WNIT hosts the nation’s top 48 teams in Division I that did not receive an automatic or at-large bid the NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one bids (one to each conference) and 17 at-large berths are distributed to remaining contenders.

WNIT play will run Wednesday thru April 5.