After having the largest turnaround in NCAA Division I this past season, UT Arlington was selected to participate in the 2015 Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament. The 16-team field was announced Tuesday.

"Just the opportunity it presents for our program and girls is something I was not expecting this early, but it says a lot about what our kids have already done and how they have bought in," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "We are just excited about the opportunity for UTA."

UTA was 17-13 in the 2014-15 campaign after finishing with just four wins the previous season. The Lady Mavericks were led by Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Rebekah VanDijk, and feature a lineup that returns five starters from last season.

The Lady Mavs' first-round opponent will be announced when the tournament bracket is released in the coming weeks.

The WNIT field consists of: Alabama State (SWAC); Baylor (Big 12); Chattanooga (Southern); Dartmouth (Ivy); DePaul (Big East); Drexel (Colonial); Indiana (Big T en); Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun); McNeese State (Southland); Siena (Metro Atlantic); South Florida (American); Southern Illinois (MVC); Southern Miss (Conference USA); St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10); Tennessee State (Ohio Valley); and UT Arlington (Sun Belt).

"You think about the team south of us in Baylor, that would be a huge challenge for us," Gerlich said about the tournament field. "It is one that our kids would be really excited about. At the end of the day you have to look at where we want to be and that is where we want to be. We want to be a program like Baylor and be one of the best in the state and we aren't going to get there if we don't play them and people like that.

"There are a lot of other people on that list that would be the same challenge. DePaul and coach Doug Bruno is one of the best in the business, that would be an awesome opportunity. The list just goes on and we are excited to be a part of the group and that it will be motivated to be hungrier to where we want to take our program."

Ten of the 16 teams advanced to postseason play in 2015. This is the Preseason WNIT debut for Alabama State, Dartmouth, Jacksonville, Southern Miss, St. Bonaventure, Tennessee State and UT Arlington.

Teams making their first return to the event are DePaul (2010), Siena (2002), South Florida (2004) and Southern Illinois (1997). Others with multiple appearances are Drexel (2011, 2005), Indiana (2008, 1998), McNeese State (2011, 2004), Baylor (2011, 2006, 1998) and Chattanooga (2011, 2005, 2000). The No. 1 ranked Baylor Lady Bears won the 2011 Preseason championship after defeating No. 2 Notre Dame 94-81 in front of a sold-out home crowd. Baylor went on that season to capture the NCAA Tournament Championship and finish with a 40-0 record.

The tournament opens Nov. 13 with Round One. Round Two will be played Nov. 15-17; semifinals will be Nov. 19; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 22. The championship game will be nationally televised live on CBS Sports Network.

Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on Nov. 20-21. All games are hosted by participating schools. The official tournament bracket with first-round opponents, game dates, and times will be announced in June.