Photo courtesy: www.utamavs.com

UTA women's basketball returns to the postseason for the first time since 2009, earning a bid to the Women's NIT. The Lady Mavericks will take on Tulane in New Orleans on Thursday night with a tipoff time to be determined.

The Lady Mavericks (22-8) have made four appearances into the postseason in program history. Two have come in the NCAA Tournament (2005 and 2007) and two in the WNIT (1998 and 2009). UTA was eliminated from the Sun Belt Championship semifinals by the league's champion, Troy, in the semifinals.

"We are trilled to be playing in the postseason," UTA coach Krista Gerlich said. "I am so excited for our kids, they have earned this opportunity and I'm looking forward to them taking full advantage of keeping their season alive in the WNIT.

"Back to New Orleans to play Tulane, this will make three weeks in a row we've played in Louisiana. We'd go to the ends of the earth if it means we're still playing in March. Such a big step for our program."

UTA ended the SBC regular season with wins over ULM and Louisiana, and then took on South Alabama and Troy during the SBC Championship tournament at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

The Lady Mavs are meeting Tulane for the third time, with each team taking a win. They last met in 2006. Both matchups have been in New Orleans.

The Lady Mavericks have had a record-breaking campaign that has seen milestones and achievements from the outset. The program won the first five games of the year for the first time since 1977. The opening helped UTA receive votes in the USA Today Coaches' Poll for the first time.

UTA's .733 winning percentage is currently the best in program history, besting the 2006-07 squad that won 24 games. A win in the WNIT first round would clinch UTA its best-ever percentage and tie for second amongst the most wins for the program.

Rebekah VanDijk became UTA's 18th player in program history to join the 1,000-point club. VanDijk did so on the road against South Alabama in January. She continued your ascent into record books, moving up to eighth in all-time scoring during the SBC tournament.

Cierra Johnson was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the year, sitting third in UTA's all-time steals charts and is 17th this year in steals per game at 3.1.