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INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since joining the Division-I ranks during the 1998-99 season, the IUPUI women’s basketball will participate in a postseason tournament as it has clinched a spot in the 2013 Postseason WNIT.

With Summit League regular-season champion South Dakota State earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and the Jaguars placing second in the conference, the Jags secured a spot in the WNIT, which begins with first-round games March 20-22.

“Our ladies are extremely excited to represent IUPUI and the Summit League in the WNIT. Being a part of post-season play for the first time in school history caps off a special year and allows our kids the chance to experience what March is all about,” head coach Austin Parkinson said.

The 64-team field will include 31 automatic bids and 33 at-large bids, and the entire field is scheduled to be released several hours following the announcement of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament field on Monday, March 18.

The WNIT features six rounds, which culminates on Saturday, April 6, with the championship game, which will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. All games will be hosted by participating schools.

IUPUI posted a 20-11 record this season, its first 20-win season since the 1990-91 campaign. Amongst those 20 wins were a program-record 12 Summit League wins, including a regular-season sweep over Summit League Tournament Champion South Dakota State.

After Parkinson directed the Jags to a second-place finish in the conference after being picked to finish fifth in the Summit League Preseason Poll, the third-year head coach was named Summit League Coach of the Year.

The Jags were led offensively this season by First-Team All-Summit League and Summit League All-Tournament Team selection Kerah Nelson, who averaged 13.6 ppg and 6.4 ppg this season. In the Summit League Tournament Nelson averaged 25.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg on 56.0 percent (18-of-32) shooting from the floor.

Additionally, DeAirra Goss was a Second-Team All-Summit League honoree and a Summit League All-Newcomer Team selection, while Dee-Dee Bellamy was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year.