Akron women’s basketball team is set to play the Wildcats of Kansas State University in the first round of the NIT tournament.

The Zips earned their fourth overall postseason berth this season as they finished 22-8 while losing in the third round of the MAC tournament to Eastern Michigan. This matchup between Akron and Kansas State will be the first time these universities have faced each other.

“It is an honor to be selected by the Women’s National Invitational Tournament Committee to participate in this year’s tournament. As a team, we still have plenty of goals we can accomplish, including earning our first-ever postseason victory. We are excited to face a talented Kansas State squad on Thursday,” Head Coach Jodi Kest said to the media.

The Wildcats (18-13, 7-11) are led by top players Breanna Lewis and Haley Texada who average 11.5 and 10.7 points per game, respectively. Lewis also leads the team in blocks with 95 and rebounds with 6.5 per game. Texada shot the ball at 36.2 percent from the field.

For the Zips, Sina King, the newly named MAC player of the Year, averages 20.3 points and 9.3 rebounds and will look to lead the team. Anita Brown, Hannah Plybon, and other players on the Zips will need to perform better than what they did in their tournament game against Western Michigan to earn their first win in post-season play.

The winner of this game will play the winner of Missouri and Northern Iowa which will be played in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Thursday, March 24.