Illinois women get WNIT bye

The Illinois women's basketball team received a bye in the first round and will open WNIT play Monday in Assembly Hall against the first-round winner between Wisconsin-Green Bay and Drake. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

Illinois is 19-14 after finishing as the runner-up in the Big Ten tournament. The Illini have won four of their last five games.

The Illini women, the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten tournament, lost to Purdue 58-56 in the championship game to miss out on receiving a berth in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003.

--John Supinie