I don't know how much all of whatever plays into things, but with 64 teams in each tournament, that's 128 slots. The NCAA is out, so that leaves the 64 in the WNIT. Crossed fingers.

Northern's RPI is #125, according to http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-...tball-rpi.

Northern did win 2 of 3 (Yale and Brown) in the pre-season NIT, both at home, and lost to Iowa State by 10 at ISU, which is co-ranked with Marquette at #13 in the latest AP Top 25.

Realistically, if RPI is a huge factor, I'd say Northern is done for the year. Here are the latest RPI's of Northern's o-o-c opponents (thru 3-14):

Losses:
Iowa State 11
Indiana 47
SIU (Carbondale) 148
Montana 187

Wins:
Northern Iowa 88
Yale 135
Nevada 245
Brown 282
North Dakota State 321
WIU 241
EIU 295
Chicago State 348

NIU also went 2-8 in 10 games, including the loss to Ohio in the tournament, against MAC teams with higher RPIs (CMU, Toledo, Buffalo, Ohio, Miami-O, Kent St.). Northern went 1-1 each with Miami-O and Toledo, so was not clearly up on anyone with a higher RPI.

Still, 19-13 ... what is most impressive to me is the winning attitude with a short bench when injuries took such a toll. Imagine how different if Courtney Woods hadn't suffered a torn ACL in the Nevada game (#8 including exhb. game). Or if Janae Poisson could have come back. With Mikayla Voigt done after a spectacular career, Northern will need some help.

(Anyone else I missed out/w/injury?)