The Kent State women’s basketball team will play at Michigan on Friday in the first round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

The Flashes (20-10) accepted a bid to the WNIT late Monday night after falling short of capturing the Mid-American Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The team lost to Toledo last Friday in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament.

This year’s WNIT berth marks the first postseason appearance for the Kent State women’s team since 2004, when the Flashes also played in the WNIT.

Michigan (17-13) is led by junior guard Veronica Hicks, sophomore guard/forward Carmen Reynolds and freshman guard Dayeesha Hollins, all of whom average in double figures for scoring. The Wolverines lost 61-50 to Michigan State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on March 5.

If the Flashes beat Michigan, they would take on the winner of the game between Toledo and Pittsburgh in the second round of the WNIT.

— Doug Gulasy