COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --- There’s no doubt that the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team will begin its 2011-12 season with some potentially competitive games over the next two weeks in the Preseason WNIT.

The teams that will take part in the Preseason WNIT are a “Who’s Who” of women’s basketball from around the NCAA which includes a total of three ranked teams.

The tournament is will feature No. 1 Baylor, No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 22 UCLA, all of which recorded at least 28 wins last season. The Fighting Irish advanced to the NCAA Finals last season but were defeated by Texas A&M.

Baylor, which put together a 34-3 record last season, advanced to the Elite Eight, while UCLA made it to the second round of the tournament.

The Golden Eagles will square off with East Tennessee State Friday, at 6 p.m., in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT. Last season, the Buccaneers finished with a 19-12 record.

There is a possibility Tennessee Tech could host one or more games of the Preseason WNIT after its game against ETSU. Any potential WNIT home games at Tennessee Tech are not included in the 2011-12 season ticket packages and must be purchased separately. For further updates log on to TTUSports.com.

Photo of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins courtesy of Matt Cashore