2004 Women's National Invitation Tournament

2004 Women's National Invitation Tournament

Teams	32
Finals site	Omaha Civic Auditorium Omaha, Nebraska
Champions	Creighton (1st title)
Runner-up	UNLV (1st title game)
Semifinalists	Richmond Iowa State
Winning coach	Jim Flanery (1st title)
MVP	Christy Neneman (Creighton)
Attendance	4,180 (championship game)
Women's National Invitation Tournaments «2003 2005»

The 2004 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2004 Women's NCAA tournament. It was the seventh edition of the postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament.

In one semifinal of the tournament, Creighton faced Richmond, played at Omaha Civic Auditorium. The other semifinal game featured UNLV against Iowa State. Creighton defeated Richmond 81–72 behind Dayna Finch's 24 points and a 16 point, 9 rebound and 8 assist performance by Christy Neneman, flirting with a triple double. Meanwhile, UNLV defeated Iowa State 65–59. UNLV was down by double digits 47–37 midway through the second half, but overcame the deficit to take a lead with just under a minute remaining, then hitting five of six free throws in the final 32 seconds to win the game.

The final pitted Creighton and UNLV against each other in Omaha, Nebraska at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Creighton dominated the title game from the very beginning, outscoring the Lady Rebels early to take a 17–4 lead. UNLV briefly cut the lead to single digits early in the second half but the Blue Jays went on a 10–2 run to retake a commanding lead. They later had a 13–0 run to put the game out of reach and gave the coach the opportunity to play all the bench players.

Bracket

Region 1

*Host • Source

	March 17–19					March 19–22					March 24–25
	Pepperdine		59
	Washington*		71
						Washington*		69
						Creighton		74
	Colorado State*		68
	Creighton		79
											Creighton*		74
											Oregon State		64
	Drake		60
	Nebraska*		73
						Nebraska*		67
						Oregon State		75
	Oregon State*		64
	Gonzaga		69

Region 2

*Host • Source

	March 17–19					March 19–22					March 24–25
	Louisville*		61
	Western Michigan		63
						Western Michigan*		85 OT
						Charlotte		83
	Charlotte		78
	Clemson*		71
											Richmond		63
											Western Michigan*		57
	South Florida		55
	Richmond*		63
						Richmond*		84
						Florida State		77
	Florida State		67
	South Alabama*		61

Region 3

*Host • Source

	March 17–19					March 19–22					March 24–25
	Idaho State		59
	Iowa State*		72
						Iowa State*		71
						Miami(Ohio)		57
	Miami(Ohio)*		77
	Xavier		65
											Iowa State*		66
											Saint Joseph's		58
	George Mason		56
	Seton Hall*		61
						Seton Hall		61
						Saint Joseph's*		68 OT
	Kent State		51
	Saint Joseph's*		61

Region 4

*Host • Source

	March 17–19					March 19–22					March 24–25
	Cincinnati		78
	Western Kentucky*		80 OT
						Western Kentucky*		104
						Memphis		87
	Tulsa		64
	Memphis*		66
											Western Kentucky		75
											UNLV*		78
	Rice		59
	Arkansas State*		52
						Rice		66
						UNLV*		68
	Arizona State		47
	UNLV*		50

Semifinals and championship game

Source

	WNIT Semifinals March 26–28					WNIT Championship Game March 31, 2005
	Creighton*		81
	Richmond		72
						Creighton*		73
						UNLV		52
	UNLV		65
	Iowa State*		59