Six UConn Players Named to BIG EAST Silver Anniversary Team

Providence, R.I. (March 4) – Six current or former members of the Connecticut women’s basketball program have been selected to the BIG EAST Silver Anniversary Women’s Basketball Team. The 15-member squad was selected by a fan poll conducted on the conference web site.

Representing Connecticut on the team are Kerry Bascom (‘91), Sue Bird (‘02), Rebecca Lobo (‘95), Jennifer Rizzotti (‘96), Nykesha Sales (‘98) and Diana Taurasi (‘04).  UConn led all BIG EAST schools with six honorees, no other BIG EAST women’s basketball program had more than one player on the Silver Anniversary Team.

Women’s basketball has provided the BIG EAST with five national titles, several national players of the year and numerous consensus All-Americans. The Silver Anniversary Team will be honored at the league’s annual women’s basketball championship awards dinner on March 5, the eve of the BIG EAST Championship being held at the Hartford Civic Center on March 6-9.

The team (in alphabetical order) is as follows:

Kerry Bascom, Connecticut ‘91 was a three-time BIG EAST Player of the Year in 1989, ’90, and ’91. She ranks ninth on the BIG EAST career scoring list with 1,128 points in conference play. Bascom was the 1989 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Performer.

Sarah Behn, Boston College ‘93 is the BIG EAST’s all-time leading scorer with 1,546 career points in league games. The two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection also ranks first among all conference players in field goals made, field goals attempted and free throws made.

Sue Bird, Connecticut ’02 was the 2002 consensus National Player of the Year and a three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner honoring the nation’s top point guard. The 2002 BIG EAST Player of the Year helped UConn to NCAA titles in 2000 and 2002.

Jodi Brooks, Seton Hall ‘94 was an honorable mention Kodak All-American as a senior. She is a two-time all-conference selection who ranks fifth on her school’s all-time scoring list. She led the BIG EAST in 3-point shooting in back-to-back seasons in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

Jennifer Bruce, Pittsburgh ‘85 was the 1984 BIG EAST Player of the Year and a three-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection. She holds the conference record for career scoring average (23.3 in 32 league games).

Sabrina Johnson, St. John’s ‘90 earned All-BIG EAST First Team accolades in 1988-89 and 1989-90. She ranks second among all BIG EAST players in triple-doubles recording three over her junior and senior seasons.

Felisha Legette, Syracuse ‘89 earned all-conference three times in her career. She is SU’s all-time leading rebounder (927) and ranks second on the scoring list (1,526).

Tracy Lis, Providence ‘92 is PC’s all-time leading scorer with 2,534 points and ranks third in BIG EAST career scoring. She earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors as a junior and senior. Lis also earned BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament accolades three times.

Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut ‘95 was the 1995 consensus National Player of the Year after leading UConn to its first NCAA title. She also excelled in the classroom and was honored as the Academic All-American National Team Member of the Year. The two-time first team All-American was the 1994 and 1995 BIG EAST Player of the Year and earned all-conference first team accolades three times. She ranks fifth in BIG EAST scoring, second in rebounds and is the league’s all-time shot blocker.

Shelly Pennefather, Villanova ‘87 the BIG EAST’s first All-American, was also the first BIG EAST player to win three consecutive conference player of the year awards and she was the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in 1984. The 1987 Wade Trophy recipient led the BIG EAST in scoring in 1986 and 1987. As VU’s all-time leading scorer, Pennefather recorded more than 2,000 points and ranks 13th among all BIG
EAST players in conference scoring with 1,074 points.

Tasha Pointer, Rutgers ‘01 recorded four triple-doubles in her career, the most of any BIG EAST player. The 1998 conference Rookie of the Year went on to earn second team accolades in 2000 and first team honors as a senior. She helped the Scarlet Knights reach the 2000 Final Four and finished her career ranked third in conference assists (460).

Ruth Riley, Notre Dame ‘01 was the 2001 consensus National Player of the Year and the Academic All-American National Team Member of the Year after helping Notre Dame to the 2001 NCAA title. The 2001 BIG EAST Player of the Year and National Player of the Year was also the conference’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She finished her career as ND’s all-time leading rebounder and is third on the school career scoring list. Riley is second among BIG EAST players in career blocks, eighth in scoring and 10th in rebounds.

Jennifer Rizzotti, Connecticut ‘96 was the 1996 BIG EAST Player of the Year and a member of UConn’s 1995 national title team. The 1996 National Player of the Year and Academic All-American Women’s Basketball Team Member of the Year earned All-BIG EAST First Team status as a junior and senior, second team accolades as a sophomore and was the 1993 conference Rookie of the Year. She is UConn’s all-time assist leader (637) and is 10th on the school’s career scoring chart (1,540).

Nykesha Sales, Connecticut ‘98 was the 1998 BIG EAST Player of the Year, the 1997 and 1998 Defensive Player of the Year and the 1995 Rookie of the Year. The two-time first team All-American is UConn’s all-time leading scorer (2,178) and the BIG EAST career steals leader (246). Sales ranks seventh in conference scoring (1,175) and led the league in scoring in 1998.

Diana Taurasi, Connecticut ‘04 is the only current player selected to the team. The 2003 consensus National Player of the Year and BIG EAST Player of the Year is a member of UConn’s 2002 and 2003 back-to-back national championship teams. She is a finalist for the 2004 national player of the year awards and could become a three-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection. Taurasi was the first conference rookie to earn BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Performer honors after helping the Huskies to the 2001 title and has been named to the all-tournament team each season since then. She ranks fifth on UConn’s career scoring list and second on the assist leaderboard.