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Just when we think we know the standard for excellence in college women’s basketball, Geno Auriemma and the University of Connecticut decide to raise the bar once again. The 2003-04 season should bring much of the same, featuring the return of the entire roster for the 2003 National Champions.

UConn comes off a 2002-03 season in which it changed the definition of the word improbable. En route to the program’s fourth national championship, the Huskies set a Division I women’s record for most consecutive wins with 70 straight victories.

Overall, the Connecticut tradition is four National Championships, seven Final Fours, 15 straight NCAA Tournament Appearances and 24 BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships. UConn has always been a program rich with tradition and the 2003-04 team will look to continue Connecticut’s dominance in women’s basketball.

Joining Taurasi in the 2002-03 championship backcourt was guard Maria Conlon (Derby, Conn.). Conlon, a sharpshooter from outside, served as one of UConn’s top reserve guards her first two seasons at Connecticut before emerging as a consistent starter in 2002-03. The guard started 29 games for the Huskies as a junior and shared point duties with Taurasi. She averaged 6.9 points per game and 3.4 assists per game, and was a major catalyst in UConn’s 2003 Championship after her performance of 11-points, six assists and no turnovers. As a senior, Conlon will be looked to for leadership and composure on the floor, as well as support in the scoring column.

Just as Taurasi is the emotional leader on the floor, senior Morgan Valley (Colchester, Vt.) is the emotional leader everywhere else. Valley has been hampered by foot injuries throughout her career, but her determination and love for the game has made her an integral part of the squad. Behind the scenes Valley is the model student-athlete striving to improve daily, and during the 2002-03 championship campaign she was able to contribute more than ever before to the success of the Huskies. Valley started in 18 games for UConn and made significant contributions off the bench in 16 others. She grabbed a career-high seven rebounds during a strong showing versus Rutgers (1/8/03) and had a season-high nine points versus St. Joseph’s (12/22/02). Valley, who has improved in all areas of the game, is hoping to make the 2003-04 season her most memorable yet.

Battle, the 2002 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, was UConn’s greatest weapon off the bench and was the most athletic student-athlete on the floor. She raised the energy level of any game the moment she entered the contest and was called upon for a steal or an offensive rebound when a big play was needed. In 2002-03, she averaged 8.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. She had a career-high seven steals and 17 points at Georgetown (2/26/03) and was UConn’s defensive specialist throughout NCAA play. Battle’s speed and ball handling skills make her dangerous around the perimeter, however, her strength also makes her a scoring threat inside.

Ashley Valley (Colchester, Vt.), the younger of the Valley sisters, has been a reserve point guard for the last two seasons and continues to increase her playing time each year. She played valuable minutes versus Notre Dame (2/23/03) and Providence (3/1/03) and is one of UConn’s most aggressive defenders. Valley saw action in 31 games for the Huskies and is looking to become a steady contributor in 2003-04.

UConn’s only walk-on, junior guard Stacey Marron (Albuquerque, N.M.), has continued to improve and impress the Husky faithful. Marron sees limited time off the bench but makes the most of her minutes with a great shooter’s touch and quick passes. Marron saw action in 28 games in 2002-03 and finished shooting 10-of-17 from behind the three-point arc. One of UConn’s hardest workers day-in and day-out, Marron plays an important role for the Huskies.

Willnett Crockett (Harbor City, Calif.) is one of the quickest centers in the country and is already relied heavily upon for her footwork around the basket. Coming off the bench, Crockett picked up some of UConn’s biggest rebounds, both defensively and offensively, during the Final Four. She averaged 5.7 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game for the Huskies. Her strength and speed make her just another weapon the Huskies can use around the basket.

Ann Strother (Castle Rock, Colo.) was the only other Husky besides Moore to start all 38 games. She was named to the 2003 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team for her outstanding play in the title game. What the nation saw Strother do against Tennessee for the championship is what the Huskies saw day-in and day-out. Strother averaged 10.1 points per game and 3.1 assists per game as the third leading scorer on the squad. She is a relentless defender and her size and quickness makes her impossible to guard.

Another tough scorer to guard is forward Barbara Turner (Cleveland, Ohio). Turner averaged 10.0 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game during her rookie campaign. She began the season as a spark off the bench, however, she started all six tournament games for the Huskies and averaged 9.5 points per game during UConn’s title run. Turner is one of the quickest and most creative scorers in the league and should be one of Connecticut’s top scoring threats as a sophomore. Turner and Strother both competed on the 2003 Pan American Games squad this summer for USA Basketball.

Nicole Wolff sat out the 2002-03 championship season due to stress fractures after starting the first 10 games. She proved herself immediately and the Huskies are looking forward to her becoming a regular contributor. Wolff has one of the nicest shooting touches in the nation and will be another offensive option for Connecticut.

Liz Sherwood (Castle Rock, Co.), a high school teammate of Strother, is a 6-4 center who brings size and strength to the floor. Sherwood helped lead Highlands Ranch High School to back-to-back state titles and averaged 27.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 8.0 bpg as a senior. A 2003 WBCA, McDonald’s, and Parade First Team All-American, she was named the 2003 Rocky Mountain News 5A State Player of the Year. Sherwood will join Moore and Crockett giving the Huskies one of the most formidable frontcourts in the country.

Kiana Robinson (Brandon, Fla.) will join UConn’s backcourt as a 5-8 guard. Robinson is deceptively quick and can score from anywhere on the floor. She averaged 23 points, seven assists and 10 rebounds per game as a senior at the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. A WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, Robinson’s style of play will fit nicely within the UConn offense.

UConn will return home to the Hartford Civic Center on December 18, taking on Arizona State and then will travel to the home of UConn’s 2000 Championship title, Philadelphia, when St. Joseph’s will host UConn on December 21. The Huskies will close out the New Year on December 29, at home, taking on Atlantic Coast Conference for North Carolina State.

One of the hardest challenges of the season, and the Huskies first nationally televised (CBS) game of the season, the Duke Blue Devils come to Hartford, in a rematch from their 2003 loss to UConn.

Connecticut will begin BIG EAST play on January 7 at West Virginia, starting an eight-game BIG EAST schedule to close out January. Included in the month’s schedule are home games against Georgetown (Jan. 10), Boston College (Jan. 17), Rutgers (Jan. 19) and St. John’s (Jan. 31). The Huskies will be traveling to Notre Dame (Jan. 13), Seton Hall (Jan. 24) and Virginia Tech (Jan. 27).