University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Prepares for Upset-Minded Boston College
2/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
- Game notes [.pdf]
THE GAME
The Connecticut Huskies (19-2, 9-1) cruised past Virginia Tech, 90-38 on Wednesday night, in UConn's first contest since the announcement of Svelana Abrosimova's collegiate career-ending injury. The Huskies saw six players in double-figures, the most since Dec. 22, when six players scored in double-figures versus Wake Forest (Abrosimova led the way with 16). The Huskies hope to continue their winning ways in today's contest versus Boston College. The last time these two teams faced each other in Conte Forum (Jan. 23, 1999), the Eagles snapped UConn's 16-game conference winning streak with a 78-66 win, pulling off the biggest upset in BC women's college hoops history. Before UConn's loss to Notre Dame this season, the Eagles had been the last league opponent to defeat the Huskies. Boston College enters today's game with an 8-13 overall record and is 2-8 in the league. Its only league wins are over Providence (76-66) and St. John's (75-36), both away. Overall, the Eagles are 2-7 at home and 0-4 in home league games.
THE SERIES
UConn holds a 27-12 edge over the Eagles in the all-time series. The Huskies have won the last three meetings, since the Eagles upset UConn in 1999. Prior to that contest, UConn had won 16 straight meetings. When playing in Boston, UConn holds a slight 9-7 lead overall, but leads16-3 in Connecticut. Under head coach Geno Auriemma, UConn is 24-7 versus the Eagles.
UCONN AT NO. 3
Connecticut is 59-4 when they are ranked No. 3 in the nation. The only four teams to have beaten UConn at the third spot are North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and NC State.
UCONN LOSES ABROSIMOVA FOR SEASON
Abrosimova underwent left foot surgery on Wednesday, Feb. 7, to repair a torn ligament and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2000-2001 college basketball season. Following the surgery, Abrosimova will spend approximately six weeks in a walking boot. The normal return to basketball for this type of injury is expected to range in the five-to-six month span. Abrosimova concludes her four- year career ranked No. 5 in career scoring with 1,865 points, carrying a career scoring average of 14.7 ppg. She is No. 3 at UConn in career steels (299), No. 5 in career assists (473), and No. 7 in career rebounding (814).
EAGLES SORE
Coming into today's game, Boston College has lost four straight contests matching the Eagles' longest losing streak this season. With a loss today, BC could be in its worst skid since 1995-96 when it lost six consecutive games between 12/20/95 and 1/6/96. On the same note, Boston College has lost its last five home games with the Eagles' last win on its own court coming 45 days ago in a 59-41 win over Buffalo on Dec. 28, 2000.
OUCH
Of the 22 teams UConn has faced this season, Boston College comes in with the worst record (8-13) at the point in the season that they were scheduled to play the Huskies. Only one other team, Illinois, had a losing record (3-4) coming into the contest.
STEP IT UP? NO SVET
Now without the services of All-American Svetlana Abrosimova, the graph below shows who is making the biggest move in terms of averages over the last two games from where they were prior to Abrosimova's injury to where they are now in order to fill the void in the categories that Abrosimova led the team in. So far, Johnson has had the biggest impact. (Bold indicates an increase in production):
First 19 Games Last 2 Games Points Steals Points Steals Ralph 8.7 1.74 13.5 1.5Jones 8.6 1.05 12.0 0.5Johnson 4.4 1.32 12.0 3.0Bird 9.6 2.16 11.5 0.0 Taurasi 9.8 1.05 10.0 0.5Cash 12.2 1.16 8.0 0.5Schumacher 5.8 0.26 7.0 0.0Williams 10.8 1.42 5.0 1.5Conlon 1.3 0.16 1.5 0.0Valley 3.5 0.74 0.5 0.0Rigby 2.6 0.16 0.5 0.0Czel 1.1 0.26 0.0 0.0
OUR SUNDAY BEST
This will be the fourth Sunday game UConn has played this season and they have won all of the previous three. In fact, the Huskies have won 11 straight Sunday games since last losing on Sunday, January 10, 1999 to Tennessee, 81-92. However, Geno Auriemma is 21-2 on Sundays in February with the last loss coming on Valentine's Day of 1993 to Miami, 51-69.
EARLY TO RISE
To date, this is the earliest tip-off to a game this season for the Huskies. After playing Rutgers at home on Feb. 14 with a start time of 7:30 p.m., the Huskies will have another noon start at Villanova on the 18th. Boston College has lost both of their noon tips this season. First at Rutgers, 66-75, and most recently to Notre Dame, 65-81.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
Over the past two games UConn has held its opponents to under 40 points. The last time the Huskies held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 40 was last season versus West Virginia (35, 1/12/00) and Pittsburgh (36, 1/15/00). If the Connecticut defense manages to hold Boston College to fewer than 40, it could be the first time in school history that it has happened three straight times. However, BC has not been held under 40 this season and it has happened only three times in the Cathy Inglese era at BC. The last time the Eagles missed the 40-mark was on 1/31/98 against Villanova in a 35-48 loss. Interestingly enough, the two times prior to that, Connecticut was the team that did it.
'TREY'MENDOUS SHOOTING
Versus Virginia Tech, UConn set a new school record for three pointers made in a game with 14 trifectas. On the same note, Virginia Tech was shutout from long range going 0-15. UConn has shutout an opponent from behind the arc one other teim this season as Miami went 0-7 on December 5, 2000.
THE UPSET
On Jan. 23, 1999, the Eagles captured their biggest upset win in BC women's hoops history with a 78-66 win over second-ranked UConn. The Huskies were without four starters, all out with injuries (Amy Duran, Sue Bird, Shea Ralph and Swin Cash). Here are the stats of the current Huskies who played in the loss:
MP FG-FGA FT-FTA R A PF TP TO B S Jones, Asjha 26 5-9 1-1 2 1 4 11 4 0 0Williams, Tamika 30 9-13 2-3 11 1 2 20 3 0 2Schumacher, K. 18 2-5 0-0 5 1 2 4 1 1 0Abrosimova, S. 10 10
These three represented 68 percent of UConn's scoring and 64 percent of its rebounds. Tamika Williams led the Huskies in points and rebounds as she recorded a double-double in the game. Abrosimova also had a double-double with 10 points and ten rebounds.
Here are the stats of the current Eagles who played in the big game. This afternoon, only three (Conway, Gottstein, Cournoyer) of these five will compete against UConn due to injuries:
MP FG-FGA FT-FTA R A PF TP TO B S Conway, Nicole 37 5-11 1-3 3 1 3 11 2 0 2Gottstein, Becky 38 5-10 0-0 7 0 4 14 3 0 1Stepherson, B. 39 2-6 4-4 2 5 3 8 2 0 0 O'Banion, D. 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Cournover, J. 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
These five accounted for 42 percent of BC's points and 36 percent of its rebounds.
NUTMEGGERS ON THE FLOOR
All three of the players in the game who are natives of the state of Connecticut grew up within 30 miles of each other. The Eagles' Adriana Spears grew up in Stratford, CT, which is nine miles away from the hometown of UConn's Maria Conlon (Derby, CT). Stratford is 28 miles away Guilford, CT, the hometown of the Huskies Marci Czel. Both Conlon and Spears were Connecticut Gatorade Players of the Year in high school and both own their respective school's records in points. Conlon finished with 1, 727 at Seymour High School, while Spears netted 1,400 at St. Joseph's.
BC COACHES VERSUS UCONN
Now in her fourth season as the Associate Head Coach for Boston College, Pam Borton also faced UConn when she was a head coach. In her first season at Vermont, the Huskies handed the Catamounts a 96-66 loss. Four years later, Borton would go to Boston College and join the head coach (Cathy Inglese) she worked under and then replaced at Vermont.Even Inglese couldn't defeat Connecticut while the head coach at Vermont, as UConn won, 76- 49, on 12/22/88. However, Inglese was able to help New Hampshire to a victory over Connecticut. While an assistant coach with New Hampshire, Inglese faced UConn three times winning the final meeting 66-48 on 2/16/85. As a player, Inglese never lost to the Huskies going 5-0 against UConn from 1976-77 through 1979-80 at Southern Connecticut State.
LINEUP CHANGE
After the injury to Abrosimova, Auriemma shook the lineup a bit inserting three new starters, including two first-timers. Diana Taurasi and Kennitra Johnson both made their first career starts on Sunday versus Villanova. KJ had a solid game finishing with 13 points on 5-of- 8 shooting, and grabbing three steals, while Taurasi had seven points, three assists and four rebounds in the affair. Williams followed up a strong performance versus Tennessee with 10 points and eight rebounds. Former starters Swin Cash and Kelly Schumacher combined for 21 of UConn's 25 bench points. Versus Virginia Tech, Auriemma again switched things up inserting Cash instead of Johnson. Johnson contributed 11 points from the bench, while Cash had seven points and six boards as a starter.
A FOUL AFFAIR
This season, UConn athletes have already fouled out over twice as many times than they did all of last season combined (10 in 2001, 4 in 2000). A look at UConn's fouls shows the Huskies have had a difficult time adjusting to the NCAA's point of emphasis this season of cleaning up "rough play". UConn has been whistled for 416 fouls in 21 games an average of 19.8 per contest, up from 17.1 a year ago. In both of UConn's losses this year, the Huskies have recorded 30-or- more fouls. These were the only two times that Connecticut has done so this season.
THE TENNESSEE CLUB
In the past five years, Tennessee is the only team in the country to have beaten UConn more than once. Connecticut is one of three teams (La. Tech and Georgia) to have defeated Tennessee multiple times. The only teams to have defeated both UConn and Tennessee in the last five seasons are La. Tech, Georgia and Old Dominion.
WIN-STREAK HALTED
UConn's winning streak of 30 straight games which dated back to February 2, 1999, was halted on Jan. 15 versus the Irish. The streak moved UConn past Miami (Fla.) for eighth on the all-time list. Two other Connecticut streaks also rank inside the top 10, a school best 35 straight from 1994-96 and 33 from 1996-97.
MORE STREAKS FALL
Notre Dame ended UConn's regular season BIG EAST winning streak at 28 dating back to a 78-66 loss to Boston College in Chestnut Hill on Jan. 23, 1999. Notre Dame also ended UConn's regular season game winning streak on the road at 19 dating back to 2/13/99 when they suffered an 82-77 loss at Old Dominion.
TEAM EFFORT
Despite not having a single individual ranked in the national statistics, as of Monday (2/5), UConn is ranked in the Top 10 in seven different team categories. The Huskies are No. 1 in scoring offense (88.4) and scoring margin (31.7), No. 2 in field goal percentage (51.0), No. 4 in rebound margin (9.9), No. 6 in win-loss percentage (.800) and in field goal percentage defense (35.5), and No. 10 in scoring defense (57.6).
THE BIG 400
When UConn defeated Illinois, it was the 400th career win for UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. His record is currently 412-97 (.808). Auriemma became the 30th coach in the history of the game to eclipse the 400 win mark, having done it in just 16 seasons. He became the second coach this season to go over 400 as Villanova head coach Harry Perretta collected his 400th victory in a 60-55 win over Temple. Auriemma joins Perretta and Rutgers' C. Vivian Stringer to give the BIG EAST three current head coaches on the 400-or-more win list.
WINNINGEST COACH
Entering the Boston College game, head coach Geno Auriemma is currently the third winningest coach all-time by percentage. He boasts a winning percentage of .808 (412-97). Pat Summit, whose team is currently 24-1, is second at .860 (752-151) and the leader is Leon Barmore of LaTech (20-4 so far this season) with a current clip of .868 (541-82).
RANKED FROM THE START
Since 1990-91, the Huskies have been ranked nationally at the start of the season. UConn earned the AP No. 1 spot at the beginning of the 1995-96 season, the 1999-2000 season and at the start of this season. UConn's lowest preseason ranking over the last 10 years was No. 24 by the AP in 1990-91. Since an AP ranking of No. 4 to start 1994- 95, the Huskies have not opened the year lower than No. 6 (1997-98).
HUSKIES HANDLE ELITE TEAMS
Since the Villanova game, the Huskies are 41-11 overall versus ranked opponents over the past five seasons and are 21-11 versus Top 10 opponents in that span. All-time, UConn is now 58-29 versus ranked teams and 28-19 against Top 10-ranked teams. The Huskies finished the 1999-2000 season 16-1 versus ranked opponents and an astounding 10-1 vs. Top 10 foes. Four of the nine occasions that the Huskies reached the century mark in 1999-2000 were against ranked teams. UConn boasted an average margin of victory of 20.0 points over ranked opponents (and a margin of defeat of 1.0 points).
A GOOD OMEN
Connecticut's victories over Louisiana Tech (Jan. 7) and Tennessee (Dec. 30) marked only the second time in as many seasons that the Huskies have beaten both teams in the same season. Prior to the Huskies doing it last year, the last team to beat both the Lady Techsters and Lady Vols in the same year was Purdue, in 1998-99. The Boilermakers went on to win the national championship as did the Huskies last year.
HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA
Head Coach Geno Auriemma is in his 16th season at the helm for the Huskies. Entering the Virginia Tech game, he is 412-97 (.808) overall in his career, and has two national championships at Connecticut (1995, 2000). Auriemma is third among active Division I coaches in winning percentage. He was also the first Division I coach (men or women) in basketball history to earn five consecutive 30- plus winning seasons. Auriemma has taken UConn to the 1995 and 2000 National Championship, four Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eights and eight Sweet Sixteen games. During his tenure, the team has also won 10 regular season BIG EAST titles and nine league tournament championships, including the last seven consecutive titles in each regular season and postseason.
GIVING A HAND
The Husky offense, known for its scoring, is one of the most unselfish teams in the country. UConn's assist to basket ratio is an astounding 69.1%. The Huskies average 22.9 apg. UConn had its worst assist effort versus LaTech when the Huskies only helped out on 11 of 30 field goals, but bounced back against Syracuse assisting on 24 of 30 hoops. UConn dished a season-high 33 assists versus Georgetown to finish the game with 33 assists on 38 field goals (86.6%). UConn had 20 assists on 22 field goals in the first half alone (90.9%). Five different players have led the Huskies in assists in 19 games this season. UConn point guard Sue Bird is the team leader with 111 assists (5.3 apg), and is followed by Shea Ralph who has dished 79 assists (3.8 apg) so far.
HOT TICKET
The UConn-Tennessee game drew 24,046 fans to Thompson- Boling Arena, a season-high for a women's basketball game and the fifth highest crowd ever at Boling Arena. UConn's game versus Pittsburgh drew the largest crowd ever for a women's game at the Fitzgerald Field House, as 3,418 people came to watch the game. The 11,418 fans that came out to the Joyce Center on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, was the first sellout crowd in the history of women's basketball at Notre Dame. The 1,516 fans that packed the Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables was a sellout and the second highest crowd in history at the Knight Complex. The 2,024 at Syracuse was a season-high and the tenth highest crowd number in Manley Field House history. The Huskies drew 6,098 fans to the opening night of the Key Bank Arena in Seattle, WA., when UConn defeated UW, 90-63, setting a precedence for women's games in the arena (the men drew 6,313 the following night). UConn drew record crowds on the road in four different arenas in 1999-2000.
THE BENCH FACTOR
Overall, UConn's bench is outscoring opponent reserves by a 728-385 margin. Williams had been leading UConn off the bench averaging 10.2 ppg, but made her first start of the season on Sunday versus Villanova. With Svetlana Abrosimova on the sideline, UConn's bench is a bit smaller. Only twice this season has the bench been outscored, the first was during the December game against Miami (31-17) and the second was on Jan. 27 vs. Syracuse (28-26). UConn's bench outscored Georgetown reserves, 43-15 (one hoop shy of GU's total offensive output), and the entire Providence team with a 60-49 point effort. Most recently, UConn's bench dominated the Villanova reserves outscoring them 40-11.
SHEA'S BACK
Before the Villanova game, All-American Shea Ralph suffered through six games where she totalled 23 points (3.83 ppg), after averaging 12.1 ppg midway through the season. During the six-game stretch, she shot 9-of-31 (.290) from the floor and was 1-of-11 from behind the three-point arc. Sunday, the senior went 5-for-5 from the floor, including 3-for-3 three-point shooting, to lead the team with 14 points. This was the fifth time in her career and third time in the month of February that she had a perfect outing from the field, three of the other four times came a season ago with two of those coming in back-to-back games. The other time came during the 1998-99 season.
Date Opponent FG-FGM 3FG-3FGM FT-FTA1/2/99 West Virginia 8-8 1-1 3-411/26/99 Old Dominion 9-9 1-1 4-52/15/00 at St. John's 2-2 0-0 2-22/18/00 Syracuse 7-7 0-0 4-4
Shea followed up the Villanova game with a 13-point performance versus Virginia Tech. It was the first time since Jan. 2 that Shea had back-to-back double-figure games.
THE TAURASI FACTOR
Freshman sensation Diana Taurasi is quickly becoming UConn's most entertaining element on the floor. The guard pumped in a career-high 24 points against No. 3 Tennessee on 9-of-16 shooting (6-of-9 from three-point) in only 27 minutes of play. The freshman averages 9.9 ppg , 2.85 apg, 2.8 rpg and made her first career start versus Villanova. She is 37-of-89 (first in three-pointers made) from behind the arc this season (.416). She leads the reserves in turnovers, however, with 49 (2.3 topg) and leads the entire squad in fouls with 57 and games fouled out with three.
THE SCHUEY FITS
After sitting out six games due to a stress fracture in her right foot, Kelly Schumacher got her first taste of action in 240 game minutes against Wake Forest. She scored a career- high 20 points versus Pittsburgh on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor and swatted four shots. She hadn't had a career-high performance since her nine blocked shots versus Tennessee in the 2000 NCAA title game. Schuey followed up the Pittsburgh game with a 10-point performance against Miami on 5-of-8 shooting. Only one other time in her career has Schuey posted back-to-back double-figure scoring: her freshman season versus MIami (10) and Maine (19). The double-figure scoring streak ended against Syracuse when she finished with only two points in 11 minutes, however, she dropped off even more versus Tennessee with no points in five minutes of action. Versus Virginia Tech, the senior scored all 10 of her points in the second half.
ANOTHER UCONN WIN? NO SVET!
The Huskies handed the Tennessee Lady Vols their first and only loss of the year without the support of two-time All- American Svetlana Abrosimova back in December, who injured her back over winter break. The forward scored only four points in a career-low 11 minutes. Abrosimova seemed to be improving physically, however, and finished her last game with a season-high 25 points to lead UConn and had 18 points in 25 minutes versus Tennessee before injuring her left foot. Her 1999-2000 season-high in scoring was also 25 points which she did on two occasions (1/2 vs. LaTech and 3/27 vs. LSU), and followed both up with double-digit scoring efforts in the very next game (10 pts. on 1/4 vs. Georgetown and 14 pts. on 3/31 vs. Penn State).
STEADY FLOW OF CASH
Swin Cash has been UConn's most explosive player on the boards. The junior forward leads the team with 146 total rebounds (7.0 rpg). Cash opened the year with her seventh career double-double over then-No. 3 Georgia and had the second of the season and eighth of her career versus Miami with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Cash had her ninth career double-double, third of the year, versus No. 8 LaTech with 14 rebounds and a game-high 19 points and is coming off her 10th career double-double (fourth of the season) with 15 pts. and 10 rebounds versus Syracuse. The forward is second in scoring averaging 12.0 ppg. She has reached double- figure scoring in 14 of UConn's 21 contests, including nine in a row, to lead the team. She led the team with eight rebounds and had 14 points during her homecoming at Pittsburgh.
AID FROM ASJHA
Asjha Jones started her first game of the regular season, and first since her freshman year, against Pepperdine on Nov. 21. She is averaging 8.9 ppg for UConn. She has already recorded a career-high of five assists versus Washington, and a career-high five steals versus Holy Cross. In just 21 games, the forward/center has had 21 steals and 33 assists. Last season she finished the year with 20 steals and 33 assists. She tied (Taurasi) for the team leader in scoring for the first time this season, with a 14 point effort versus Syracuse (1/9), making her the sixth different player to lead (or tie) the team in scoring. Jones was held scoreless for the first time this season versus the Lady Vols in one of her worst performances to date. She played a total of six minutes and fouled out of the contest. Only one other time in her career did she play less than six minutes which was freshman season versus Villanova (1/22) when she saw action in only two minutes.
WILLIAMS ON THE MARK
The junior forward led the league last season with a .714 clip (115-161) and is currently shooting 90-of-118 in 21 games (.763) to lead the team. Williams scored a season high 23 points versus Tennessee on 10-of-13 shooting in 33 minutes of play. She has been perfect from the floor in four games this season, including a 7-for-7 performance against Pepperdine. She made her first start of the season versus Villanova on Sunday and collected 10 points and eight rebounds. However, she was shutout in 24 minutes of play versus Virginia Tech. It was the first time in her career that Tamika played over 15 minutes and was held scoreless.
UCONN VERSUS THE FIELD
Of the 23 scheduled teams UConn will face this year, none hold a winning record against the Huskies. With UConn's win over Georgia, the Huskies moved to 2-1 in that series. The LaTech series was tied at two wins apiece until the Huskies defeated the Lady Techsters to go one game up.
ONE TOUGH GAME AFTER ANOTHER
The 2000-2001 season is going to provide another tough schedule for the Connecticut Huskies. The Huskies will face six schools ranked in the preseason top 12 in both the AP and ESPN polls, including No. 2 Tennessee who they will face twice. The Huskies will also see action against No. 22 (ESPN) Boston College and No. 24 (ESPN) Illinois, while George Washington, Pepperdine and Virginia Tech all received votes between the two polls. UConn will play 11 schools who competed in the NCAA tournament last season, including two 1999-2000 final four teams (Tennessee, Rutgers), two final eight schools (Georgia, LaTech), two sweet sixteen schools (Notre Dame, Old Dominion), three second round schools (Boston College, George Washington, Illinois) and two first round teams (Holy Cross, Pepperdine). UConn adds ACC school Wake Forest to the schedule as well as Virginia Tech, the newest member of the BIG EAST conference.
ADD WILLIAMS TO LIST
With 10 points versus Villanova, Tamika Williams moves closer to the 19th spot on the top 20 scoring list with 940 career points. She knocked Renee Najarian ('87)-839- out of the top 20, and is seven points shy of the 19th spot held by Paige Sauer ('00)- 947 points. Williams is the third current player whose name appears on the list. Svetlana Abrosimova (fifth) and Shea Ralph (ninth) are the other two.
ABROSIMOVA AND SHEA STILL CLIMBING
Entering the Boston College game, Svetlana Abrosimova (1,865) is currently ranked No. 5 in UConn's all-time career scoring list- 268 points behind No. 4 Rebecca Lobo (2,133). Shea Ralph (1,579) uprooted Wendy Davis at No. 6 who had 1,552 career points, and now trails injured teammate Svetlana Abrosimova.
HERE IS THE UCONN ALL-TIME TOP TEN SCORERS UP-TO-DATE:
1. Nykesha Sales 2,178 2. Kerry Bascom 2,177 3. Kara Wolters 2,141 4. Rebecca Lobo 2,133 5. Svetlana Abrosimova 1,865 6. Shea Ralph 1,579 7. Wendy Davis 1,552 8. Jennifer Rizzotti 1,540 9. Cathy Bochain 1,53410. Peggy Walsh 1,413
LIFE BEFORE 1995
With a win versus Pittsburgh, the University of Connecticut won the 500th game in the history of the program giving the school a record of 500-258 (currently 502-258). The majority of the wins have come in the Geno Auriemma era, 410-96. The other 92 wins came under Jean Balthaser (52), Wanda Flora (38) and Sandra Hamm (2).
PHILLY AWARD
On Monday, Jan. 29, head coach Geno Auriemma will be honored at the Philadelphia Sports Writer's Association's 97th annual dinner for the 2000 Performance of the Year. He is accepting the honor on behalf of the 2000 National Championship team.
UCONN TO HOST 2000-2001 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
The University of Connecticut will serve as host for the 18th BIG EAST Women's Basketball Championship, March 4-7, 2000, at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs... UConn has hosted the 13-team tournament on five previous occasions: 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1997. Connecticut was awarded the 2000 and 2001 tournaments by a vote of conference Directors of Athletics. The 2001 league championship will be held March 3-6.
UCONN AND THE ESPYS
The University of Connecticut 1999-2000 women's basketball team was nominated for an ESPY for College Team of the Year, while Shea Ralph earned a nomination for College Women's Basketball Player of the Year. Past ESPY winners include Rebecca Lobo as 1995 Female Athlete of the Year and 1995 College Women's Hoop Player of the Year. The 1995 undefeated National Championship Team (35-0) earned the College Team of the Year ESPY.
ABROSIMOVA, RALPH EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Seniors Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph received recognition as preseason First-Team All-America members by The Associated Press. Abrosimova and Ralph are the fourth pair of teammates, second from Connecticut, to make the preseason team since it started in 1994, following Catchings and Semeka Randall last season, Catchings and Holdsclaw in 1998 and Connecticut's Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters in 1995.
BIG EAST DEBUTS A NEW LOOK- WELCOME THE HOKIES
The BIG EAST Conference will continue its 16-game regular season league schedule during the 2000-2001 season and invites Virginia Tech into the mix... Each team will play three conference opponents twice (home and away) and will have five additional league home games and five road games... The Huskies have drawn home-and-away games with the following teams: Miami, Villanova, Syracuse... UConn will host Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, West Virginia... The team will travel to Boston College, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Virginia Tech.
ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE HUSKIES
The University of Connecticut women's basketball team will have another 'first' to talk about this year. Every single regular season UConn game will be televised during the 2000-2001 season. That's more television coverage received than any other women's team in the nation, ever. Along with the national games telecast by Fox, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS, UConn will have the rest of the games in the 2000-2001 season televised by Connecticut Public Television. CPTV has been covering the UConn women's program since the 1993-94 season. During the past six years, 106 UConn games have been televised regionally by CPTV. WTIC Radio will broadcast all the women's basketball games for the 2000-2001 season as well.
BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES
With UConn's wins over Old Dominion and Villanova, the Huskies haven't suffered two consecutive losses since 1993, when UConn fell to Providence (87-73) in the BIG EAST semifinals and then suffered a 74-71 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
DOG DAYS AT UCONN
The night the UConn women suffered their first loss in 30 games, the UConn men also dropped a heartbreaker in Austin, TX. The No. 15 UConn men fell, 60-56, against Texas on Monday night, marking the first time since 1993 that both squads had lost on the same day. On March 7, 1993, the UConn men suffered a 70-56 loss at Georgetown, while the women fell in the semifinals of the BIG EAST, 87-73, versus Providence.
HOME STREAKS STILL STANDING
The Villanova game was UConn's 67th consecutive home regular season BIG EAST win (Gampel and Civic Center) since UConn lost to Georgetown on 2/27/94 (64-62) and 79th consecutive BIG EAST home win overall (including conference tournaments). The Huskies are currently riding a 19-game home winning streak (including HCC games, not including exhibition games) dating back to the Tennessee game of 1999-2000 (2/2/00). The Huskies have won their last 14 games in Gampel (not exhib.) dating back to February 2, 2000.
UCONN BASKETBALL --AN ADVANCE SELLOUT
Connecticut's entire 16-game home schedule (14 regular season games, 2 exhibitions) in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,027 capacity) and the Hartford Civic Center (16,294 capacity) is an advance sellout.
INJURY UPDATE
Senior Svetlana Abrosimova suffered a torn ligament in her left foot during the Tennessee game. She will be sidelined for the season. Freshman forward Ashley Battle tore the UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) in her left elbow versus Miami. She had surgery on Friday, Dec. 8, to repair the ligament. She was sidelined for 8-10 weeks, and has begun workouts with the team. Freshman Morgan Valley is back in action after having arthroscopic surgery on her left knee to repair torn cartilage.
