University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Prepare for Notre Dame
3/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Huskies advance to the "Final Four" of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in 13 NCAA appearances. The Huskies have advanced to the Final Four in 2001, 2000, 1996, 1995 and 1991. Connecticut, the defending national champions, are currently 32-2 overall, marking seven out of eight seasons that the Huskies have reached 30 wins, and ended the season with the No. 1 national ranking. UConn was the No. 1 seed in the East Region after capturing its eighth straight (10th overall) BIG EAST Championship with a win over top-ranked Notre Dame. UConn will face Notre Dame (32-2) in the semifinals of the National Championship. The Huskies, 35-10, in NCAA play, are making their 13th straight appearance in the tournament. UConn has been a No. 1 seed in six previous trips. This is UConn's fifth time reaching the 'Final Four', and the Huskies are 2-2 in the semifinal game and 2-0 in the championship game.
IN THE DANCE
UConn is 35-10 (.762) in NCAA play, and as the defending National Champions, have won their last 10 tourney games. The Huskies have won eight consecutive first round games: LIU (2001), Hampton (2000), St. Francis (1999), Fairfield (1998), Lehigh (1997), Howard (1996), Maine (1995) and Brown (1994). UConn is 9-2 in second round games, 8-1 in the 'Sweet 16', and 5-3 in the 'Elite Eight'. UConn carries a 2-2 mark in the Semifinals and a 2-0 mark in the National Championship game (1995, 2000). The Huskies have scored 3,564 points (79.2) compared to opponents' 2,785 (61.8) in 45 tournament games. UConn is 20-2 in NCAA tourney action in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
THE SERIES VERSUS NOTRE DAME
Overall, the Huskies lead the Irish 12-1, with the series starting in 1996. Four of the 13 skirmishes have been in the final game of the BIG EAST Championship Tournament. Before UConn fell to UND in South Bend earlier this season, Notre Dame was one of 44 teams that had played UConn and had never been able to beat the Huskies, however, no other team is winless against the Huskies that have played Connecticut 10-or-more times. The closest streak Connecticut had to the 11-0 string of victories over ND is a 9-0 record against Vermont. The Huskies boast an average margin of victory of 14.6 ppg in the 12 wins over the Irish. The largest UConn victory margin was a 106-81 win in the Joyce Center in 1998, while the closest game the two teams ever played was the 78-76 UConn buzzer-beater in the 2001 BIG EAST Championship game. In the Muffet McGraw era, no team other than UConn, has a double-digit win total against the Irish.
Series versus Notre Dame (12-1)
H: 8-0; A: 3-1; N: 2-01/18/96 W 87-64 A 2/24/96 W 86-79 H 3/5/96* W 71-54 H 2/9/97 W 72-49 H 3/4/97* W 86-77 H 12/6/97 W 78-59 A 2/21/98 W 73-61 H 3/2/98 W 73-53 N 12/8/98 W 106-81 A 3/2/99* W 96-75 N 2/26/00 W 77-59 H 1/15/01 L 76-92 A 3/6/01* W 78-76 H *-BIG EAST Championship Games
SERIES VS. PURDUE/SMS
UConn is 0-1 all-time versus Purdue. UConn faced the Boilermakers in a 1990 match-up during the Duke Dial Classic ain Durham, NC. Purdue won in overtime, 87-89. If UConn and Southwest Missouri State advance to the championship game, it would be the first meeting between the two schools in the sport of women's basketball.
UCONN DEFEATS NO.1 TO BECOME NO. 1
With UConn's win over Notre Dame in the BIG EAST Championiship, the No. 2 team upended the No. 1 team in the final game of the conference postseason. Three times in the history of the program UConn has entered the NCAA Tournament as the top ranked team in the country and theyÂ've come away with the national title twice. Overall, a No. 1 ranked Husky team has a tournament record of 19-1 (including LTU) with the single loss coming to Tennessee, 91-81, in the 1997 Midwest Regional Championship (Final 8). In all, the University of Connecticut is 82-5 all-time when the Huskies are topping the polls.
1 vs. 2 IN THE TOURNAMENT
The NCAA Tournament has builty its history on #1 vs. #2 matchups as the first, second, eighth and last season's national titles were played by teams ranked one and two at the time. The only other time its happened in the tournament was during the 1984 Midwest Regional, meaning #1 and #2 have never met in a NCAA Semifinal game. Until last season, both the top ranked and second ranked teams had won twice each. UConn gave #1 the upper hand though by winning the 2000 national title to put the top-rankers at 3-2 in the tournament.
No. 1 vs. No. 2
This is the 30th matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 (AP Poll) in the history of the womenÂ's collegiate game and the second time this season. The top- ranked team has won on 15 of the 29 previous meetings. Including tonight's contest, UConn has been involved in seven of these games and five in the last two seasons alone, winning on six occasions. When a second-ranked Husky team gets the chance to, in all likelihood, go to the top of the polls they take advantage of it winning both times theyÂ've played the nationÂ's best team. The first time, was a 77-66 victory over Tennesee (1/16/95 inStorrs, CT). The second was in the finals of this season's BIG EAST Championship in which Sue BirdÂ's buzzer beater lifted the Huskies past Notre Dame, 78-76 (3/6/01 in Storrs, CT). The last time a second-ranked team toppled UConn when it was No. 1 was Jan. 10, 1999. in Storrs, CT, when Tennessee took care of UConn, 92-81. Shown below is a listing of the games that UConn has played in when #1 squares off against #2:
#1 #2 OutcomeJan. 16, 1995 Tennessee Connecticut Connecticut, 77-66Jan. 10, 1999 Connecticut Tennessee Tennessee, 92-81Jan. 8, 2000 Connecticut Tennessee Connecticut, 74-67April 2, 2000 Connecticut Tennessee* Connecticut, 71-52Dec. 30, 2000 Connecticut Tennessee Connecticut, 81-76March 6, 2001 Connecticut Connecticut Connecticut, 78-76
*=Tennessee was tied for No. 2 with Georgia
BIG EAST- BIGTIME
This is the third time in the history of women's basketball, and third time this season, that the No 1 and No. 2 teams in the country are from BIG EAST schools. The BIG EAST is only the third conference to ever have two different teams hold the No. 1 spot in the same year, but it's the fifth time that it has happened. The SEC has done it three times (TN, Auburn- 1987-88 and 1988-89, and TN, Vanderbilt- 1992-93), while the ACC has done it once as well (Virginia, Maryland- 1991-92).
BIG EAST FINDS NCAA SUCCESS
For the first time in league history, the BIG EAST placed five teams in the NCAA Tournament. Two teams - UConn and Notre Dame - earned No. 1 seeds, also a first. In each of the last four seasons, the BIG EAST has been represented by at least four teams in the field of 64 and has posted a 36-13 record in that stretch.
BIG EAST TEAMS NO STRANGER IN FF
The BIG EAST is one of only two conferences to have three different teams reach the Final Four since 1997. Notre Dame played in the 1997 Final Four and Connecticut and Rutgers advanced to the 2000 event with the Huskies taking home the national title.
EVERYONEÂ'S WATCHING
The Notre Dame-UConn BIG EAST championship game was the highest rated and most watched womenÂ's basketball game in ESPN2 history, including NCAA Tournament games... The contest was viewed by 730,914 households for a 0.96 rating and was the first women's basketball game ever replayed as an Instant Classic on ESPN Classic.
THE TALENT POOL
Prior to the season, six players in UConn's semifinal game were named as part of the 30-member watch list for the 2000-01 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Svetlana Abrosimova (Connecticut), Sue Bird (Connecticut), Shea Ralph (Connecticut), Kelly Schumacher (Connecticut), Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame) and Ruth Riley (Notre Dame).
SIMILAR FATES
Both Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw got their start on the collegiate scene at St. JosephÂ's (Pa) and both were assistant coaches under current Vanderbilt head coach, Jim Foster.
MORE COACHING CONNECTIONS
Although she never played against Connecticut during her collegiate days, Notre Dame Assistant Coach Coquese Washington, has played with and against former UConn greats. As a member of the WNBAÂ's New York Liberty in 1998 and 1999 she teamed with Rebecca Lobo and then switched teams prior to last season to play for the Houston Comets. With that move she joined UConn grad Jennifer Rizzotti. Last season it was the Comets who defeated the Liberty, 79-73, in overtime for the WNBA title.
ARCH MADNESS
As cited by the Notre Dame media guide, six members of the Irish roster picked UConn to reach the Final Four, everyone on the team believed they would be one of the other three teams in St. Louis.
STANDING INVITATION
This marks the 13th consectuive year that UConn has been invited to the NCAA Women's Basketball Champoinships. Only five other Division I schools can make that claim: Louisiana Tech, Stanford, Stephen F. Austin, Tennessee, and Virginia.
BIG EAST CHAMPS- THE LAST MEETING
UConn captured its 11th regular season BIG EAST title and earned a No. 2 seed in the tournament, which was held at Gampel Pavilion, in Storrs, CT, March 3-6. The Huskies earned a first round bye and defeated Boston College, 78-53, in the quarterfinals. UConn advanced to the semis to face No. 9 Rutgers and handed the Scarlet Knights a 70-45 defeat. Despite the blowout, the game was not without entertainment due to a leak which was caused by the Nor'Easter moving throught the state. The ceiling of Gampel had to be repaired with three minutes left in the first half. Play was suspended for one hour, while the Gampel Engineer (Bill Sehl) was hoisted 130 feet into the air to repair the leak. The game resumed and UConn sailed to the victory. The Huskies moved into the championship game to face No. 1 Notre Dame. In what turned out to be an Instant Classic by ESPN, No. 2 UConn defeated the Irish at the buzzer on a runner in the lane by Sue Bird. In gaining the win, UConn suffered a huge loss with a collegiate career-ending ACL tear to the left knee of All-American Shea Ralph.
ADD WILLIAMS TO 1,000 POINT LIST
With 12 points versus Long Island, Tamika Williams became the19th player to reach 1,000 points. She now has 1,032 career points ranking 18th on the all-time scoring list. Meghan Pattyson is 17th on the list with 1,106 career points. Since Pattyson left in 1992, eight different players have surpassed her mark. Williams is the third current player whose name appears on the scoring list. Svetlana Abrosimova (fifth) and Shea Ralph (sixth) are the other two.
CASH POISED TO JOIN ELITE CLUB
Junior Swin Cash is just five points shy of joining UConn's ever- growing 1,000 point club. The forward has 995 points entering the Final Four. Amy Duran ('99) is 19th on the all-time scoring list with 1,000 points.
LETHAL DUO
Connecticut's guard duo of Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird combined for 66 of UConn's 139 points during the East Regionals (just over half the point production). Diana's 24 points vs. NC State ties her career- high set at Tennessee, while Sue Bird was one point short of her season-high of 17 set at Notre Dame. Taurasi was named the East Regional MOP, while Sue Bird made the East Regional All- Tournament team.
MORE NCAA RECORDS FALL
UConn's first round game versus LIU set numerous NCAA Tournament records. First off, it was the best defensive effort in history as the Huskies held the Blackbirds to a record-low 29 points in tournament play (previous was 34 by SMS vs. Colorado 3/18/95). LIU's 10 points in the second half was a new record for fewest points in a half during a tournament game (previous was 11- SMS vs. Colorado 3/18/95). LIU's low field goal percentage of 15.4% shattered the previous tourney mark of 20.3% set by Furman vs. Tennessee (3/18/00). Finally, LIU's 10 field goals matches the low of Clemson which was set last year versus UConn in the second round of the tourney. Diana Taurasi's six three-pointers versus NC State in the Regional semifinals ties the NCAA Regional record.
UCONN WINS GAME/LOSES RALPH
The second major blow to the University of Connecticut womenÂ's basketball program came with 5:20 left in the opening half of the BIG EAST Tournament Championship game when Shea Ralph went down with a season-ending torn ACL in her left knee. After the injury to Svetlana Abrosimova, Ralph had been one of the Huskies who had stepped it up the most, raising her scoring average from 8.7 prior to AbrosimovaÂ's injury to 10.6 from that point forward. When Ralph went out of the game, the Huskies held a 39-35 advantage. Minus Ralph, Notre Dame began to chip away at the UConn lead throughout the second half finally tying things at 73 with 3:51 left. No team managed to score until Sue Bird nailed a three-pointer with 49 seconds left. Ruth Riley stepped to the line to even things once again with five second left before Bird nailed a jumper with one second left on the clock. The graph below shows what each UConn player had done against Notre Dame prior to the Ralph injury compared to what they were able to do after:
Before SheaÂ's Injury After SheaÂ's Injury FG-FGM 3FG-3FGM R A FG-FGM 3FG-3FGM R ACash 1-4 0-0 1 0 2-10 0-0 5 1 Jones 4-7 0-0 3 0 2-8 0-0 3 0Taurasi 2-2 2-2 1 1 3-12 2-10 1 2Bird 2-3 1-2 1 1 4-9 2-3 3 2Johnson 1-2 1-2 0 2 0-4 0-3 3 3 Williams 0-1 0-0 1 0 2-3 0-0 3 2Conlon DNP 0-2 0-2 0 1Schumacher DNP 4-7 0-0 6 0
RALPH AND ABROSIMOVA IN 2000 TOURNEY
Having already lost Svetlana Abrosimova and now that Shea Ralph has gone out at a critical time in the season, the chart belows shows the percentage of statistics that Abrosimova and Ralph combined for during last seasons NCAA Tournament run to the national title. The duo ranked first and second in points, assists and free throws:
Minutes 30% Points 31% 3 Pointers 38%Free Throws 40% Rebounds 27% Assists 45%Steals 37%
BENCH GETS MINUTES
The fact that UConn has been spreading its offense so much this season may prove to be beneficial now that the Huskies' two All- Americans will be out for the tournament. In all, there are 11 players on the UConn roster averaging minutes in double digits. No other top 10 team in the country has a bench that a coach relies on so much. There are four teams with nine players getting 10-or-more minutes (Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia and Purdue), three with eight (Duke, Oklahoma and La. Tech) and two with seven (Rutgers and Iowa State).
UCONN BENCH A FACTOR
During the 2000 tournament, the Huskies defeated their opponents by an average of 30.2 ppg and every eligible player on the roster saw action in every game. The Huskies have started the 2001 tourney on the same trend defeating four opponents by an average of 37.5 ppg.
NCAA WINS
If UConn were able to secure a spot in the national title game, it would give the Huskies 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament wins marking the longest streak in school history. At this point, starting with the 1995 tournament and ending with the loss against Tennessee in the Final Four in 1996 the streak stands at 10.
UCONN IN THE TOURNEY AT HOME
UConnÂ's NCAA mark is 35-10 overall. UConn is 20-2 at home. Connecticut hasnÂ't lost a tourney game itÂ's hosted since Louisville knocked the Huskies out, 74-71, March 18, 1993. Currently, UConn has reeled off 17 straight NCAA wins in Gampel. The Huskies average victory comes by 37.5 points.
UCONN AND THE TOP SEED
This season marks the third straight and seventh overall that UConn has earned a number one seed. When the Huskies are a top seed they carry a record of 28-4 and a flawless 17-0 record in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
BACK-TO-BACK?
UConn will look to become the third school in the history of the game to win back-to-back national crowns. USC did it first in 1983 and 1984 then Tennessee won three straight in 1996, 97 and 98. The fact that the national title game will be played in a the Savvis Center bodes well for the Huskies, as they have only won national titles in facilities that are centers. The schoolÂ's first national title in 1995 came in the Target Center, while last seasons was won in the First Union Center.
FRIENDLY GAMPEL
UConn finished the regular season undefeated at home for the first time since the 1997-98 season. It marked the sixth time the Huskies have gone into postseason undefeated on their home floor. Through the second round of the NCAAs, Connecticut has a home record of 233-25 (212-21 in Gampel) under Geno Auriemma. He has led UConn to 88 percent of the schoolÂ's home court wins.
51-STRAIGHT SELLOUTS IN GAMPEL
Since December 31,1997 (82-69 win over Rutgers), the Huskies have had soldout attendances of 10,027 for 51-straight contests in Gampel. UConn hosted the BIG EAST tournament, which was also an advanced sellout, and played the first and second rounds to a soldout crowd at home as well, bringing the streak to 51 straight sellouts.
HOME STREAKS STILL STANDING
Overall, the Huskies are currently riding a 27-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 21 games in Gampel (not exhib.) dating back to February 2, 2000. UConn boasts an 85-game home winning streak (Gampel Pavilion and Hartford Civic Center) against conference opponents. The Huskies have not lost a BIG EAST game at home, regular or postseason, since losing to Georgetown on 2/27/94 (64-62). The St. John's game was UConnÂ's 69th consecutive home regular season BIG EAST win (Gampel and Civic Center).
CONSISTENT HUSKIES
UConn capped its eighth consecutive conference regular season in which they lost no more than one game, marking the 10th overall. Over the eight- season stretch Geno Auriemma has guided the Huskies to a league record of 142-4 (.972) with none of those losses at home and the first of those being to Seton Hall (53-74, 1/5/94).
EIGHT 20 WIN SEASONS
With UConn's victory over Boston College (2/11), the Huskies reached 20 wins in each of the last eight seasons dating back to the 1992-93 squad (18-11). 30 PLUS UConn's win over CSU gave the Huskies their seventh 30-win season and second in a row. Seven out of UConn's last eight seasons, the Huskies have eclipsed 30 wins. The one exception was in 1998-99 when UConn fell short by one win with a 29-5 record overall. UConn's 36 wins last year was the most ever by a Husky team.
CHAMPIONSHIP COMPARISON
Here is an overall comparison of where the Huskies stood at the end of the regular season as compared to the regular season stats from UConn's two title seasons (1995, 2000). (Bold indicates category leader).
1995 2000 2001FG - FGA -% 889-1775/.501 901-1685/.535 884-1733/5103FG- 3FGA - % 138-346/.399 153-367/.417 195-495/.394FT-FTA - % 437-650/.672 439-616/.713 400-578/.692OFF-DEF Reb 392-826 368-794 389-777TOT Reb- Avg. 1363- 52.4 1162- 41.5 1166- 43.2PF-FO 405-6 482-4 503-10Assists 589 581 606Turnovers 465 537 472Blocks 181 124 131Steals 294 352 366Pts.-Avg. 2353 - 90.5 2394 - 85.5 2363 - 87.5
RUNNING AWAY WITH IT
In UConnÂ's last nine of 10 games, runs have been the keys to wiping out West Virginia, St. JohnÂ's, Seton Hall, Boston College, Rutgers, LIU, Colorado State, NC State and LaTech. The only game UConn could not get a run off of was Notre Dame, in which the game had six lead changes. The Huskies got things started against the Mountaineers by holding them scoreless for the opening nine minutes of play and by the time West Virginia finally did get on board it was already 19-2. The runs in the St. JohnÂ's game would be even more impressive. A 20-0 run between the 10:07 and 4:57 mark in the first half was a sign of things to come, as the second half began with a 28-0 run that turned into a 46-2 run in the first 15:31 of the second stanza. Combining the three runs against the Red Storm, would give UConn a 66-4 run during 20:43 of the contest. UConn used a 28-6 run from 16:58 to 4:26 in the first half to steal the final game from Seton Hall. The Huskies poured on a 20-4 run in the first half (11:17-3:44) of the quarterfinals to knock Boston College out of the tourney. Against Rutgers, it was over from the start. The Huskies opened the game with a 26-3 run and never let the Knights get closer than 20 all night long and UConn demolished the Blackbirds of LIU with an 18-0 run to start the game. UConn's latest victim was Colorado State. Already down 18 at the half, the Huskies opened the second half with a 26-5 run to take a 70-31 lead and finish the game, 89-44. Versus NC State, the Huskies opened the game with a 12-2 run, and in the home stretch, closed the game with a 14-9 run for the win. UConn used a 10-2 run in the middle of the second half versus LaTech to break open the game and go up 53-36 with 11 minutes left.
STIFLING D
In 13 of the last 15 games, teams have not been able to manage better than 36.5 percent from the field against UConn, while LIU shot a season-low 15.4% (Last year, West Virginia held the season of 12.7% on 2/3/00). In the first game against Villanova (2/4), the Wildcats went 15-57, after that both Rutgers and Boston College went 17-52, while Virginia Tech hit 13-55. In the second game, Villanova managed just 11-42 from the field. West Virginia was 10-52 overall and had just four field goals in the first half. St. John's was 17-of-52 versus UConn (31.5) and Seton Hall was 16-of-47 (34.0). LIU was 10-of-65 tying the record for fewest field goals in an NCAA first/second round game and CSU shot 13-of-47 (27.7%). NC State finished 35.6% from the field (21-of-59) and most recently, sixth-ranked LaTech shot 28.6% on the night, which was the second lowest field goal percentage ever in an East Regional game, and third lowest in overall regional games.
POINTS LACKING
The lack of points for opposing teams starts with the top scorers. Coming into the game with Connecticut, Rutgers had three players averaging double-digits and none of those three got into double figures. Overall, in the last 15 games only 11 (Gottstein- BC, Williams- VaTech, Juhline-Villanova, Kudryavtseva-WVA, Thompson- SJU, Moreno- SHU, Mac Millan- LIU, Narkiewicz- CSU, Moody, Lewis- NC State, Walker- LTU) of 30 players who typically score 10 or more points have neared their average. The only two teams who shot well against UConn was Rutgers at 51.1% and Notre Dame at 50.9%.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
In 12 of the last 15 games, UConn has held its opponents to under 55 points. Versus Villanova and Virginia Tech, the Huskies held opponents to under 40 points in back-to-back games. 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). This season, UConn held the Mountaineers to 34, St. John's to 44 points, Seton Hall to 48, LIU to 29 and CSU to 44. Most recently, LaTech netted only 48 points, its lowest point production of the season. Rutgers, Notre Dame and NC State have been the only exceptions with RU scoring 66 points in the BIG EAST semis, Notre Dame reeling off 76 in the final and NC State netting 58 in the Regional semis.
SEASON SUPERLATIVES
With 67 points versus LaTech, the team moves closer to the 5th spot on the schoolÂ's all-time list for points in a season. Currently, the Huskies have scored 2,960, while the 1997-98 team is 5th with 3,070. Furthermore, with 25 field goals on Monday night, UConn is 5th on the all-time chart for most field goals in a single season with 1115. Unselfish play has also been a key to the season as the Huskies moved into 3rd in that category with 741 assists so far. Last year's championship team is second with 764 assists, while the 1994-95 championship team leads the category with 786 assists.
MORE TALK OF D
So far this season, the UConn defense has kept 14 opponents under 50 points including 10 of the last 115. The five exceptions being Boston College, which netted 53 both times- on Feb. 11 and in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST, Rutgers who netted 66, Notre Dame with 76 and NC State with 58. Notre Dame's 76 points was the most scored against the Huskies since Tennessee netted 92 on Feb. 1. Since UConn's loss to Tennessee, Seton Hall was the eighth straight opponent to be held to 53 points or less, the most consecutive under the Auriemma era. Connecticut kept six straight opponents to 53 or less points during the 1996-97 season, starting with Boston College on 11/24/96 and ending at Rhode Island on 12/9/96.
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 steals (299), No. 5 in career assists (473), and No. 7 in career rebounding (814).
UCONN LOSES RALPH FOR SEASON
Senior Shea Ralph suffered a collegiate career-ending ACL tear in her left knee in the final minutes of the BIG EAST Championship game. The senior is waiting to schedule surgery until after the tournament. Ralph, a First Team All-American, was the 2000 NCAA Final Four MVP and BIG EAST Player of the Year. She finishes her career at Connecticut as the winningest womenÂ's basketball player in the program with an overall record of 159-12. Ralph is the sixth all-time leading scorer with 1,678 points and the fifth all-time assist leader with 456 career assists.
LINEUP DAY-TO-DAY
Since the injury to Abrosimova and now adding Ralph to the mix, predicting Auriemma's starting five is like trying to predict the weather in New England. Auriemma shook the lineup a bit inserting three new starters against Villanova(2/4), including two first-timers. Diana Taurasi and Kennitra Johnson both made their first career starts in UConn's first meeting versus the Wildcats. 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 made her first start of the season versus 'Nova and had 10 points and eight rebounds. With the recent injuries to Taurasi and Williams, UConn had another new mix start the game versus West Virginia. Since the Tenn. game, UConn has seen eight different starting lineups (including senior night) in 15 games. The Huskies have won with all eight lineups.
YOUTH MAKES TOURNEY IMPACT
UConn's Diana Taurasi led the Huskies to their quarterfinal win in the BIG EAST tourney with 22 points in 31 minutes of play and netted 17 in 26 minutes versus the Scarlet Knights in the semis. The freshman played most of the second half due to a back injury which sidelined point guard Sue Bird. Taurasi netted 14 points and added three assists before fouling out versus Notre Dame to give UConn the national championship. She earned the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player award averaging 17.7 ppg and contributing 10 assists. Taurasi was the first-ever women's basketball rookie to win the tournament's highest honor. Taurasi then went on to become the East Regional MOP after scoring 41 (20.5) points, grabbing 14 rebounds (7.0 rpg), and dishing six assists (3.0 apg). Taurasi earned her first collegiate double-double versus LaTech with 17 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
THE DECIDING FACTOR
UConn won a piece of the regular season title thanks to Rutgers shocking the Irish (2/17), 54-53. The win came just three days after UConn had soundly defeated the Scarlet Knights, 70-45, in Storrs, CT. The halftime lead appears to be the key to knocking off either UConn or Notre Dame. ND and Tennessee had it when they defeated the Huskies and the Irish were down at intermission for the first time all season in their game against Rutgers. Also, in each one of the three losses Connecticut and Notre Dame have combined for, they have only hit 11 free throws in each game. UConn was 11-33 against Notre Dame from the line on 1/15, however, that effort increased greatly against Tennessee as the Huskies went 11-15 on 2/1. Notre Dame was 11-22 from the free throw line against Rutgers. Shown below are the what UConn was able to do against Rutgers compared to what Notre Dame did within a 72-hour time span:
TOT-FG 3-PT FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK SUConn 25-51 14-28 6-9 8 29 37 15 70 21 18 4 6UND 20-50 2-5 11-22 16 23 39 18 53 14 13 6 3
SNIPERS
The Huskies shot an astounding 80.6% in the second half versus St. John's (including 7-of-8 from three-point line), to end the game at 72.6% overall (45-of- 62), an NCAA season-high mark. UConn shot 71% versus Hampton in the first round of the 2000 NCAA tournament (second highest in NCAA tourney history). The NCAA record for single-game field goal percentage with a minimum of 36 field goals made is 73.7%- Florida Int'l vs. Canisius, Jan. 2, 1992 (42 of 57).
'TREY'MENDOUS SHOOTING
Versus Virginia Tech (2/7), 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 time this season as Miami went 0-7 on December 5, 2000. UConn followed up the Virginia Tech game with a repeat record-setting performance nailing 14-of-28 threes against Rutgers (2/14). The Huskies finished the regular season first in the conference in three-point field goals made (195), second in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.394) and second in three- point field goal percentage defense (.246). The Huskies are currently shooting .394 (250-635).
IT'S A TEAM THING
(As of 3/20) Despite leading the BIG EAST in scoring offense (88.2 ppg) by an 11- point margin (next is ND at 77.5), the Huskies do not boast a single player in the top 10 in the league in scoring. Swin Cash is ranked 14th averaging 12.4 ppg. Despite leading the league in field goal percentage at .509 (1063-2090), the Huskies do not have a single player that even fits the BIG EAST criteria for the category, which calls for a minimum of 5.0 made per game. Minimum aside, 12 players on the UConn roster are shooting better than the 10th-ranked player in the category, and Tamika Williams is shooting better than the leader Ruth Riley (211-331, .637). Williams leads UConn in shooting hitting 76.9 percent of her shots from the field (120-156). Of the top players, Cash is behind Williams shooting .558 (136-247)- this would be second on the list, but she averages only 4.5 field goals per game. Despite leading the league in rebounding (43.4 rpg) and rebounding margin (+11.1), the Huskies only have one rebounder in the league's top 20. Cash is fourth on the list and is leading the team with 7.3 rpg. Despite leading the nation with the most Naismith Player of the Year finalists (Bird, Ralph and Abrosimova), the Huskies have only had two BIG EAST Weekly Awards (Cash was Co-Player and Taurasi was Co-Rookie). UConn also leads the BIG EAST in scoring defense (53.9), scoring margin (+34.2), assists (22.3 apg), and turnover margin (+6.53).
TEAM EFFORT
Despite not having a single individual ranked in the national statistics as of Monday (3/12), UConn is ranked in the Top 10 in seven different team categories. The Huskies are No. 1 in scoring margin (33.7), No. 2 in scoring offense (88.0), No. 3 in field goal percentage (51.0), No. 4 in win-loss percentage (.933), No. 2 in field goal percentage defense (33.8), No. 3 in rebound margin (9.8), and No. 3 in scoring defense (54.3).
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 66.5%. The Huskies average 21.8 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%). Six different players have led the Huskies in assists in 34 games this season. UConn point guard Sue Bird is the team leader with 165 assists (5.0 apg).
A FOUL AFFAIR
This season, UConn athletes have already fouled out over twice as many times than they did all of last season combined (11 in 2001, 4 in 2000). A look at UConnÂ's fouls shows the Huskies have had a difficult time adjusting to the NCAAÂ's point of emphasis this season of cleaning up Â"rough playÂ". UConn has been whistled for 607 fouls in 33 games an average of 18.3 per contest, up from 17.1 a year ago. In both of UConnÂ'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
UConnÂ'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.
HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA
Head Coach Geno Auriemma is in his 16th season at the helm for the Huskies. Entering the Semifinals of the NCAAs, he is 425-97 (.814) 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, five Final Four appearances, eight Elite Eights and nine Sweet Sixteen games. During his tenure, the team has also won 11 regular season BIG EAST titles and 10 league tournament championships, including the last eight consecutive titles in each regular season and postseason.
THE BIG 400
When UConn defeated Illinois, it was the 400th career win for UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. His record is currently 425-97 (.814). 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. Muffet McGraw of Notre Dame became the third to join the club this season with her 400th win over Miami on Tuesday night. Auriemma and McGraw join Perretta and RutgersÂ' C. Vivian Stringer to give the BIG EAST four current head coaches on the 400-or-more win list.
WINNINGEST COACH
Entering the Semifinals, head coach Geno Auriemma is currently the third winningest coach all-time by percentage. He boasts a winning percentage of .814 (425-97). Pat Summit, whose team ended its season at 31-3, is second at .832 (759-153) and the leader is Leon Barmore of LaTech (31-5 this season) with a current clip of .869 (552-83).
HUSKIES HANDLE ELITE TEAMS
Since the LaTech game, the Huskies are 47-11 overall versus ranked opponents over the past five seasons and are 24-11 versus Top 10 opponents in that span. All-time, UConn is now 64-29 versus ranked teams and 31-19 against Top 10-ranked teams. This season, the Huskies are 10-2 overall versus ranked foes and 6-2 versus top 10 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
ConnecticutÂ'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.
CPTV- ALMOST AUTOMATIC
Through the NCAA Semifinals, the Huskies post a 140-2 record when playing on CPTV (last CPTV game vs. LIU). UConnÂ's only two losses on the network have been at Rutgers in 1998 (74-70) and at Syracuse in 1996 (62-59). UConnÂ's debut on CPTV came in 1993-94 when they picked up four games. The following season, the network showed a total of 16 games en route to UConnÂ's 35-0 season. The 1995- 96 season produced 18 games, 1996-97 showed 22 games, 1997-98 included 18 games, 1998-99 had 20 games and last season the Huskies played 22 games on CPTV.
HOT TICKET
Both Regional games in Pittsburgh were the second largest crowds in the regional semis and finals. The teams drew 9,021 for the semis and 9,397 for the finals. UConn's game versus Villanova in The Pavilion attracted a record high women's basketball crowd of 6,229. The Conte Forum was sold out (8,606) for a BC women's game the first time this season when the Huskies came to town. 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.
UCONN BASKETBALL —AN ADVANCE SELLOUT
ConnecticutÂ'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) was an advanced sellout.
THE BENCH FACTOR
Overall, UConn's bench is outscoring opponent reserves by a 1090-555 margin. Williams is leading UConn off the bench averaging 9.8 ppg. With Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph on the sideline, UConn's bench is a bit smaller and the lineup fluctuates often. Only three times this season has the bench been outscored, the first was during the December game against Miami (31-17), the second was on Jan. 27 vs. Syracuse (28-26), and the third was versus Boston College (21-20). BC freshman Janelle McManus hit for 20 of the Eagles' 21 bench points. 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. UConn's bench outscored the entire St. John's team, 51-44 and the entire LIU team 49-29.
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN SCRIPTED BETTER...
Despite the career-ending injury to Abrosimova, UConn's senior night couldn't have been scripted better. The four seniors that started each had a memorable game. The team scored a season high 118 points, the second highest point total in school history. Christine Rigby led all scorers with a career high 21 points, while Marci Czel chipped in a career high nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from behind the three- point line. Shea Ralph finished with 19 points (7-of-9 shooting) and tied her season high in assists with seven, while Kelly Schumacher had 12 points, a season high six blocks and tied her season high of eight rebounds.
CASH- TONIGHT ON 20-20
In UConnÂ's game against West Virginia on 2/20 Swin Cash led the team with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Cash became the 13th player in school history to record 20-or-more rebounds in a game and the first to do it in five years. The last time a Husky notched over 20 in both departments was Nov. 19, 1995, when Kara Wolters scored 29 points and grabbed 20 boards. Rebecca Lobo did it twice in the same season and three times in her career with 24 points and 23 rebounds against Seton Hall (2/6/93). The next year she had 24 points and 20 rebounds against Georgetown (2/2/94) and 32 points and 21 rebounds against Boston College (2/16/94). Before that, Renee Najarian had 26 points and 21 rebounds against Drexel (11/28/87). The last time a Husky had above 20 rebounds, but was unable to reach 20 points was when Peggy Walsh had 25 rebounds against Pittsburgh (2/19/86). To her credit, she did tie the school rebounding record in the effort.
THE TAURASI FACTOR
Freshman sensation Diana Taurasi 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 and finished with 14 points versus No. 1 Notre Dame in 29 minutes of play. She tied her season high of 24 points versus NC State in the Regional Semis on 6-of-8 shooting behind the arc and connected for 17 points in the Regional finals to earn the MOP honors. The freshman averages 11.2 ppg (third highest on the team), 3.3 apg, 3.2 rpg and made her first career start versus Villanova (2/18). She is 71-of-173 (first in three- pointers made) from behind the arc this season (.410). The freshman leads the squad in fouls with 83 (including UConn's only player technical of the season for unsportsmanlike conduct) and is first in games fouled out with four. In the NCAA tournament, the rookie leads the team in scoring averaging 14.8 ppg and assists with 4.5 apg. She is averaging 6.3 rpg and has six blocks in the four contests.
UCONN'S DIAPER DANDY
Freshman sensation Diana Taurasi broke into the top ten list for assists by a freshman and blocks by a freshman. She is 19 assists shy of setting a new mark of assists by a freshman with 104 assists so far this season. Pam Webber set the standard with 123 her rookie season of 1991-92. Taurasi is 5th on the blocks list for freshmen with 29 passing Asjha Jones (25).
FRESHMEN LEAD WAY
When the UConn freshmen are mentioned, all consider Diana Taurasi the leader of the pack. However, with Taurasi out versus West Virginia, UConn's other two active freshmen led the Huskies for the first time this season. Freshman Maria Conlon netted a career-high 16 points on a team-leading four three-pointers and 5-of-7 shooting. Freshman Morgan Valley tied for the lead in assists with a career high five assists on the night. Conlon followed up her season high performance with nine points on three-of four shooting from the three-point line versus St. John's. Valley scored a career- high 11 points versus LIU in tourney action and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds. Conlon dished a career-high four assists versus the Blackbirds and had seven points and two steals versus CSU.
SCHUEY'S BLOCK PARTY
With a season high six blocks against St. John's (2/23), senior Kelly Schumacher moved into fourth on the all-time blocks list at UConn. The center has 180 career blocks passing Peggy Myers (162) for fourth place. Kara Wolters ('97) is third with 370 blocks.
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. In the three games prior to St. John's, she had only 10 points and 12 rebounds. On senior night (St. John's), she finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. In the postseason she has 49 points in seven games and blocked 11 shots in the four NCAA games.
STEADY FLOW OF CASH
Swin Cash has been UConnÂ's most explosive player on the boards. The junior forward leads the team with 253 total rebounds (7.4 rpg). Cash ended her tournament streak of back-to-back-to-back double-doubles against LaTech when she grabbed only eight boards. She has 14 career double- doubles and eight this season. The forward earned 12 points and 16 rebounds versus LIU, 18 points and 11 rebounds versus CSU, and 11 points and 11 rebounds versus NC State. Cash had her most impressive double-double of the year with 20 points and 20 rebounds versus West Virginia (2/20). She opened the year with a double-double over then-No. 3 Georgia and had the second of the season versus Miami with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Cash had her third of the year versus No. 8 LaTech with 14 rebounds and a game-high 19 points and had her fourth of the season with 15 pts. and 10 rebounds versus Syracuse. The forward is second in scoring averaging 12.3 ppg (behind Abrosimova). She has reached double-figure scoring in a team leading 26 of UConn's 34 contests. She led the team with eight rebounds and had 14 points during her homecoming at Pittsburgh (1/20) and had a combined 21 points and 19 rebounds in the East Regionals in Pittsburgh. The forward is averaging 12.8 ppg and 11.5 rpg so far in the NCAA tournament.
AID FROM ASJHA
Asjha Jones started her first game of the regular season, and first since her freshman year, against Pepperdine on Nov. 21, and was reinserted into the starting five versus Rutgers (2/14). She is averaging 8.7 ppg for UConn. She has already recorded a career-high of five assists versus Washington, and a career-high five steals versus Holy Cross. She led UConn in scoring over Villanova with 14, making her the sixth different player to lead (or tie) the team in scoring this season. Jones was held scoreless twice this season, against Boston College (3/4) where she finished 0-for-7, and she played a total of six minutes against Tennessee (2/1) with no points 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.
JONES- POSTSEASON PLAYER
Asjha Jones improved her scoring by three points per game in the 2000 tournament as she finished the regular season averaging 8.7 ppg, and finished the tourney action with 11.8 ppg. She averaged 14.0 ppg during the 2000 Final Four to earn Final Four All-Tournament team honors. Jones finished the 2001 regular season averaging 8.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg, and was named to the 2001 BIG EAST All-Tournament team averaging 10.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg in the tourney. She finished with 11 points and five rebounds versus the Blackbirds, had 16 points and eight rebounds versus CSU, had seven points and tied her career-high with 13 rebounds versus NC State nad had six rebounds and five points versus LaTech. Her regular season average was 8.4 ppg and 5.0. Jones is averaging 9.8 ppg and 8.0 rpg during NCAA action. Her 16 points in the second round of the NCAAs was a season-high.
WILLIAMS BACK ON THE MARK
The junior forward led the league last season with a .714 clip (115-161) and is currently shooting 127-of-167 in 32 games (.760) 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 eight games this season, including a 7-for-7 performance against Pepperdine, 5-of-5 versus St. John's, 5-of-5 versus Boston College in the BIG EAST quarterfinals and most recently 6-of- 6 in the first round of the NCAAs. She made her first start of the season versus Villanova (2/18) and collected 10 points and eight rebounds. She capped the regular season with her ninth career double-double, second of the season, versus Seton Hall with 10 points and 12 rebounds and had her third double-double of the season in a clutch performance versus LaTech in the East Regional Finals. The forward scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Huskies. She is averaging 10.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg during the NCAA tournament.
BIG RIG
Senior Christine Rigby broke a string of 14-straight free throws versus West Virginia when she was 1-for-2 from the line in the last five minutes of play. Rigby scored a career high 21 points versus St. John's when she made her first career start on senior night. The senior was 8-of-12 from the field and finished 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Overall, she is 31-41 (.756) for her career from the stripe.
SVET AND SHEA IN TOP 20
Entering the NCAAs, Svetlana Abrosimova (1,865) is currently ranked No. 5 in UConnÂ's all-time career scoring list- 268 points behind No. 4 Rebecca Lobo (2,133). Shea Ralph (1,678) 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 2,1782. Kerry Bascom 2,1773. Kara Wolters 2,1414. Rebecca Lobo 2,1335. Svetlana Abrosimova 1,8656. Shea Ralph 1,678
SUE BIRD- POINT GUARD OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Junior Sue Bird is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman-Cline Step Up Award, which honors the Point Guard of the Year. Bird won the title last season. Other finalists include Niele Ivey (ND), Kelly Miller (UG) and Jackie Stiles (SMS).
TAURASI HONORED
Freshman sensation Diana Taurasi was honored by her high school, Don Lugo, in Chino, CA, last Thursday, Feb. 9, when her high school jersey, #23, was retired. Hers was the first ever women's basketball jersey to be retired at Don Lugo.
ABROSIMOVA, RALPH AND BIRD- KODAK FINALISTS
Seniors Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph and junior Sue Bird were named finalists for the Kodak All- America Team. Also from the BIG EAST were Tasha Pointer (RU) and Ruth Riley (ND).
ABROSIMOVA, RALPH EARN MORE ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Seniors Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph received recognition as All-Americans by Sports Illustrated for Women. Svet was a first teamer, while Shea Ralph was on the second team.
ESPN THE MAGAZINE HONORS UCONN
Three players from UConn garnered nominees for various ESPN The Magazine awards. Sue Bird is a finalist for Point Guard of the Year, Svetlana Abrosimova is a finalist for Swing Forward of the Year, and Swin Cash is the finalist for Power Forward of the Year.
ABROSIMOVA, RALPH, BIRD, AURIEMMA-NAISMITH HONOREES
The University of Connecticut boasts three finalists, the most of any other school, for the 2000-2001 Naismith Female Collegiate Player of the Year. Svetlana Abrosimova, Shea Ralph and Sue Bird are among the 15 finalists. Ruth Riley from Notre Dame is the fourth player representing the BIG EAST. Overall, the BIG EAST has a total of eight players up for Naismith honors (including men's players), the most of any other conference. Geno Auriemma is also one of 20 coaching finalists for the 2001 Naismith Coach of the Year award.
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 ConnecticutÂ's Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters in 1995.
PHILLY AWARD
On Monday, Jan. 29, head coach Geno Auriemma was 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 AND THE ESPYS
The University of Connecticut 1999-2000 womenÂ'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. (Winners were- Catchings for College Basketball Player of the Year, and the Oklahoma Sooners football team for College Team of the Year). Past UConn 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.
UCONN VERSUS THE FIELD
Of the 23 scheduled teams UConn faced during the regular season, none held a winning record against the Huskies. With UConnÂ'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.
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. UConnÂ'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).
ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE HUSKIES
The University of Connecticut womenÂ's basketball team will have another Â'firstÂ' to talk about this year. Every single regular season UConn game will be televised during the 2000-2001 season. ThatÂ's more television coverage received than any other womenÂ'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 womenÂ's program since the 1993-94 season.
DOG DAYS AT UCONN
The night the UConn women suffered their first loss in 30 games, 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.
