The Seeds
• 1. LSU
• 2. Duke
• 3. Texas
• 4. Penn State
• 5. DePaul
• 6. Georgia
• 7. Boston College
• 8. Oklahoma
• 9. Arizona
• 10. Houston
• 11. Rice
• 12. Virginia Tech
• 13. Liberty
• 14. Oral Roberts
• 15. Canisisus
• 16. Stetson
|
Chattanooga Region Elsewhere
Philadelphia | Kansas City | Tempe
The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 15, 2005; Page D8 1. LSU, SEC at-large
Record: 29-2 (14-0).
Coach: Pokey Chatman.
Top players: G Seimone Augustus, 6-1, Jr. (20.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 55.4% FG); G Temeka Johnson, 5-3, Sr. (10 ppg, 7.5 apg, 46.7% FG); C Sylvia Fowles, 6-5, Fr. (12 ppg, 9 rpg, 58% FG).
Data: A year after reaching the Final Four, the Lady Tigers won their first SEC regular season title, ending Tennessee's four-year run, but the Lady Vols got their revenge in the tournament final with a 67-65 win. Augustus became the first LSU player to earn conference player of the year honors; Johnson is the SEC career assists leader. Chatman took over for Sue Gunter this season and was named conference coach of the year. 16. Stetson Atlantic Sun champion
Record: 17-13 (11-9).
Coach: Dee Romine.
Top players: F Kristy Brown, 6-2, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 49.7% FG); G Nefertiti Walker, 5-7, Jr. (15.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 43% 3-pt. FG); F Janene Maclin, 5-10, Soph. (8.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 49.3% FG); G Kim Manning, 5-5, Soph. (7 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.9 apg).
Data: Stetson is making its first NCAA tournament appearance in 24 years as a Division I program. The Hatters started the season 1-5. Brown and Walker account for nearly 50 percent of their scoring. Brown, the Atlantic Sun tournament MVP, has scored in double figures in all but two games this season and has 36 career double-doubles. She led the Atlantic Sun in scoring and rebounding. Walker led the league by making 92 percent of her free throws. 8. Oklahoma, Big 12 at-large
Record: 17-12 (8-8).
Coach: Sherri Coale.
Top players: F Leah Rush, 6-1, Soph. (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 85% FT); G Dionnah Jackson, 5-9, Sr. (14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.2 apg); G Erin Higgins, 5-9, Soph. (9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 33 mpg).
Data: A 77-61 win over Kansas State on Feb. 13 was important -- it was the Sooners' only victory over a ranked team. Oklahoma's made it in because it played close games in losses to Baylor (by one) and Texas (in overtime), though it also lost to the Lady Longhorns, 72-36, in late February; the Sooners trailed 42-12 at the half in that one. "Find 64 teams better than us?" Coale said during the Big 12 tournament. "Are you kidding me?" 9. Arizona, Pacific-10 at-large
Record: 19-11 (11-7).
Coach: Joan Bonvicini.
Top players: G Dee-Dee Wheeler, 5-6, Sr. (17.9 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.4 apg); C Shawntinice Polk, 6-5, Jr. (13.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 55.1% FG); G Natalie Jones, 5-10, Jr. (9.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.6 apg).
Data: The Wildcats didn't exactly charge into the NCAA tournament, losing six of their final 10 games. Arizona ranked second in the conference in field goal percentage (44%) and third in scoring (71.6 points per game). Wheeler is the Wildcats' career leader in games started, minutes played and steals, and is second on the career scoring list; Polk is fourth. Freshman guard Ashley Whisonant (St. John's) averages 7.1 points as a reserve. 5. DePaul, Conference USA at-large
Record: 25-4 (13-1).
Coach: Doug Bruno.
Top players: F Khara Smith (18.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 62% FG); G Allie Quigley (14.4 ppg, 3 apg, 97% FT); Jenni Dant (13.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4 apg).
Data: Bruno ends every news conference by saying, "Thank you for supporting women's basketball." He has certainly done his part, especially by showcasing Smith. She finished fourth in the nation in rebounding, fifth in field goal percentage and 32nd in scoring. And she's not the only threat: Seven Blue Demons averaged more than 6.7 points, and eight are back from the team that went 23-8 and lost to George Washington in the NCAA tournament last season. 12. Virginia Tech, ACC at-large
Record: 17-11 (6-8).
Coach: Beth Dunkenberger.
Top players: C Erin Gibson, 6-2, Sr. (11.3 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5 bpg); F Kerri Gardin, 6-1, Jr. (11.1 ppg, 8 rpg); G Dawn Chriss, 6-1, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg); G Carrie Mason, 5-7, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 3.4 apg).
Data: Virginia Tech is making its eighth straight postseason appearance and an eighth overall NCAA appearance. The Hokies are 6-1 in first-round games. Virginia Tech, which averages 74.4 points per game, averages 5.4 more foul shots and makes 3.4 more per game than its opponents. Gardin averaged a double-double in ACC regular season games. Mason shoots better from three-point range (42.5%) than overall (39.8%). Chriss (St. John's) averaged 20.3 points in her last four games. 4. Penn State, Big Ten at-large
Record: 19-10 (13-3).
Coach: Rene Portland.
Top players: G Tanisha Wright, 5-11, Sr. (19.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.6 apg); G Jess Strom, 5-7, Sr. (15.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.6 apg); G Jennifer Harris, 6-0, Soph. (10.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 34 3-pt. FG); C Amanda Brown, 6-4, Soph. (7.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 60% FG)
Data: Making their 21st NCAA appearance, the Lady Lions outscored their opponents by an average of 10 points after halftime in their last 15 games. Wright, who needs 24 points to become the fourth Penn State player to reach 2,000 in her career, and Strom accounted for more than 50 percent of the Lady Lions' scoring. Wright is the three-time Big Ten defensive player of the year. Penn State is one of the better free-throw shooting teams in Division I, with a 78-percent success rate. 13. Liberty, Big South champion
Record: 24-6 (13-1).
Coach: Carey Green.
Top players: C Katie Feenstra, 6-8, Sr. (17.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg); G Kristal Tharp, 5-10, Sr. (11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 45 3-pt. FG); F Rima Margeviciute, 6-3, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 46.7% FG); G Daina Staugaitiene, 5-10, Sr. (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg).
Data: Liberty, returning to the NCAA tournament for the ninth year in a row, won the Big South tournament final by 47 points, a record margin. The Flames make 47.1 percent of their field goals and 60 percent of those baskets come off an assist. They are tough around the basket, outrebounding opponents by 15 per game and blocking more than twice as many shots (138-64). Feenstra is the Big South's career leader in blocks. 6. Georgia, SEC at-large
Record: 22-9 (9-5).
Coach: Andy Landers.
Top players: F Tasha Humphrey, 6-3, Fr. (19.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 57.5% FG); G Cori Chambers, 5-9, Soph. (13 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 41.1% FG); G Sherill Baker, 5-8, Jr. (11.6 ppg, 2.5 spg, 44.2% FG).
Data: Humphrey, a three-time Miss Georgia Basketball in high school, made a seamless transition to college. The SEC freshman of the year finished among the conference leaders in scoring (third), field goal percentage (third), rebounds (fifth) and blocks (ninth), despite averaging just 27 minutes per game. She scored at least 20 points 14 times. Nine players average at least 12 minutes per game for Georgia, and only two of those players are seniors. 11. Rice, Western Athletic champion
Record: 24-8 (14-4).
Coach: Cristy McKinney.
Top players: Lauren Neaves (13.2 ppg, 9 rpg, 68% FT); Krystal Frazier (11.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.8 apg); Michelle Woods (10.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 38% 3-pt).
Data: The Owls set a school record for victories -- and won their last 12 games -- after starting 3-4, with losses to Texas Tech, Baylor, Arizona and Auburn. Neaves, a high school all-American in water polo, was the WAC tournament MVP, and she had 11 double-doubles during the season. Reserves accounted for nearly 33 percent of Rice's scoring. Among those players is forward Catherine DuPont, who led the volleyball team to its first NCAA tournament in the fall. 3. Texas, Big 12 at-large
Record: 21-8 (13-3).
Coach: Jody Conradt
Top players: F Tiffany Jackson, 6-3, Soph. (18.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 56% FG); G Jamie Carey, 5-6, Sr. (12.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 79% FT); F Heather Schreiber, 6-2, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 87% FT).
Data: The Longhorns finished strong -- they won their last four regular season games by an average of 31 points. They started pretty well, too, with a 74-59 win over Tennessee on Nov. 25. Jackson had a strong follow-up to being named national freshman of the year last season. Keep an eye on her dropstep move: Some Big 12 coaches believe she travels, and have lobbied publicly for that call. 14. Oral Roberts, Mid-Continent champion
Record: 22-8 (10-6).
Coach: Jerry Finkbeiner.
Top players: F Elisha Turek, 6-1, Soph. (18.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 48.2% FG); G Claudia Louis, 5-11, Sr. (10.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 80.2% FT); G Katie Langford, 5-9, Soph. (7 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G Leah Cannon, 5-5, Jr. (7.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 38 3-pt. FG).
Data: Oral Roberts' shooting percentage declined throughout the conference tournament, going from 38 to 33 percent, and the Golden Eagles had to rely on their defense to carry them to their third league title. None of their three tournament opponents scored more than 44 points. Oral Roberts did not allow a team to score more than 50 points in 10 games this season. Turek, the tournament most valuable player, led the Mid-Continent in scoring and rebounding. 7. Boston College, Big East at-large
Record: 19-9 (10-6).
Coach: Cathy Inglese.
Top players: F Brooke Queenan, 6-2, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 48.8% FG); F Kathrin Ress, 6-4, Soph. (10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 48.4% FG); G Sarah Marshall, 5-7, Soph. (4.8 ppg, 119 assists, 49 TO's).
Data: The Eagles were 1-7 against ranked opponents, but their one win was impressive, 51-48 over Connecticut; it was the Huskies' lowest point total since 1993. Boston College has advanced to the round of 16 the past two seasons, but it will be without leading scorer Jessalyn Deveny, who ruptured her Achilles' tendon midway through the season. The Eagles shoot well (47.9 percent, third in Division I) and pass well (18.2 assists per game, fourth in Division I). 10. Houston, Conference USA at-large
Record: 21-8 (10-4).
Coach: Joe Curl.
Top players: F Sancho Lyttle, 6-4, Sr. (19.1 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 48.8% FG); G Daphne Andre, 6-0, Sr. (10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg); G Joann Overstreet, 5-5, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6 apg); C Kiemona Harris, 6-5, Sr. (8.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 40.6% FG).
Data: Houston is making back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances after advancing to the second round last year. It was the Lady Cougars' first tournament win. The Lady Cougars make less than 40 percent of their shots and only 66 percent of their free throws. But they hold their opponents to 57.3 points per game, outrebound them by nearly five rebounds per game and average 11.7 steals. Lyttle ranks second in Division I in rebounding. 2. Duke, ACC at-large
Record: 28-4 (12-2).
Coach: Gail Goestenkors.
Top players: F Monique Currie, 6-0, Jr. (17.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.3 apg); G Wanisha Smith, 5-11, Fr. (11.5 ppg, 4.4 apg); F Mistie Williams, 6-3, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 52.1% FG); C Alison Bales, 6-7, Soph. (7.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.7 bpg).
Data: Currie (Bullis) was selected as ACC player of the year. It was the sixth straight year a player from Duke received the honor. Currie has played the last nine games despite stress fractures in her left foot. Bales, who set the ACC season record with 118 blocks, has blocked more shots than Duke's opponents (101). Williams, formerly Mistie Bass, married Kenny Williams last summer. She is the daughter of singer Chubby Checker. 15. Canisius, Metro Atlantic champion
Record: 21-9 (14-4).
Coach: Terry Zeh.
Top players: G Becky Zak, 5-6, Jr. (13 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg); F Megan Lyte, 6-0, Soph. (11.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 46.3% FG); C Jessica Steeves, 6-3, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 53.5% FG); G Cheri Wittlieb, 5-10, Jr. (9.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 53 3-pt. FG).
Data: Canisius, which won its first Metro Atlantic tournament title, has won 11 of its past 12 games, recorded its most wins since 1990 and won the most conference games in school history. The Golden Griffiths are 9-2 in games decided by five points or less. Canisius has plenty of depth. Its reserves average 18.4 points per game. It held seven of its last nine opponents below 40 percent shooting. Zak was the MAAC tournament MVP.
© 2005 The Washington Post Company |
