The Seeds
• 1. Tennessee
• 2. Ohio State
• 3. Rutgers
• 4. Texas Tech
• 5. N.C. State
• 6. Temple
• 7. Maryland
• 8. New Mexico
• 9. Purdue
• 10. Wis.-Green Bay
• 11. La. Tech
• 12. Mid. Tenn. State
• 13. UT-Arlington
• 14. Hartford
• 15. Holy Cross
• 16. West. Carolina
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Philadelphia Region Elsewhere
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The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 15, 2005; Page D9 1. Tennessee, SEC champion
Record: 26-4 (13-1).
Coach: Pat Summitt.
Top players: F Shyra Ely, 6-2, Sr. (14.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 46.7% FG); G Shanna Zolman, 5-10, Jr. (11.9 ppg, 44.2% 3-pt. FG, 85.7% FT); G Alexis Hornbuckle, 5-11, Fr. (8.2 ppg, 3.1 apg, 5 rpg).
Data: Tennessee's 67-65 victory over LSU in the SEC tournament final brought the Lady Vols their first tournament title in five years and gave Summitt her 878th career victory, one short of Dean Smith's record for career wins. In winning eight straight since losing to LSU on Feb. 10, the Lady Vols are shooting 46 percent (up from 39.9 percent) and are averaging 76.1 points (up from 70.5 points). Ten players average more than 10 minutes per game. 16. Western Carolina Southern champion
Record: 18-13 (10-10).
Coach: Kellie Harper.
Top players: F Jennifer Gardner, 5-11, Sr. (13.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 79.9% FT); F Lori Tanner, 5-10, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 4 rpg, 82.6% FT); G Shaketa Barnes, 5-9, Sr. (6.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 74.8% FT); G Sigita Maleraite, 6-0, Sr. (6.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg).
Data: Harper, who was known as Kellie Jolly when she led Tennessee to three consecutive NCAA titles in the late 1990s, became the first coach in conference history to lead a team to the tournament title in her first season as a head coach. The Lady Catamounts were the first team to win four consecutive games in the Southern tournament and needed double overtime to win the championship. Gardner scored a career-high 45 points in that game. Western Carolina has won nine of its last 10. 8. New Mexico, Mountain West champion
Record: 24-4 (12-2).
Coach: Don Flanagan.
Top players: F Dionne Marsh, 6-1, Fr. (12.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 49.5% FG); F Lindsey Arndt, 6-1, Sr. (10.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 44.6% FG); G Katie Montgomery, 5-10, Soph. (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg).
Data: New Mexico, which is making its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament, is two wins shy of tying the school record for wins in a season. The Lobos have made 611 field goals this season with 432 coming off an assist (71 percent). New Mexico averages 16 assists per game. The Lobos also made 38 more foul shots than their opponents attempted. They shoot 72 percent from the line. 9. Purdue, Big Ten at-large
Record: 16-12 (9-7).
Coach: Kristy Curry.
Top players: F Erin Lawless, 6-2, Soph. (14.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 47.1% FG); F Katie Gearlds, 6-1, Soph. (14 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 88% FT); F Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, 6-2, Fr. (8.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.9 bpg); C Emily Heikes, 6-0, Sr. (5.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 spg).
Data: For the first time since 1996-97 and in Curry's six seasons, Purdue failed to reach 20 wins. Curry tried six starting lineups this year. The Boilermakers struggled to score, averaged only 62.2 points, their lowest since 1983-84 season. Purdue led the league in blocks (5.9 per game) and was second in steals (10.2 per game) -- but the Boilermakers have been undone by their turnovers, 19.2 per game. 5. N.C. State, ACC at-large
Record: 21-7 (10-4).
Coach: Kay Yow.
Top players: G Billie McDowell, 5-9, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.7 spg); C Tiffany Stansbury, 6-3, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 50.7% FG); G Ashley Key, 6-0, Soph. (8.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg); F Marquetta Dickens, 6-0, Soph. (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2 apg).
Data: After losing its ACC opener to Clemson by 13, North Carolina State rolled through the conference regular season, losing only three other games -- twice to North Carolina, once to Duke -- by a combined eight points. North Carolina State averages more than 10 steals and forces more than 21 turnovers per game. They are making back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances after not making the field the previous two seasons. 12. Mid. Tenn. State, Sun Belt champion
Record: 23-8 (11-3).
Coach: Stephany Smith.
Top players: G Patrice Holmes, 5-9, Sr. (14.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 35 mpg); F Tia Stovall, 6-1, Jr. (13.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 53% FG); F Krystle Horton, 6-2, Soph. (11.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 53% FT).
Data: Holmes caps an incredible career in which she was named conference tournament MVP three times. She certainly earned it this season -- she made 30 field goals and had 28 rebounds, 12 assists and 11 steals in three games. Freshman Lakira Boyd is the daughter of Dwight Boyd, who went to the NCAA men's tournament three times while at Memphis State in the mid-1980s. 4. Texas Tech, Big 12 at-large
Record: 22-7 (12-4).
Coach: Marsha Sharp.
Top players: C Cisti Greenwalt, 6-5, Sr. (13.1 ppg, 9 rpg, 3.4 bpg); G Chelsea Dabbs, 6-0, Jr. (12.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 33 mpg); F Alesha Robertson, 6-0, Soph. (12.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 37% 3-pt).
Data: Greenwalt is the conference's career leader in blocked shots (288). But she had better be careful: In the Big 12 semifinals, the Lady Raiders lost to Baylor, 58-57, when Greenwalt played just 21 minutes because of foul trouble (she had three points and two rebounds). The best guard is junior Erin Grant; she led the conference in assists (seven per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5-to-1). Texas Tech has wins over Rice, Texas and Iowa State. 13. Texas-Arlington, Southland champion
Record: 21-9 (13-3).
Coach: Donna Capps.
Top players: F Rola Ogunoye, 6-0, Sr. (14.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 50.3% FG); G Terra Wallace, 5-7, Soph. (13.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.4 apg); G Tabitha Wesley, 5-4, Sr. (9.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 61 3-pt. FG); F Ashley Bobb, 5-11, Soph. (7.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 42% FG).
Data: Texas-Arlington, which is making its first NCAA appearance, has won 16 of its last 19. This is its first 20-win season since 1981-82. The Mavs hold their opponents to 53.3 points per game and haven't allowed more than 60 points in their last 10 games. Texas-Arlington has outrebounded its opponents on the offensive end, 490-304. Ogunoye is only the second player in school history to score 1,000 points, grab 700 rebounds and block 100 shots. 6. Temple, Atlantic 10 champion
Record: 27-3. (16-0).
Coach: Dawn Staley.
Top players: C Candice Dupree, 6-2, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 55% FG), F Kamesha Hairston, 6-0, Soph. (12.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 50% FG), F Ari Moore, 5-11, Sr. (8.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 apg), G Cynthia Jordan, 5-7, Sr. (12.4 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.3 rpg).
Data: The Owls became only the fourth Atlantic 10 team to go 16-0 during the regular season and the first of those to win the tournament title. Temple, which is making its third NCAA appearance in four years, held every opponent except Florida to fewer than 65 points. Temple has the longest winning streak in Division I at 24 games. Dupree, the Atlantic 10 player of the year, led the league in rebounding and blocks (1.9 per game). 11. Louisiana Tech, Western Athletic at-large
Record: 20-9 (14-4).
Coach: Kurt Budke.
Top players: G Tasha Crain, 5-7, Jr. (17.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 80% FT); G Lakiste Barkus, 5-6, Sr. (12.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 32% 3-pt); G Shan Moore, 5-10, Soph. (10.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 81% FT).
Data: The Lady Techsters had four WAC losses, their most since 1991-92. Part of the reason was that preseason player of the year Erica Taylor (11 ppg) missed most of the season after giving birth (she is back now). Given the uncertainty over receiving a bid, the team watched the NCAA tournament selections show at a private party with Budke, rather than its usual gig at the house of the school president, with family and friends invited. 3. Rutgers, Big East at-large
Record: 25-6 (14-2).
Coach: C. Vivian Stringer.
Top players: F Michelle Campbell, 6-2, Jr. (11.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 56.2% FG); G Matee Ajavon, 5-8, Fr. (12.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3 rpg), G Cappie Pondexter, 5-9, Sr. (13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 41.5% 3-pt. FG).
Data: The Scarlet Knights won their final eight games of the regular season, but their best stretch of the season came in early January, when they beat Tennessee, Texas and LSU -- three of the country's most storied programs -- in consecutive games. The Scarlet Knights' strength is their defense; they led the Big East in turnover margin (plus-6.9) and steals (10.2). Thirty-five percent of their offense comes from points off turnovers. 14. Hartford, America East champion
Record: 22-8 (13-5).
Coach: Jen Rizzotti.
Top players: G Erika Messam, 5-8, Jr. (11.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.7 apg); G Ikea Witt, 5-8, Soph. (11 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 46.4% FG); C Tanika Price, 6-2, Sr. (7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 45.4% FG); F Danielle Hood, 6-1, Fr. (9.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 43.3% FG).
Data: Hartford is making its second NCAA tournament appearance overall, both in the last four years. The Hawks' 22 wins are the most by a men's or women's team in school history. Hartford led the conference in scoring defense (57.9 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (35.9 percent). Messam, the most outstanding player of the conference tournament, ranks eighth in school history with 232 career assists. 7. Maryland, ACC at-large
Record: 21-9 (7-7).
Coach: Brenda Frese.
Top Players: G Shay Doron, 5-9, Soph. (17.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2 spg); C Crystal Langhorne, 6-3, Fr. (17 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 59.6% FG); G Kalika France, 5-9, Soph. (11.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.1 apg); G Anesia Smith, 5-9, Sr. (5.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.8 apg).
Data: Maryland, which enjoyed its most wins in 12 years, is making back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time in that span. The Terrapins average 73.3 points per game, their highest scoring average since 1992-93 season. Langhorne, the ACC rookie of the year, is the first freshman in the ACC to average a double-double for the season since 1993-94. Doron was the first Maryland player in 11 years to be selected to the all-ACC first team. 10. Wis.-Green Bay, Horizon champion
Record: 27-3 (15-1).
Coach: Kevin Borseth.
Top players: F Tiffany Mor, 6-1, Sr. (16.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 61.6% FG); G Abby Scharlow, 5-8, Sr. (13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.1 apg); F Nicole Soulis, 6-2, Soph. (12.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 51.5% FG).
Data: Making its fourth consecutive NCAA appearance, the Phoenix lost its three games by a combined 16 points and outscored opponents by an average of 17.3 points. Wisconsin-Green Bay attempts more than 19 three-point shots per game, making 7.4. Five players have made 20 or more three-pointers this season, led by Scharlow's 52. Mor, the Horizon player of the year and tournament MVP, led the league in scoring, field goal percentage and blocked shots (72). 2. Ohio State, Big Ten at-large
Record: 28-4 (14-2).
Coach: Jim Foster.
Top players: C Jessica Davenport, 6-4, Soph. (19.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 59.4% FG); G Brandie Hoskins, 5-9, Soph. (12.9 ppg, 3.8 apg, 59.8% FG); G Caity Matter, 5-9, Sr. (13.4 ppg, 50% FG, 90.8% FT).
Data: Ohio State has won 17 of its last 19 games. The Buckeyes make 51 percent of their shots and average 72.6 points per game. Jessica Davenport, the Big Ten player of the year, has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Matter holds the school record for career three-point baskets (263) and career three-point percentage (.408). Michelle Muņoz, a transfer from Tennessee, is the daughter of NFL Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Muņoz. 15. Holy Cross, Patriot champion
Record: 20-10 (12-2).
Coach: Bill Gibbons.
Top players: C Lisa Andrews, 6-3, Sr. (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg); G Maggie Fontana, 5-11, Sr. (10.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 45.2% FG); F Brittany Keil, 6-2, Soph. (9.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 81% FT); G Sarah Placek, 5-3, Jr. (8.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2 spg).
Data: After its first losing season since 1982, Holy Cross returns to the NCAA tournament for its 10th appearance and recorded its 16th 20-win season. The Crusaders, who have won 15 of their last 17 games, led the league in field goal percentage (.415) and free throw percentage (73.4). Fontana, who set a school record by making 11 of 11 foul shots against Lehigh, is an 82 percent free throw shooter. Seventy-one percent of Holy Cross's field goals come off an assist.
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