 The Seeds • 1. Ohio State • 2. Maryland • 3. Baylor • 4. Arizona State • 5. Utah • 6. Florida • 7. St. John's • 8. Boston College • 9. Notre Dame • 10. California • 11. New Mexico • 12. Middle Tenn. State • 13. Stephen F. Austin • 14. Northern Arizona • 15. Sacred Heart • 16. Oakland |
The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 14, 2006; Page E4
Record: 28-2, 17-1.
Coach: Jim Foster.
Top players: C Jessica Davenport, 6-5, Jr. (19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 63.5% FG); G Brandie Hoskins, 5-9, Jr. (12 ppg, 3.2 apg, 3.1 rpg); G Marscilla Packer, 5-9, Soph. (10.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.1 rpg); F Debbie Merrill, 6-1, Sr. (9.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg); G Kim Wilburn, 5-6, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 3.1 spg, 2.9 apg).
Data: Paced by Davenport (who repeated as Big Ten player of the year), Wilburn (defensive player of the year) and Foster (coach of the year for the second straight season), the Buckeyes ranked first in nine statistical categories in the Big Ten: scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal percentage, rebounding defense, assists, turnover margin and assist-to-turnover ratio. Davenport was first in scoring and field goal percentage and tied for first in rebounding average.
Record: 28-4, 12-2.
Coach: Brenda Frese.
Top players: F Crystal Langhorne, 6-2, Soph. (16.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 66% FG); G Shay Doron, 5-9, Jr. (14.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 41% 3-pt.); F Marissa Coleman, 6-1, Fr. (14.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 51% 3-pt.).
Data: Maryland is enjoying its best season in more than a decade. The Terrapins, who have risen to No. 3 in the Associated Press rankings, knocked off No. 1 North Carolina on Feb. 9, then ended their streak of futility -- 14 straight losses -- to Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals. Their only loss outside of the ACC was a five-point defeat to Tennessee. Maryland boasts the second-best scoring offense (83.6 ppg), fourth best field goal percentage (.481) and top three-point field goal percentage (.411) in Division I. Langhorne leads Division I in field goal percentage.
Record: 22-5, 12-4.
Coach: Kim Mulkey-Robertson.
Top players: F Sophia Young, 6-1, Sr. (21.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.1 spg); G Angela Tisdale, 5-5, Soph. (12.6 ppg, 6 apg, 1.8 spg); G Chameka Scott, 6-0, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 spg); F Abiola Wabara, 6-0, Jr. (8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.4 bpg).
Data: The defending national champion Lady Bears opened the season 10-0, extending their overall winning streak to 30 games, before starting just 3-3 in Big 12 play. They were swept by Oklahoma and suffered a 29-point beating at LSU, but won their last five regular season games by an average of 20.2 points. Young, the Big 12's career leading scorer and rebounder, is the fourth player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 assists and 300 steals.
Record: 24 - 5, (14-4).
Coach: Charli Turner Thorne.
Top players: F Kristen Kovesdy, 6-3, Sr. (12.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 59.8% FG); F Emily Westerberg, 6-0, Jr. (11 ppg, 5.2 rpg); G Reagan Pariseau, Soph. (5.1 ppg, 39.3% 3-pt.); G Jill Noe, 5-10, Jr. (8.1 ppg, 2.5 apg).
Data: A nine-deep rotation led by all-Pac 10 players Kovesdy and Westerberg has helped the Sun Devils to one of their finest seasons in school history. The team set a school record for consecutive wins with 10 and was ranked in the top 10 for the first time in 22 years. The Sun Devils' rebounding margin of 6.3 is tops in the conference by almost 2.5 a game. Kovesdy, who is 11th in the country in field goal percentage, is fifth on the school's all-time scoring list.
Record: 24-6, 12-4.
Coach: Elaine Elliott.
Top players: F Kim Smith, 6-1, Sr. (19.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 54.4% FG); G Shona Thorburn, 5-10, Sr. (11.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 6.9 apg); G Julie Larsen, 5-4, Sr. (9.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 89.7% FT); F Jessica Perry, 6-3, Soph. (6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.4 spg); G Heidi Carlsen, 5-9, Jr. (5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.1 apg).
Data: Three Utes starters -- Smith, Thorburn and Perry -- hail from Canada, and Utah has six players from Canada on its roster. Smith, the three-time defending Mountain West player of the year, has started every game of her college career and is the all-time leading scorer at Utah and in the Mountain West. Smith and Thorburn, the school's career assists leader, have played for Canada's national team. Thorburn also ranked fourth in the nation in assists per game during the regular season.
Record: 21-8, 8-6.
Coach: Carolyn Peck.
Top players: F Dalila Eshe, 6-3, Sr. (14.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 84% FT); G Sha Brooks, 5-7, Fr. (13.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.1 spg); F Brittany Davis, 6-2, Sr. (12.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 48% FG).
Data: It's hard to figure out Florida. The Gators knocked off the top two teams in the league, LSU and Tennessee, within a two-week span in late February, but they also lost to South Carolina and Auburn during that time. Then they stumbled against Kentucky in the SEC quarterfinals. Eshe, a first-team all-SEC pick, is one of the most improved players in the SEC. Her scoring average this season is higher than her first three seasons combined.
Record: 21-7, 11-5.
Coach: Kim Barnes Arico.
Top players: G Kia Wright, 5-8, Jr. (14.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.3 apg); F Angela Clark, 6-1, Jr. (14 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 55% FG); G Tara Walker, 5-9, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 40.8% 3-pt.).
Data: The Red Storm put together back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the early 1980s, when it was a Big East power. St. John's is making its fourth NCAA appearance; St. John's has won only one tournament game (against Fairfield in 1988). Clark is the first player in school history to accumulate 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Senior guard Greeba Barlow (River Hill) averages 8.6 points in 22.5 minutes per game.
Record: 19-11, 6-8.
Coach: Cathy Inglese.
Top Players: F Brooke Queenan, 6-2, Sr. (14.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 49.6% FG); G Kindyll Dorsey, 5-9, Jr. (11.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 38.7% 3-pt.); G Aja Parham, 6-0, Sr.; G Sarah Marshall, 5-7, Jr. (5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.9 apg).
Data: Many didn't expect the Eagles to be here, given that they lost their past five games, including a 57-54 decision to Virginia in the first round of the ACC tournament. But before that, the Eagles had won six straight. And before that , they had lost four straight. Get the picture? The Eagles took No. 2 Maryland to overtime in Chestnut Hill, Mass., in the ACC opener for both, so their fate depends on which team shows up.
Record: 18-11, 8-8.
Coach: Muffet McGraw.
Top players: G Megan Duffy, 5-7, Sr. (15.7 ppg, 4.1 apg, 88.8% FT); G Lindsay Schrader, 6-0, Fr. (9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 43.6% FG); F Courtney LaVere, 6-3, Sr. (9.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg).
Data: The Irish won nine of their first 10 games, then lost nine of their next 14 -- but recovered in time to reach their 11th straight tournament. Notre Dame is at its best when it's balanced; the Irish are 16-6 when three players reach double-digits in scoring. Duffy, who was a co-captain of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the World University Games over the summer, needs five assists to become the third player in school history with 1,000 points, 500 assists and 200 steals in her career.
Record: 18-11 (10-8).
Coach: Joanne Boyle.
Top players: F-C Devanei Hampton, 6-3, Fr. (15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg); G Alexis Gray-Lawson, 5-8, Fr. (14.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 39.2% 3-pt.); F Ashley Walker, 6-0, Fr. (13 ppg, 7.7 rpg); F Renee Wright, 5-11, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg).
Data: The Golden Bears made their first NCAA tournament since 1993 and did it on the backs of youth. Four of the Bears' top five leading scorers are freshmen and all four--Hampton, Gray-Lawson, Walker and Jene Morris--start. The two stars, Hampton and Gray-Lawson, were McDonald's all-Americans together at an Oakland high school, and both earned Pac-10 honors this season. Hampton made all-conference and Gray-Lawson was named freshman of the year. Hampton also recorded a conference-leading nine double-doubles.
Record: 21-9, 11-5.
Coach: Don Flanagan.
Top reserves: F Dionne Marsh, 6-1, Soph. (15.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 apg); G Katie Montgomery, 5-10, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 48.6% 3-pt.); G Abbie Letz, 6-0, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 82.3% FT); G Brandi Kimble, 5-8, Soph. (7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 apg); C Jana Francis, 6-3, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 45.1% FG).
Data: The Lobos are making their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. Marsh, the team's leading scorer, was hobbled late in the season after hurting her ankle, but she should be healthy enough to play. Plus, freshman reserve Rachel Mejewski has battled an inflamed nerve in her foot that has limited her playing time. But the Lobos got a spark from reserve guard Julie Briody, who came off the bench to average 15 points and make all 17 free throws in wins over Air Force and San Diego State late in the season.
Record: 20 - 10, 10-4.
Coach: Rick Insell.
Top players: G Chrissy Givens, 5-10, Jr. (21.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.3 apg); F Krystle Horton, 6-2, Jr. (11.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 52.3% FG); F Tia Stovall, 6-1, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 51.9% FG); G Johnna Abney, 5-4, Fr. (7.3 ppg, 39.9% 3-pt.).
Data: The Blue Raiders won their third straight Sun Belt tournament and have advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament the past two years. But this is the first year for Insell, a former high school coach who was hired after Stephany Smith resigned to take the Alabama job. Fortunately, he still has Givens. She is a do-it-all national standout, ranking eighth in scoring and 12th in steals in the country. Givens was also the second player in the history of the conference to win player of the year, defensive player of the year and the tournament's most outstanding player awards in the same season. She notched two of her four double-doubles in the last two games of the conference tournament with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the final against Western Kentucky and 11 points and 10 assists in the semifinals.
Record: 23-7, 14-2.
Coach: Lee Ann Riley.
Top players: F LaToya Mills, 6-0, Sr. (17.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 51% FG); G Britany Vinson, 5-6, Sr. (10.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 41% 3-pt.); G Nikki Carr, 5-6, Soph. (8.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.1 apg).
Data: Stephen F. Austin is making its 18th overall appearance in the tournament but first in four years. The Ladyjacks enter the tournament on a roll, having won eight in a row and 16 of 18. Opponents must guard the perimeter because SFA makes an average of nearly six three-pointers per game. The Ladyjacks sank a school record 178 three-pointers this season. SFA can cause problems defensively as well. The Ladyjacks made nearly 11 steals per game and forced close to 20 turnovers per game. Mills, a first-team all-Southland selection, was the conference's second-leading scorer and top rebounder.
Record: 22-10, 9-5.
Coach: Laurie Kelly.
Top Players: C Alyssa Wahl, 6-2, Jr. (14.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 apg); F Megan Porter, 6-1, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 apg); G Nicky Eason, 5-9, Sr. (10.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3 apg); F Sandra Viksryte, 6-1, Sr. (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 spg); G Kim Winkfield, 5-10, Jr. (8.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.3 rpg).
Data: The Lumberjacks are enjoying their finest season in program history, matching the team record for wins and earning their first NCAA tournament berth. Wahl was first-team all-Big Sky and MVP of the conference tournament. The Lumberjacks lost both their games against high-profile opponents: an unforgiving road trip to Nashville for a 16-point loss to Vanderbilt, followed two days and nearly 1,500 miles later with a 34-point loss at BYU.
Record: 26-4, 16-2.
Coach: Ed Swanson.
Top players: G Amanda Pape, 5-8, Jr. (17.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.3 apg); F Jasmine Walker, 6-1, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg; 54% FG); G Nicolle Rubino, 5-9, Sr. (12.0 ppg, 2.1 spg, 2.7 apg); G Kerri Burke, 5-7, Jr. (7.2 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.2 rpg).
Data: The former Division II school continued to make a name for itself in its seventh season of Division I with wins at Providence and Syracuse. The Pioneers set a school record for victories this season and enter their first NCAA tournament having won 10 straight and 20 of 22. Sacred Heart outscored its opponents by an average of 14.5 points. Pape, a Connecticut native, is a three-year starter and was named the NEC player of the year for 2005-06. Burke is the first Sacred Heart player to record more than 100 assists since 1996.
Record: 15-15, 8-8.
Coach: Beckie Francis.
Top Players: G Jayme Wilson, 5-8, Sr. (16.1 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.3 apg); G Anne Hafeli, 5-9, Sr. (13.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.2 apg); F Nicole Piggott, 5-11, Jr. (12.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg).
Data: Francis guided Oakland to its first NCAA berth in 2002, then left coaching for three seasons because of health problems brought on by stress. She returned this season to help the Golden Grizzlies become the first Mid-Continent team, men's or women's, to win the conference tournament by beating each of the top three seeds. After Oakland knocked off top-seeded Western Illinois in the tournament final, Francis told the Detroit News, "There are more important things in life, but this sure does feel great."
