 The Seeds • 1. North Carolina • 2. Tennessee • 3. Rutgers • 4. Purdue • 5. UCLA • 6. Texas A&M • 7. George Washington • 8. Vanderbilt • 9. Louisville • 10. Old Dominion • 11. Texas Christian • 12. Bowling Green • 13. Missouri State • 14. Dartmouth • 15. Army • 16. UC Riverside |
The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 14, 2006; Page E4
Record: 29-1, 13-1.
Coach: Sylvia Hatchell.
Top players: G Ivory Latta, 5-6, Jr. (18.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 5 apg); F Erlana Larkins, 6-1, Soph. (13 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 58% FG); F Camille Little, 6-2, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 spg).
Data: Only a three-point overtime loss to Maryland on Feb. 9 stood between North Carolina and an undefeated season. The Tar Heels, who won their games by an average of 24.5 points, boast the third-ranked offense (83.3 points per game) and seventh-best shooting percentage (47.5) in Division I. They are prolific from three-point range, making 7.3 shots from behind the arc per game. North Carolina's depth is impressive. The Tar Heels' reserves average 28.6 points per game. Latta, the ACC player of the year, is a tough matchup. She is as good driving to the basket as she is shooting from the outside.
Record: 28-4, 11-3.
Coach: Pat Summitt.
Top players: F Candace Parker, 6-3, Fr. (16.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 55% FG); G Shanna Zolman, 5-10, Sr. (15 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.2 apg); F Sidney Spencer, 6-3, Jr. (9.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 49% 3-pt.).
Data: After the season-ending wrist injury to starting point guard Alexis Hornbuckle on Feb. 12, Tennessee is starting four players 6-foot-3 or taller. In Hornbuckle's absence, Parker, the SEC rookie of the year, has been sharing point guard duties with Zolman. Tennessee won its first 18 games then struggled late in the season. The Lady Vols lost twice to unranked teams -- Kentucky and Florida -- for the first time in 30 years. Aside from its 22-point setback to Duke, Tennessee's other three losses were by a total of eight points.
Record: 25-4, 16-0.
Coach: C. Vivian Stringer.
Top players: G Cappie Pondexter, 5-9, Sr. (21.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 47.5% 3-pt.); G Matee Ajavon, 5-8, Soph. (11.9 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.6 rpg); G Essence Carson, 6-0, Soph. (8.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.6 apg).
Data: The Scarlet Knights' magical conference season ended with a thud in the semifinals of the Big East tournament, as they were upset by 12th-seeded West Virginia, 56-40. Rutgers, which became only the third school to complete an undefeated regular league season, committed a season-high 23 turnovers as its 13-game win streak came to an end. Pondexter, a fifth-year senior who considered going to the WNBA, became the first player to be named first-team all-Big East for four years; the school sells "Cappie Caps" in her honor.
Record: 24-6, 13-3.
Coach: Kristy Curry.
Top players: G Katie Gearlds, 6-1, Jr. (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 87.2% FT); F Aya Traore, 6-1, Sr. (13 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 81.6% FT); F Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, 6-2, Soph. (10 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 spg); F Erin Lawless, 6-2, Jr. (9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 77.3% FT); G Sharika Webb, 5-9, Sr. (4.7 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.1 rpg).
Data: The Boilermakers got some troubling news right before they began play in the Big Ten tournament, as reserve guard Cherelle George, the conference's sixth player of the year, and assistant coach Katrina Merriweather were suspended because of possible NCAA violations. Gearlds caught fire late in the regular season, averaging 22.3 points over her last four games and 20 over her last seven. Defense has been Purdue's specialty, as it led the Big Ten in steals and blocks per game.
Record: 20-10, 12-6.
Coach: Kathy Olivier.
Top players: G Noelle Quinn, 6-0, Jr. (18.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.1 apg); G Lisa Willis, 5-11, Sr. (17.3 ppg, 3.5 spg, 76.9% FT); G Nikki Blue, 5-8, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 5.9 apg, 43.5% 3-pt. FG); F Lindsey Pluimer, 6-4, Soph. (10.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
Data: Nicknames abound for UCLA's three starting guards, Blue, Quinn and Willis: "The Big Three," "The Triple Threat." All three made first team all-conference and Blue became just the fifth player to earn such honors four times. Willis is the all-time Pac-10 steals leader and Quinn is in the top three in the conference in scoring, rebounding and assists. Bruins freshman center Chinyere Ibekwe is the sister of Maryland junior forward Ekene Ibekwe.
Record: 23-8, 11-5.
Coach: Gary Blair.
Top players: G-F Morenike Atunrase, 5-10, Soph. (13.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.8 spg); G Takia Starks, 5-8, Fr. (11.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg); G A'Quonesia Franklin, 5-3, Soph. (9.2 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.3 rpg); G-F Danielle Gant, 5-10, Fr. (8.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 58.3% FG).
Data: Blair, in his third season at A&M, has the Aggies on an upswing. They boast their most wins since 1995, their first NCAA tournament berth since 1996 and their most successful Big 12 campaign, all with just two seniors on the roster. They suffered no truly bad losses, but have no marquee wins either -- the Aggies went 2-5 against teams ranked in the top 50 of the Rating Percentage Index. The two wins, however, were particularly sweet: They represent the team's first sweep of Texas in 11 years.
Record: 22-8, 13-3.
Coach: Joe McKeown.
Top players: G Sarah-Jo Lawrence, 5-11, Soph. (11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 42% FG), G Kimberly Beck, 5-8, Soph. (11.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.4 apg); F Jessica Simmonds, 6-2, Sr. (10.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 apg).
Data: As is typical of a young team, George Washington has been inconsistent this season. The Colonials beat ranked teams (Purdue and Temple) and were competitive with others (five-point losses to Texas and North Carolina State). But they also had some strange losses (Massachusetts and Richmond). GW tends to grind out victories lately. Four of its last nine wins were by five or fewer points. Lawrence comes off the bench to lead the team in scoring.
Record: 20-10, 8-6.
Coach: Melanie Balcomb.
Top players: G Dee Davis, 5-7, Jr. (7.8 ppg, 3 rpg, 6.9 apg); C Liz Sherwood, 6-4, Soph. (12.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 64% FG); G Caroline Williams, 5-10, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 3 rpg, 43% 3-pt.).
Data: Davis, a first-team all-SEC pick who ranks third in Division I in assists, knows how to set her teammates up for good shots. Sherwood has the best field goal percentage in Division I, and Nicole Jules (St. John's High School) is second in the SEC at 62 percent. Overall, Vanderbilt ranks fifth in field goal percentage (47.8) in Division I. Williams makes nearly three three-pointers per game to lead the SEC.
Record: 19-9, 10-6.
Coach: Tom Collen.
Top players: C Jazz Covington, 6-3, Jr. (13.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 53.2% FG); F Missy Taylor, 6-3, Jr. (10.1 ppg, 6 rpg, 49.3% FG); F Angel McCoughtry, 6-1, Fr. (9.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 46.4% FG).
Data: Louisville is making back-to-back NCAA appearances following a four-year drought. The Cardinals finished fifth in their first season in the Big East, but were upset by West Virginia in the conference tournament. Louisville is the tallest team in the Big East, with 10 players who are 6 feet or taller. Freshman forward Chauntise Wright (McNamara) became eligible to play in December and is averaging 4.4 points off the bench. Nine players average at least 10 minutes for the Cardinals, including sophomore forward Yuliya Tokova, a member of the under-18 Ukrainian national team.
Record: 22-8, 17-1.
Coach: Wendy Larry.
Top players: G T.J. Jordan, 5-8, Soph. (13.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 90 3-pt.); F Sherida Triggs, 6-1, Jr. (11.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 57% FG); G Lawona Davis, 5-11, Sr. (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg).
Data: Old Dominion started the season losing seven of its first nine games, but five of those losses were against ranked opponents. Once they got past that brutal schedule, the Lady Monarchs began racking up victories. They would have finished the conference season perfect had James Madison not tripped them up March 2. Old Dominion avenged that loss by beating the Dukes to win its 15th consecutive CAA tournament title.
Record: 18-11, 11-5.
Coach: Jeff Mittie.
Top players: G Natasha Lacy, 5-10, Jr. (14.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4 apg); G Adrianne Ross, 5-8, Soph. (12.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.8 rpg); G Moneka Knight, 5-7, Soph. (2.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 rpg); F Ashley Davis, 6-0, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 84% FT); F Lorie Butler-Rayford, 5-11, Soph. (8.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg).
Data: The Horned Frogs, who are making their sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance, played a brutal early-season nonconference schedule, losing to Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Duke before the first week of December had ended. Lacy led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. Before TCU's game at then-No. 17 Utah on March 2, she predicted a win in the student newspaper. She backed up her words by hitting the game-winning basket with 2.1 seconds left.
Record: 28-2, 16-0.
Coach: Curt Miller.
Top players: F Ali Mann, 6-1, Jr. (14.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 47% FG); F Liz Honegger, 5-11, Jr. (13.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg); G Kate Achter, 5-8, Soph. (10.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5 apg).
Data: Bowling Green, which is making its second consecutive NCAA appearance, enters the tournament riding a 19-game winning streak. The Falcons have beaten their opponents by an average of 16.6 points in their last eight games, including a 25-point victory over Kent State in the MAC final. Their last loss was by four points in overtime at Kentucky. Their only other loss was by four points to Delaware. Bowling Green averages 9.9 steals per game.
Record: 17-14, 7-11.
Coach: Katie Abrahamson-Henderson.
Top players: G Kari Koch , 5-8, Sr. (20.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 38.6 mpg), G Sarah Klaassen, 5-9, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 38 mpg), F Tiff Terwelp, 6-2, Soph. (8. 1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 78% FT), G Kayli Combs, 5-9, Fr. (7.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 92% FT).
Data: The Bears used home-court advantage in the conference tournament to great effect: They knocked off the Nos. 10, 3, 2 and 1 seeds to win. Overall, they are 10-1 in MVC tourney play under Abrahamson-Henderson. Koch, from Elsberry, Mo. (population 2,000), has more than 2,000 career points; she also leads the team in assists, steals and minutes played. She has dedicated the season to her boyfriend, who was killed following an altercation with police officers in August.
Record: 23-6, 12-2.
Coach: Chris Wielgus.
Top players: G Jeannie Cullen, 5-10, Sr. (13. 9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 43% 3-pt.); G Angie Soriaga, 5-6, Sr. (11.8 ppg, 3 rpg, 3.9 apg); F Ashley Taylor, 5-11, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg).
Data: Dartmouth survived a three-way playoff for the Ivy championship, beating Brown and Princeton, which tied for the league title with the Big Green. This is the second consecutive year Dartmouth has needed to win a playoff to go to the NCAA tournament. Cullen and Soriaga form one of the best back courts in school history. Cullen ranks fifth in Division I in three-pointers per game (2.9) and sixth in three-point shooting (43 percent). Soriaga is Dartmouth's career assist leader (460 assists). This is the Big Green's sixth trip to the NCAA tournament.
Record: 20-10, 11-3.
Coach: Maggie Dixon.
Top players: G Cara Enright, 5-10, Soph. (16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 apg); G Alex McGuire, 5-8, Fr. (11.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 86% FT); F Stefanie Stone, 5-11, Soph. (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 58% FG).
Data: Dixon, the younger sister of Pittsburgh men's coach Jamie Dixon, was hired one week before practice started in October. The former DePaul assistant had no head coaching experience, yet she led the Black Knights to their first Patriot League regular season and tournament titles. This is Army's first NCAA tournament berth for men or women. McGuire, a two-time All-Met from Arundel, is the league's rookie of the year. Stone (Leonardtown) made the game-winning free throw in the tournament final.
Record: 16-14, 7-7.
Coach: John Margaritis.
Top players: F Kemie Nkele, 6-1, So. (16.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.9 apg); G Seyram Gbewonyo, 5-10, Fr. (12.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Amber Cox, 6-2, Fr. (9.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 35% 3-pt.); F Roney Friend, 6-0, Fr. (8.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 50% FG); G Vanessa Campillo, 5-7, So. (6.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.0 apg).
Data: It's difficult to make any sense of the Highlanders. They finished last in the Big West in scoring, last in rebounding and have three freshmen and two sophomores making up the starting five. Yet here they are, in their first NCAA tournament. UC Riverside closed the season by winning nine straight and 11 of 13, including a surprising victory over top-seeded UC Santa Barbara in the conference title game. Nkele was named to the all-conference first team for the second straight year as the Highlanders earned back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1995-96.
