Big weekend

This season, more than most others, Connecticut seems head and shoulders above the field for the Big East women’s basketball tournament at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Still, 11 other teams join the Huskies at the Rutgers Athletic Center this weekend for a chance to claim the league crown. Here’s a look at each.

1. Connecticut

Record: 30-0, 16-0

vs. Syracuse: UConn 85-55

Difference makers: Sr. F Swin Cash: 15.6 pts, 9.1 rebs; So. G Diana Taurasi: 14.1 pts, 5.2 assts; Sr. G Sue Bird: 13.9 pts, 5.8 assts

The skinny: Hands down the best team in America. The Huskies should meet little resistance in winning this tourney for the ninth consecutive year.

2. Notre Dame

Record: 19-8, 13-3

vs. Syracuse: Notre Dame 71-46

Difference makers: Jr. G Alicia Ratay: 15.2 pts, 41.5% 3-pt FGs, 5.6 rebs; Fr. F Jacqueline Batteast: 14.8 pts, 8.5 rebs, 2.2 assts

The skinny: The 2001 national champions started off slow but finished the season strong, going 9-1. Their only loss, to Villanova in the regular season finale, ended a 51-game home winning streak.

3. Boston College

Record: 21-6, 12-4

vs. Syracuse: BC 73-63

Difference makers: So. G Amber Jacobs: 11.5 pts, 3.7 assts; Fr. F Clare Droesch: 10.7 pts, 3.9 rebs; Jr. G Brianne Stepherson: 10.2 pts, 4.1 assts

The skinny: The Eagles thought their season was lost when Becky Gottstein went down with a season-ending injury. But Brianne Stepherson stepped in as a leader and guided the Eagles to a 9-4 record away from Conte Forum.

4. Villanova

Record: 18-9, 12-4

vs. Syracuse: Syracuse 61-53; Villanova 66-62

Difference makers: Sr. G/F Mimi Riley: 12.1 pts, 5 assts; Jr. G Trish Juhline: 13.9 pts, 3.2 rebs; Jr. G/F Katie Davis: 10.4 pts, 3.8 rebs

The skinny: The Wildcats played up to preseason expectations this year. Now, they’re NCAA-bound and may get a shot at UConn in the semis.

5. Miami

Record: 17-10, 10-6

vs. Syracuse: Miami 75-71

Difference makers: So. F Chanivia Broussard: 14 pts, 4.2 rebs; Jr. F Megan Saake: 10.8 pts, 5 rebs; So. F Shaquana Wilkins: 8.7 pts, 6 rebs

The skinny: Picked eighth by conference coaches in the preseason, the upstart ‘Canes should handle Georgetown in the opener and give Villanova a run in the second round.

6. Virginia Tech

Record: 18-9, 9-7

vs. Syracuse: Virginia Tech 62-56; Syracuse 75-59

Difference makers: So. F/C Ieva Kublina, 15.2 pts, 7.7 rebs, 2.6 blks; Sr. G/F Sarah Hicks, 12 pts, 5.3 rebs; Sr. G Chrystal Starling, 11.9 pts, 84% FT

The skinny: The Hokies spent most of the season in the Top 25 and climbed as high as No. 16. They even gave UConn its closest game of the season, a 59-50 loss on Jan. 29. VT uses its height on the boards, grabbing 5.8 more rebounds than its opponents.

7. Syracuse

Record: 16-11, 9-7

Difference makers: Sr. G Jaime James, 14.6 pts, 39% 3-pt FGs; So. G Julie McBride, 14.8 pts, 5.6 assts; So. G/F Shannon Perry, 11.7 pts, 6.4 rebs

The skinny: Syracuse relies heavily on its guard play to be successful — its top three scorers play on the perimeter. Coach Marianna Freeman employs a 2-3 zone to utilize the speed of the backcourt. This team is not used to postseason play or having a winning record, so this is unchartered territory.

8. Providence

Record: 13-14, 7-9

vs. Syracuse: Syracuse 81-52; Providence 80-70

Difference makers: Gr. C Dani Trippany: 10.9 pts, 6.4 rebs; Fr. F/C Jessica Simmonds: 8.5 pts, 6.5 rebs; Fr. G Michal Epstein: 8.1 pts, 3.5 rebs

The skinny: The Jekyll-and-Hyde bunch of the Big East, the Friars lost eight of 10 games in one stretch but finished by winning five of seven.

9. Seton Hall

Record: 14-13, 6-10

vs. Syracuse: Syracuse 59-56

Difference makers: So. F Charlene Thomas: 11.5 pts, 6.7 rebs; Jr. G Cecilia Lindqvist: 12.5 pts; Sr. C Susan Murray: 9.3 pts, 5.8 rebs

The skinny: The Hall finished ninth, as predicted, despite losing its top scorer and rebounder, Leslie Ardon, to a knee injury in January.

10. West Virginia

Record: 14-13, 6-10

vs. Syracuse: Syracuse 74-46

Difference makers: So. G Kate Bulger: 15.5 pts, 41% 3-pt FGs; Fr. G Sherell Sowho: 13.8 pts, 4.6 rebs; Sr. F Brandi Batch: 10.4 pts, 6 rebs

The skinny: The Mountaineers will go as far as Bulger takes them. The Big East’s second-leading scorer, Bulger will get her points but rarely does she have a supporting cast around her. WVU plays well at home but have only won four games away from Morgantown.

11. Rutgers

Record: 8-19, 5-11

Difference makers: Jr. G Mauri Horton: 13.3 pts, 5.2 rebs; So. G Dawn McCullouch: 11.3 pts, 5.2 rebs; Sr. F Davalyn Cunningham, 10.5 pts, 7.4 rebs, 1.2 assts.

vs. Syracuse: Syracuse 68-51

The skinny: C. Vivian Stringer’s squad is young, very young. As a result, Rutgers is going through a rebuilding year which Stringer herself has called frustrating. Cunningham is the only senior, but don’t overlook the fact that the Scarlet Knights are the host school.

12. Georgetown

Record: 12-15, 4-12

vs. Syracuse: Syracuse 89-61

Difference makers: So. F Rebekkah Brunson: 15.7 pts, 8.7 rebs; Jr. F Nok Duany: 12.5 pts, 5.9 rebs; Sr. G Lesley Walker: 11.6 pts, 5.4 assts

The skinny: What’s a Hoya? Not really a noun, the term is D.C. slang for ‘first team bounced from the tournament.’

Compiled by staff writers Dan Bosch and Michael Rothstein

Published on February 28, 2002 at 12:00 pm