The University of Hartford will play host to the 2003 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Women's Basketball Championship at the 3,977-seat Chase Family Arena at the Sports Center. The decision was reached by a vote of the conference's athletics directors at the America East Annual Meeting in Groton, Conn. on July 9.
The eight-team championship begins with quarterfinal games on Thursday, March 13. Semifinal games follow on Friday, March 14 with the championship game set for Saturday, March 15.
This will mark the second-straight year Hartford has hosted the championship on its campus in West Hartford. Last season, the championship drew 9,036 fans for the three-day event, including 2,811 for the title game which saw the host Hawks defeat Stony Brook University, 50-47, to earn their first trip to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.
"Coming on the heels of a tremendously exciting championship last season, we look forward to again showcasing our premier women's basketball event in the Hartford area," said Chris Monasch, Commissioner of America East. "The state of Connecticut has some of the nation's most passionate college basketball fans. Jen Rizzotti and her team have helped those fans recognize the quality of women's basketball being played in America East. The fan base, the Chase Family Arena, the continued support from Friendship Dairies, Inc. and the central location of the campus relative to the other America East member institutions afford our fans a tremendous opportunity to enjoy three great days of women's basketball."
Friendship Cottage Cheese will be the sole title sponsor for the America East Women's Basketball Championship for the second-straight year. In addition to its recognition as title sponsor, Friendship Cottage Cheese will also receive television exposure throughout the 2002-03 season as part of the America East Conference package as well as radio exposure, signage and in-game promotions at the women's basketball championship. Game program and ticket advertising, Friendship's inclusion in the championship logo and exposure via the conference's web site--americaeast.com-- is also included.
"We are thrilled to again be involved with the University of Hartford and the America East Conference," said Joseph Murgolo, President and Chief Operating Officer of Friendship Dairies, Inc. "We found our relationship last season to be both exciting and rewarding. This partnership helps promote our important 'Building Healthy Friendships' message to girls and women throughout New York and New England. We hope fans continue to support Friendship 'All Natural' Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream along with their favorite America East teams."
Friendship’s highly successful "Building Healthy Friendships" campaign is dedicated to educating women on their overall health through nutrition, exercise and a balanced lifestyle while encouraging women to join with relatives, friends or co-workers to become partners in health.
"We are extremely proud to again host the Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Women's Basketball Championship on our campus," said Rizzotti, the Hartford head coach and Friendship spokesperson, who is presently is playing for the Cleveland Rockers in the WNBA. "We are indebted to Friendship Cottage Cheese for its commitment and look forward to three spectacular days of women's basketball in March."
America East has utilized the present single-site championship format for the past five years. University of Maine played host to the championship in 1998 while University of Vermont was the host in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Each year the championship has averaged more than 2,000 fans per session with an average of 2,800 for each title game.
In addition to Hartford's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship last season, regular-season champion Vermont participated in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing at Virginia Tech. America East has regularly sent multiple women's basketball teams to postseason tournaments. Northeastern University and Maine each advanced to the NCAA Championship in 1999 with the Black Bears upsetting Stanford before falling in the second round. In addition, University of New Hampshire was invited to the WNIT that season. Both Vermont and Maine received bids to the NCAA Championship in 2000.
America East will consist of nine women's basketball teams in 2002-03: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, Hartford, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Stony Brook and Vermont.
Game times and ticket information for the 2003 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Women's Basketball Championship will be announced at a later date.