After a 1-9 start to the season, it would have been hard to
find many Hartford fans who thought that this team would be on its way back to
the NCAA Tournament. However, an incredibly difficult nonconference schedule
united this young and inexperienced team, while also providing experience that
would pay off once America East play started. Instead of using their youth as
an excuse, the Hawks rallied to win 11 of their last 12 games, including a
victory at Boston University in the America East Championship title game.
As has been the case since head coach Jennifer Rizzotti took
over the program, Hartford achieved success through excellent team defense and
balance on the offensive end. Over the course of the season, 10 players
averaged over 10 minutes per game. While part of this was due to a rash of
injuries that hit the Hawks early in the season, it also is a demonstration of
the remarkable depth and talent that this program has.
The NCAA Tournament matchup with intra-state rival No. 1
Connecticut possesses lots of intrigue, as Rizzotti put together a remarkable
playing career for head coach Geno Auriemma and the Huskies. This game will
mark the return of Rizzotti to Gampel Pavilion, where she earned the Associated
Press National Player of the Year as a senior and helped lead the Huskies to
the 1995 National Championship. This video includes an interview with Rizzotti,
as she discusses earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament and what it will be like
to face her alma mater on Sunday.