Huskies, Bears, Aggies, Sun Devils to Invade Trenton
MAAC Sports
Trenton, N.J. - The Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey will become the focus of the women’s basketball world this weekend as the MAAC and Rider University play host to 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Regional action.
On Sunday, March 29, the undefeated Connecticut Huskies (35-0) will take on the California Golden Bears (27-6) in the first regional semifinal at 12:00 p.m. At approximately 2:30 p.m., the Texas A&M Aggies (27-7) will square off against the Arizona State Sun Devils (25-8) to determine the second participant for Tuesday’s regional final. The regional final will tip at 7:00 p.m.
Fans will have their first chance to see the teams on Saturday, March 28 as each team takes part in an hour-long open practice, free to the general public. California will be first to take to the court, starting at 12:00 p.m. At 1:05 p.m., Connecticut takes the floor. Following the Huskies’ session, the floor heats up with the Sun Devils of Arizona State at 2:10 p.m. Texas A&M will close out the day of open practices, starting at 3:15 p.m.
The Connecticut Huskies, BIG EAST regular season and tournament champions, arrive in Trenton after chalking up first- and second-round wins over Vermont and Florida, respectively, in Storrs, Connecticut.
Connecticut is led by sophomore forward Maya Moore, who comes into Trenton averaging 19.0 points per game, along with hauling in 9.1 rebounds per game. Last season, Moore became the first freshman in BIG EAST history to earn Player of the Year honors, an award she won again this season.
Head Coach Geno Auriemma is at the helm of the Huskies for his 24th season, which has included five national championships and nine Final Four appearances. Auriemma became the fastest coach to reach the 600 career win milestone on December 31, 2006, needing only 716 games to meet the mark.
The California Golden Bears of the Pac-10 Conference arrive in the Sweet 16? for the first time in school history, having won their first two games in Los Angeles against Fresno State and Virginia. The team advanced to the semifinals of the Pac-10 Tournament, and finished the regular season tied for second place with fellow Trenton regional competitor Arizona State.
California is led by senior forward Ashley Walker, who comes into regional competition averaging 19.7 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. She is the only player in Cal history to have at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 blocks. Prior to this season, Walker has been named an All-American on two occasions.
Head Coach Joanne Boyle is in her fourth season at California, leading her team to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year. At the beginning of this season, Boyle’s squad achieved the highest ranking in school history, coming in at No. 2 in Athlon Sports magazine. Her 68 wins in her first three seasons eclipsed the 63 win total amassed by the program in the six years prior to her arrival.
The Texas A&M Aggies, members of the Big 12 Conference, find themselves in the Sweet 16? for the second straight year and third time overall. Texas A&M advanced to the championship game of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, with a win over the top-seeded Oklahoma Sooners in the semifinals. They arrive in Trenton by way of South Bend, Indiana, where they earned victories over Evansville and Minnesota.
The Aggies are led by senior captain Danielle Gant, who is averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. Gant was named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2008 and 2009. She became the 21st player in program history to amass 1000 points in her career, and was also the 17th player to reach the 500 rebound milestone. Gant entered the season ranked in the top 10 in five different statistical categories for her career.
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair is in his sixth season in College Station, and takes his team to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year, having reached the Elite Eight for the first time in school history last season. Blair earned his 500th career victory on February 20, 2008, making him the 36th Division I coach to reach that mark. He is also one of only five coaches in NCAA history to take three schools to the NCAA tournament.
The Arizona State Sun Devils are the second team to reach Trenton from the Pac-10, with wins over Georgia and Florida State in the first- and second-rounds in Duluth, Georgia. The Sun Devils finished Pac-10 play tied for second place with California, and were upset in the Pac-10 Tournament by upstart USC.
Arizona State is led by senior guard Briann January, who is averaging 12.0 points per game while dishing out 4.8 assists per game. Now the all-time assists leader at Arizona State, January also was named the first-ever Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. She also entered the season ranked in the top ten in four statistical categories in school history.
Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne is in her 13th season with Arizona State. This is the fifth season in a row that the Sun Devils are in the NCAA Tournament, and the seventh time in Thorne’s tenure. This is also the fifth consecutive season that the team has won 20 or more games, the longest such streak in program history. Thorne has her squad back in the Sweet 16? for the first time since 2004-05.