2003-04 Season Preview THE 2003-04 HUSKIES: Defending Champs Have Sights Set on “Three-peat” BREAKDOWN BY CLASS: SENIORS (3): Maria Conlon, , JUNIORS (4): , Stacey Marron, Jessica Moore, Ashley Valley SOPHOMORES (4): Willnett Crockett, , Barbara Turner, Nicole Wolff NEWCOMERS (2): Kiana Robinson, Liz Sherwood

BREAKDOWN BY POSITIONS: BACKCOURT (8): Maria Conlon, Stacey Marron, Kiana Robinson, Ann Strother, Diana Taurasi, Ashley Valley, Morgan Valley, Nicole Wolff Just when we think we know the standard for excellence in college FRONTCOURT (5): Ashley Battle, women’s , and the University of Connecticut Willnett Crockett, Jessica Moore, decide to raise the bar once again. The 2003-04 season should bring much of the same, featuring the return of the entire roster for the 2003 National Liz Sherwood, Barbara Turner Champions. UConn comes off a 2002-03 season in which it changed the definition of BREAKDOWN BY HEIGHT: the word improbable. En route to the program’s fourth national 5-8 (1): Kiana Robinson championship, the Huskies set a Division I women’s record for most consecutive wins with 70 straight victories. 5-9 (3): Maria Conlon, Overall, the Connecticut tradition is four National Championships, seven Stacey Marron, Ashley Valley Final Fours, 15 straight NCAA Tournament Appearances and 24 BIG EAST 6-0 (5): Ashley Battle, Diana regular season and tournament championships. UConn has always been a Taurasi, Barbara Turner, program rich with tradition and the 2003-04 team will look to continue Connecticut’s dominance in women’s basketball. Morgan Valley, Nicole Wolff 6-2 (2): Willnett Crockett, THE SENIORS Ann Strother Leading the way will be senior guard Diana Taurasi (Chino, Calif.). Taurasi 6-3 (1): Jessica Moore was named the consensus National Player of the Year in 2003 and could become UConn’s second three-time Kodak All-American with another strong 6-4 (1): Liz Sherwood season. In the six games of the 2003 NCAA Tournament, Taurasi averaged 26.2 points per game, including a career-high 35 points in the second BREAKDOWN BY STATE: round, and enters the 2003-04 season with ALASKA (1): Jessica Moore momentum and confidence. Taurasi’s athleticism, versatility and unique court CALIFORNIA (2): Diana Taurasi, vision make her one of the most gifted Willnett Crockett players in the game today. The guard not COLORADO (2): Ann Strother, only led the team in points (17.9 ppg), Liz Sherwood rebounds (6.1 rpg), assists (4.4 apg) and blocks (1.2 bpg) but was also the emotional CONNECTICUT (1): Maria Conlon leader on the court. Taurasi has the FLORIDA (1): Kiana Robinson capability and drive to close out her MASSACHUSETTS (1): Connecticut career with staggering Nicole Wolff numbers and a third national championship under her belt. NEW MEXICO (1): Stacey Marron Joining Taurasi in the 2002-03 OHIO (1): Barbara Turner championship backcourt was guard Maria PENNSYLVANIA (1): Ashley Battle Conlon (Derby, Conn.). Conlon, a VERMONT (2): Ashley Valley, sharpshooter from outside, served as one of UConn’s top reserve guards her first two Morgan Valley seasons at Connecticut before emerging as 17 WWW.UCONNHUSKIES.COM 2003-04 Season Review

a consistent starter in 2002- effective both offensively 03. The guard started 29 and defensively from her games for the Huskies as a position scoring at junior and shared point will and keeping duties with Taurasi. She opponents off the averaged 6.9 points per boards. Moore has game and 3.4 assists per improved her shooting game, and was a major range as well as her on catalyst in UConn’s 2003 court intensity level and Championship after her should be one of the top performance of 11-points, performers in the BIG six assists and no turnovers. EAST for the 2003-04 As a senior, Conlon will be campaign. looked to for leadership and Battle, the 2002 BIG composure on the floor, as EAST Defensive Player of well as support in the the Year, was UConn’s scoring column. greatest weapon off the Just as Taurasi is the bench and was the most emotional leader on the athletic student-athlete floor, senior Morgan Valley (Colchester, Vt.) is the emotional on the floor. She raised leader everywhere else. Valley has been hampered by foot the energy level of any game the moment she entered the injuries throughout her career, but her determination and contest and was called upon for a or an offensive love for the game has made her an integral part of the when a big play was needed. In 2002-03, she squad. Behind the scenes Valley is the model student- averaged 8.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. athlete striving to improve She had a career-high seven steals and 17 points at daily, and during the 2002- Georgetown (2/26/03) and was UConn’s defensive specialist 03 championship campaign throughout NCAA play. Battle’s speed and ball handling skills she was able to contibute make her dangerous around the perimeter, however, her more than ever before to strength also makes her a scoring threat inside. the success of the Huskies. Ashley Valley (Colchester, Vt.), the younger of the Valley Valley started in 18 games sisters, has been a reserve point guard for the last two for UConn and made seasons and continues to increase her playing time each significant contributions off year. She played valuable minutes versus Notre Dame (2/ the bench in 16 others. She 23/03) and Providence (3/1/03) and is one of UConn’s most grabbed a career-high aggressive defenders. Valley saw action in 31 games for the seven rebounds during a Huskies and is looking to become a steady contributor in strong showing versus 2003-04. Rutgers (1/8/03) and had UConn’s only walk-on, junior guard Stacey Marron a season-high nine points (Albuquerque, N.M.), has continued to improve and impress versus St. Joseph’s (12/22/ the Husky faithful. Marron sees limited time off the bench 02). Valley, who has but makes the most of her minutes with a great shooter’s improved in all areas of the touch and quick passes. Marron saw action in 28 games in game, is hoping to make the 2003-04 season her most 2002-03 and finished shooting 10-of-17 from behind the memorable yet. three-point arc. One of UConn’s hardest workers day-in and day-out, Marron plays an important role for the Huskies. THE JUNIORS The 2003-04 THE SOPHOMORES junior class is led by a UConn’s freshman class of pair of versatile student 2002-03 contributed athletes in Jessica immediately and matured Moore (Palmer, Alaska) quickly en route to its first and Ashley Battle championship at UConn. As (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Both sophomores, the four redshirted the 2000-01 student-athletes will be relied campaign and have heavily upon for continued benefitted a great deal success. from the extra year of Willnett Crockett (Harbor experience. Moore City, Calif.) is one of the started all 38 games in quickest centers in the 2002-03 and finished as country and is already relied UConn’s second leading heavily upon for her footwork scorer (10.6 ppg) and around the basket. Coming rebounder (5.9 rpg). off the bench, Crockett She was extremely picked up some of UConn’s

2003-04 UCONN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 18 2003-04 Season Review biggest rebounds, both Moore and Crockett defensively and offensively, giving the Huskies one during the Final Four. She of the most averaged 5.7 points per game formidable frontcourts and 4.6 rebounds per game in the country. for the Huskies. Her strength Kiana Robinson and speed make her just (Brandon, Fla.) will another weapon the Huskies join UConn’s can use around the basket. backcourt as a 5-8 Ann Strother (Castle Rock, guard. Robinson is Colo.) was the only other deceptively quick and Husky besides Moore to start can score from all 38 games. She was named anywhere on the floor. to the 2003 NCAA Final Four She averaged 23 All-Tournament team for her points, seven assists outstanding play in the title and 10 rebounds per game. What the nation saw game as a senior at Strother do against the Laurinburg Tennessee for the Institute in North championship is what the Carolina. A WBCA Huskies saw day-in and day-out. Strother averaged 10.1 Honorable Mention points per game and 3.1 assists per game as the third leading All-American, Robinson’s style of play will fit nicely within scorer on the squad. She is a relentless defender and her the UConn offense. size and quickness makes her impossible to guard. Another tough scorer to guard is forward Barbara Turner THE SCHEDULE (Cleveland, Ohio). Turner averaged 10.0 points per game The Huskies will be in search of its third consecutive and 5.8 rebounds per game during her rookie campaign. national championship title when opening the 2003-04 She began the season as a spark off the bench, however, season. UConn will begin the season with four straight she started all six tournament games for the Huskies and home games beginning with Western Michigan on averaged 9.5 points per game during UConn’s title run. Turner November 23, Florida State on November 25, Holy Cross is one of the quickest and most creative scorers in the league on November 30 and finally Sienna on December 2. The and should be one of Connecticut’s top scoring threats as a Huskies will travel back out west, as they did in 2000, sophomore. Turner and Strother both competed on the 2003 taking on Pepperdine on December 5 and Southern Pan American Games squad this summer for USA Basketball. California on December 7. Nicole Wolff sat out the 2002-03 championship season UConn will return home to the Hartford Civic Center on due to stress fractures after starting the first 10 games. She December 18, taking on Arizona State and then will travel proved herself immediately and the Huskies are looking to the home of UConn’s 2000 Championship title, forward to her becoming a regular contributor. Wolff has Philadelphia, when St. Joseph’s will host UConn on one of the nicest shooting touches in the nation and will be December 21. The Huskies will close out the New Year on another offensive option for Connecticut. December 29, at home, taking on Atlantic Coast Conference for North Carolina State. THE NEWCOMERS One of the hardest challenges of the season, and the The Huskies have the luxury of adding two more talented Huskies first nationally televised (CBS) game of the season, players to a championship lineup that didn’t lose anyone. the come to Hartford, in a rematch from The newcomers chose Connecticut because of its rich their 2003 loss to UConn. championship tradition and Connecticut will begin BIG EAST play on January 7 at are looking to become part West Virginia, starting an eight-game BIG EAST schedule of its championship history. to close out January. Included in the month’s schedule are Liz Sherwood (Castle Rock, home games against Georgetown (Jan. 10), Boston College Co.), a high school teammate (Jan. 17), Rutgers (Jan. 19) and St. John’s (Jan. 31). The of Strother, is a 6-4 center Huskies will be traveling to Notre Dame (Jan. 13), Seton who brings size and strength Hall (Jan. 24) and Virginia Tech (Jan. 27). to the floor. Sherwood helped Opening February, UConn will travel to nemesis lead Highlands Ranch High Tennessee on February 5, and will be televised on espn2. School to back-to-back state Connecticut will play host to BIG EAST school’s Miami (Feb. titles and averaged 27.0 ppg, 8), Pittsburgh (Feb. 17), Providence (Feb. 25) and West 11.0 rpg, 8.0 bpg as a senior. Virginia (March 2), will taking to the road against Syracuse A 2003 WBCA, McDonald’s, (Feb. 11), Rutgers (Feb. 14), Boston College (Feb. 21) and Parade First Team All- and Villanova (Feb. 28). American, she was named the 2003 Rocky Mountain News 5A State Player of the Year. Sherwood will join

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Athlon Sports Lindy’s Magazine Women’s Basketball Slam Magazine Preseason Top 25 Preseason Top 25 News Service Preseason Top 15 Preseason Top 25 1. Connecticut 1. Connecticut 1. Texas 2. Duke 2. Duke 1. Connecticut 2. Duke 3. Kansas State 3. Texas 2. Duke 3. Connecticut 4. Stanford 4. Tennessee 3. Texas 4. Kansas State 5. Texas 5. Kansas State 4. Texas Tech 5. Stanford 6. Penn State 6. LSU 5. Purdue 6. Tennessee 7. LSU 7. Purdue 6. Kansas State 7. Penn State 8. Texas Tech 8. Texas Tech 7. Tennessee 8. Louisiana State 9. Tennessee 9. Stanford 8. LSU 9. Georgia 10. North Carolina 10. Penn State 9. Minnesota 10. Oklahoma 11. Purdue 11. Minnesota 10. UC-Santa Barbara 11. Texas Tech 12. Louisiana Tech 12. Georgia 11. Georgia 12. UC-Santa Barbara 13. Notre Dame 13. North Carolina 12. Ohio State 13. Utah 14. Georgia 14. Louisiana Tech 13. Stanford 14. Rutgers 15. Virginia 15. Utah 14. Rutgers 15. Purdue 16. Michigan State 16. UC-Santa Barbara 15. Penn State 17. Ohio State 17. Arizona 16. Boston College 18. DePaul 18. Notre Dame 17. Notre Dame 19. Rutgers 19. Vanderbilt 18. George Washington 20. Utah 20. Virginia 19. Louisiana Tech 21. Minnesota 21. TCU 20. Arizonia 22. TCA 22. Oklahoma 21. North Carolina 23. Arizona 23. Rutgers 22. TCU 24. Virginia Tech 24. Ohio State 23. Cincinnati 25. Southwest Missouri St. 25. Washington 24. Vanderbilt 25. Utah Diana Taurasi

Women’s Basketball News Service Preseason All-America Teams First Team Diana Taurasi Sr. G/F Connecticut Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Teams Sr. G Duke First Team Sr. C Kansas State Alana Beard Sr. G Duke Sr. G Houston Sr. G Penn State Kelly Mazzante Sr. G Penn State Nicole Ohlde Sr. F/C Kansas State Sr. G Minnesota Sr. C Georgetown Sr. F Stanford Seimone Augustas So. G LSU Diana Taurasi Sr. G/F Connecticut Sr. G Purdue Stacy Stephens Sr. F Texas

Second Team Lindy’s Magazine Preseason All-America Teams Nicole Powell Sr. F Stanford Sr. F Kansas State First Team Sr. F Purdue Diana Taurasi Sr. G Connecticut Jr. G Mississippi St. Alana Beard Sr. G Duke So. G Rutgers Nicole Powell Sr. F Stanford Ann Strother So. G Connecticut Shereka Wright Sr. F Purdue Tera Bjorklund Sr. C Colorado Nicole Ohlde Sr. C Kansas State Sr. C Florida Sr. F Arkansas Cathy Joens Sr. G G. Washington

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