e-Zine December 2005

by INSIDE SCOOP™… College Hoops, Lifestyle Tensions, TV Viewing, Eyes on the Strips and WNBA Off-Season Moves.

Remember when New Mexico was According to the Associated Press an endangered species a few years report of the game, guard Katie back as a women’s Montgomery and her team watched program? the film of that setback and figured out what they needed to do with an Interesting what happens when intense, smothering defense, to cooler heads prevail as the saying reverse the outcome. goes. New Mexico’s success story is It’s even more fascinating when similar to Oklahoma, which also heads who have commitments to had once been targeted for progress take charge. extinction. The Sooners since went on to become a viable product and LOBO LESSONS after Sherri Coale became coach, The Lobos have become a credible the team jumped five levels and program. Now, they’ve raised their became the national runners-up in level up a few notches. 2002 to the unbeaten Connecticut team in a title game that went to Coach Don Flanagan’s team pulled the wire. one of the season’s early shockers by beating Texas, 76-68 at Texas. This time around, Oklahoma is on That effort enabled New Mexico to the upswing again after going pick up where the Lobos debuted through several rebuilding seasons. last season in the national rankings. The Sooners advanced to the Preseason NIT title game at the Apparently, the team wants more. University of Connecticut, and on Tuesday night, beat TCU in On Wednesday night, No. 21 Lobos Norman, 77-63. shocked No. 10 Minnesota, 62-44, after the Gophers had beaten them The story has been 6-foot-4 by 30 points a year ago. freshman Courtney Paris, who had 22 points and 17 rebounds. e-Zine Page 2

TOUGH TERRAPINS Later this month, Georgia visits along with Tennessee besides the Surprising to some, but not to us, is local Big Five battle with Villanova, the early season success of which has also raised some Maryland, which is back in the Top eyebrows with a win over 10 after a near upset of Tennessee. Mississippi in Rhode Island’s tournament. The Terrapins are loaded with the likes of Shay Doron, Laura Harper, But the bigger story in the City of and Crystal Langhorne. Young and Brotherly Love is the resurgence of deep, Maryland adds to the mix of St. Joseph’s, which is 4-0 after what should be a wild race in the suffering through a 7-23 misery a Atlantic Coast Conference year ago due to graduations and involving Duke and North Carolina. injuries. A promising freshman Virginia might be heard from, also, class and a healthy Hawks squad before the competition concludes. has helped the turnaround.

In Philadelphia, Temple has “I don’t even look at last year’s continued its success of last films,” St. Joseph’s coach Cindy season with an early triumph of Griffin said of her team preparation Oregon’s tournament made for opponents. “We’re so different possible by a win over the host now and everything I would see Ducks in what has been considered would only be negative.” a hostile arena over the years in the Northwest. Meanwhile, before teams slip into final exams, some high powered Coach ’s squad begins clashes are just ahead. to get more tested, Saturday, when Florida visits. The Owls lost to Thursday night, Texas visits coach Carolyn Peck’s team a year Tennessee and the game will air on ago and since have won 30 straight ESPN2. In a game between regular season games around a 1-1 conference heavyweights, George performance in the NCAA Washington will be at Villanova. tournament.

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RECOMMENDED TV VIEWING EYES ON THE STRIPES

On Sunday, the Deuce continues In a move to improve officiating in with an intriguing match-up of the women’s collegiate game, a Texas Tech at Penn State, only in facet that has consistently been that both programs have dropped considered a detriment to from the high levels of the national progress, Mary Struckhoff has been elite. named NCAA National Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officiating. There is also the backdrop, sure to be touched by the network, that Struckhoff, according to the NCAA WNBA All-Star , release, has served as assistant who recently announced she is director of the National Federation gay, once played for the Red of High Schools (NFHS) since 1999, Raiders, and Penn State Rene after three years as an assistant Portland has become involved in executive at the Illinois High controversy by being accused by a School Association (IHSA). former player of being kicked-off the team because of being As assistant director of the NFHS, perceived as a lesbian. Struckhoff serves as editor and national rules interpreter for On Monday night, another ESPN2 basketball and softball; staff telecast has North Carolina visiting liaison for the NFHS Officials Connecticut in the Jimmy V Association; coordinator of the Women’s Basketball Classic. NFHS Officials Education Program and workshop organization for the LSU visits Ohio State, also on NFHS summer meeting and ESPN2, on Dec. 15 National Athletic Administrators’ Conference. We’ll make a special appearance later this month as soon as we get “Mary is a knowledgeable and the overall TV schedule including committed educator who has other network games that ESPN balanced experience in education, and the NCAA compiles. officiating and administration,” said Sue Donohoe, vice-president for Division I Women’s Basketball.

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“Her core values align with the she’ll continue with her ESPN NCAA’s strategic plan and the broadcasting duties. vision for women’s basketball officiating. She is sure to bring Other additions in the expansion women’s basketball officiating to a draft by the Sky include former new level.” Rutgers star Chelsea Newton, one of the top rookies, who helped the Struckhoff replaces Marcy Weston, Sacramento Monarchs to their first who is retiring from the position. title.

WNBA NEWS Guards Keisha Brown (Houston) and Elaine Powell (Detroit) were Well, it’s down time, but the pro also picked off rosters, and power world continues to ripple. forward Brooke Wyckoff was a post player choice off the runner-up On Monday, the board of governors Connecticut Sun among the 13 will meet to vote some proposed selections. changes in the look of WNBA competition next season. One item That’s it for now, but we’ll return up for a vote is a switch from 20- sooner as the news warrants. minute halves to quarters (Remember the ABL?). Another is *************************************** reducing the shot clock from 30 Who Should We Select as the 2005 seconds to 24. Athlete of the Year?

What Were the Most Important The new Chicago Sky pulled a Moments in Sports in 2005? rabbit out of the hat with the news that Stacey Dales Schuman has You Tell Us. Write to us at: come out of retirement, although [email protected]

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