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UConn Selected to Finish First in BIG EAST Conference in Coaches' Preseason Poll
Bird Tabbed Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year
NEWARK, NJ (October 25) – For the ninth consecutive season, the
University of Connecticut women’s basketball team was selected to
finish first in the BIG EAST Conference in the Coaches’ Preseason
Poll. UConn received 167 points, including 11 of the possible 14
first-place votes. Husky senior point guard
Sue Bird
(Syosset, NY) was also tabbed the Preseason BIG EAST Player of the
Year.
Connecticut, who has won the past eight league regular season and tournament
titles, was selected to finish ahead of 2001 National Champion Notre Dame, who
garnered 155 points and two first-place votes for second place. Rutgers, Boston
College and Villanova rounded out the top five, with the Wildcats receiving the
remaining first-place vote.
The Huskies have placed first in the BIG EAST Coaches’ Preseason Poll since
1992-93. That season Miami was named preseason No. 1 while the Huskies ranked
No. 3. UConn finished the season tied for third place before it went on its
remarkable run of eight straight league regular season championships.
UConn also claimed the 2001-02 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year. Bird, a
two-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman-Cline National Point Guard of the Year
Award, was a unaminous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team. She
was joined on the first team by teammate senior forward
Swin Cash
(McKeesport, PA). Rebekkah Brunson (Georgetown), Becky Gottstein (Boston
College), Trish Juhline (Villanova) and Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame) also were
selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.
Senior forward
Asjha Jones (Piscataway, NJ) and sophomore guard
Diana Taurasi
(Chino, CA), the 2001 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player, represented
Connecticut on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team. Chanivia Broussard
(Miami), Davalyn Cunningham (Rutgers) and Ericka Haney (Notre Dame) were the
other members on the second team.
Jacqueline Batteast of Notre Dame was named 2001-02 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie
of the Year.
Two-time National Champion Connecticut will begin its quest for a third
consecutive Final Four appearance November 9 when it faces Fairfield in the
first round of the Preseason WNIT. UConn is coached by Geno Auriemma, who is in
his 17th season at the helm of the Huskies.
2001-02 Coaches’ Preseason Poll
| Team |
Pts. |
| Connecticut (11) |
167 |
| Notre Dame (2) |
155 |
| Rutgers |
143 |
| Boston College |
125 |
| Villanova (1) |
112 |
| Virginia Tech |
111 |
| Georgetown |
102 |
| Miami |
86 |
| Seton Hall |
75 |
| Syracuse |
59 |
| Providence |
56 |
| Pittsburgh |
41 |
| St. John's |
23 |
| West Virginia |
19 |
2001-02 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Sue Bird, Connecticut
2001-02 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame
2001-02 BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
*Sue Bird, Connecticut, Sr., G, 5-9, Syosset, NY
Rebekkah Brunson, Georgetown, So., F, 6-2, Oxon Hill, MD
Swin Cash, Connecticut, Sr., F, 6-2, McKeesport, PA
Becky Gottstein, Boston College, Sr., F, 6-1, Albany, NY
Trish Juhline, Villanova, Jr., G, 5-10, Havertown, PA
Alicia Ratay, Notre Dame, Jr., G, 5-11, Lake Zurich, IL
*=unaminous selection
2001-02 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Chanivia Broussard, Miami, So., F, 6-0, Miami, FL
Davalyn Cunningham, Rutgers, Sr., F, 6-0, Clinton, MD
Ericka Haney, Notre Dame, Sr., G/F, 6-1, Toledo, OH
Asjha Jones, Connecticut, Sr., F, 6-2, Piscataway, NJ
Diana Taurasi, Connecticut, So., G, 5-11, Chino, CA
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