Here’s a press release from the UConn athletic communications department concerning the “Huskies of Honor” women’s basketball.
STORRS, Conn. (Dec. 2, 2009) — The 1999-00 University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, which won the 2000 NCAA National Championship, will be recognized as “UConn Huskies of Honor” at halftime of the UConn-Stanford game on December 23 at the XL Center in Hartford.
The Connecticut-Stanford matchup tips off at 5:30 p.m. (ET) and will be televised to a national audience on ESPN2. The current Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ rankings have UConn ranked at No. 1 and Stanford as the No. 2 team nationally.
The “Huskies of Honor” program, which pays visible tribute in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion to the top individual and team achievements in UConn men’s and women’s basketball history, was launched in 2006.
The UConn women’s basketball “Huskies of Honor” inaugural class was recognized in December 2006 and included 10 First Team All-Americans and Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma.
The honoring of UConn’s 2000 National Championship team will be the second induction of an entire team (players and coaches) into Connecticut’s “Huskies of Honor” program. The 1995 NCAA National Championship UConn women’s basketball squad was inducted into the “Huskies of Honor” last season.
Following the official ceremony in Hartford to honor the 2000 NCAA National Champions, a four-by-five foot panel will be on permanent display at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, recognizing Connecticut’s run to the 2000 NCAA National Title – the second in the program’s history.
In addition to the large panel honoring the team that will be displayed adjacent to the scoreboard on the East end of Gampel Pavilion, the team will be displayed with a plaque located at the lobby level of Gampel Pavilion. The plaque will include a group photo of the 13 players and four coaches who were members of the 2000 NCAA National Championship-winning squad.
The 1999-00 Connecticut women’s basketball team rolled to the 2000 NCAA National Championship with a 36-1 overall record. After posting a 27-1 regular season mark and winning the Big East Conference regular season title at an unblemished 16-0, UConn went on to add the Big East Tournament crown and entered the NCAA Tournament 30-1. Connecticut then registered six NCAA tournament victories, including a 71-52 triumph over Tennessee in the NCAA National Championship game at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.
En route to winning its second national championship in 2000, the UConn women’s basketball team was ranked No. 1 in the nation by both the Associated Press and USA Today for the entire 1999-00 campaign.
UConn led the nation in both field goal percentage shooting (.539) and field goal percentage defense (.339).
Head Coach Geno Auriemma was honored as National Coach of the Year, junior guard Shea Ralph was honored as the 2000 NCAA Final Four “Most Outstanding Player” and was also named winner of the Honda Award, which is presented to the top collegiate basketball player in the country.
The 17 members of the 1999-00 team who will be inducted as a group into the “Huskies of Honor” program on December 23 include: Head Coach Geno Auriemma, Associate Head Coach Chris Dailey, Assistant Coach Tonya Cardoza, Assistant Coach Jamelle Elliott, Stacy Hansmeyer, Paige Sauer, Svetlana Abrosimova, Marci Czel, Shea Ralph, Christine Rigby, Kelly Schumacher, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, Keirsten Walters, Tamika Williams and Kennitra Johnson.
Tickets for the UConn vs. Stanford game on December 23 at the XL Center are available at Ticketmaster.com or by phoning 1-800-745-3000.
