UConn women's basketball

The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics has announced a series of travel packages and ticket ordering information for the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
The Final Four will be held at the St. Pete Times Forum with the national semifinal games on Sunday, April 6 and the national championship game on Tuesday, April 8.
Today UConn Club members will have the exclusive first opportunity to order travel packages and tickets.
A variety of travel packages are available, including a four-night full package that includes charter airfare with a Saturday departure from Bradley International Airport plus lodging, ground transportation and a Sunday pre-game reception. A four-night land only package is also available.
Game tickets are not included in these packages, but can be purchased at the same time travel is ordered.
UConn Club members can orders these packages in special time slots assigned by donor category on Wednesday. The travel and game tickets may be ordered online on a special link on UConnHuskies.com or by calling 1-888-GO-UCONN.
Donors are encouraged to purchase one of the travel packages offered, as it will assist the University with its NCAA-mandated hotel obligation.
UConn Club time slots for today are:
Legend and Champion – 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
All-American – 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
MVP – 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Golden Husky – 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Director – 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Coach, Assistant Coach, Captain and Husky – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Maya was expected to be named a first team All-America by The Associated Press today. Teammates Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles were likely to be named to either the second or third team. The Big Three was responsible for much of the Huskies’ success this season.
But there was a surprise nugget deep in the All-America announcement: Senior Charde Houston, who has been as reliable this postseason as she has been during any stretch of her career, earned honorable mention All-America honors. The ballots had to be submitted by March 17, which was only days after she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big East tournament. That certainly must have helped her cause.
For a player that has been in and out of Geno Auriemma’s doghouse more than any other that has played for him in his 23 years at UConn, this is a fitting end to her career. And she has certainly played like an All-America-caliber player in the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament, averaging 11.3 points on 68.2 percent shooting from the field, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 24.3 minutes.

Rich

Eight players in the history of the UConn women’s basketball program have been named a first-team All-America by The Associated Press. Diana Taurasi, Nykesha Sales and Kara Wolters were honored twice in their career.
But no player that has ever worn a UConn uniform has been named a first-team All-America as a freshman. Until now. Maya Moore made history Tuesday when she was named to the first team by The Associated Press.
“(Being an All-American) I think is a good reflection of my team’s success because usually when I get individual awards of national caliber my team’s usually won stuff of national caliber as well,’’ Moore said. “So it’s usually a good sign when I get awards like that. That means my team is winning too.’’
Tennessee junior Candace Parker, LSU senior Sylvia Fowles, Stanford senior Candice Wiggins and Oklahoma junior Courtney Paris were also named to the first-team. UConn junior guard Renee Montgomery and sophomore center Tina Charles were each named to the third team.
It is the second time in team history that the Huskies have had three players named among the three All-America teams. Sue Bird (first team), Swin Cash (second team), Taurasi (second team) and Asjha Jones (third team) were honored in 2001-02.
Moore is the just the second freshman to be named an AP first-team All-America, joining Paris in 2006. She is the first UConn player to be named a first-team All-America of any kind since Taurasi was honored for the second straight year in 2004.
“I’m looking at her, being that this is her freshman year, to be one of those people that they talk about 15 years from now when they’re naming that list of great players in college that they’re going to say her name,’’ UConn senior Brittany Hunter said. “It’s a rarity to find someone who plays hard just for the sake of playing hard.’’
The honor further exemplifies the greatness Moore has achieved in her first season playing at the collegiate level. Entering Tuesday’s Greensboro regional final, she was averaging 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks in 29.0 minutes. She led the Huskies in scoring and was second in rebounding, blocks and minutes and third in assists.
Moore became the first freshman in Big East history – male or female – to be named Player of the Year and the first true freshman to be named to the all-conference first team last month. She has established conference freshman records for scoring (651 points) and double-doubles (11, tie) and she has scored at least 20 points in 13 games.
Moore, who needs 44 points to set the UConn single-season scoring record, is also among 17 players listed on the official ballot for the Wooden Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top player.
“I think you get recognized when you’re on a really good team,’’ UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey said. “And I believe that every player on our team that deserves to be recognized will be if we’re successful. It’s a tremendous individual honor, but it’s also a tremendous honor for the team because without everybody else she wouldn’t have the ability to do what she’s done.’’
Moore’s success this season has come in light of losing starters Kalana Greene and Mel Thomas to season-ending knee injuries. She was pressed into a starting role Dec. 21 at San Diego State and has been the difference-maker for the top-ranked Huskies, who had positioned themselves three wins away from winning their sixth national championship.
Moore was averaging 19.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 32.1 minutes in 20 games since Thomas was injured at Syracuse Jan. 15.
“When I think of Maya Moore I think of the word, `Yikes!’ I think that we’ve seen the tip of the iceberg,’’ Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said. “I have an analogy of Maya Moore, and I think that I’ve been around the game long enough to know. When Cheryl Miller came on the scene she was just `It.’ Now, in some regard, Candace (Parker) did the same thing at the University of Tennessee. And I think Maya’s in that same pool of candidates in that she’s going to do so many things that are just going to open doors for women’s basketball and really grow our game.’’

Rich