The Jen Rizzotti Bobble Head was released to the public prior to the Hawks game against Marist on December 7. Hundreds of people came out to get their very own bobble head of the UConn great. Watch the video to the left to see all the places that the Jen Rizzotti Bobble Head made its debut in the days leading up to its release.

Send in your photos and short videos of where your Jen Rizzotti Bobble Head has been for the next update.

Caribbean Challenge Wrap-up

The women’s basketball team may not have come away with the results they were hoping for on the court, but the Hawks had a chance to bond as a team in preparation for another run at the 2011 America East Championship.

Below are all the videos from the Hawks trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico and the Aventura Palace Resort.

Coach Rizzotti Holds a Clinic for Glastonbury Youth Special Olympics Basketball Team

On Monday night (November 8) Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti and Howie led a clinic in Glastonbury with the Glastonbury Special Olympic Youth Team. The Glastonbury Special Olympic team is currently training for the Holiday Sports Classic scheduled for November 20 & 21 at Quinnipiac University. Coach Rizzotti worked on defensive and passing skills with approximately 25 youth at the Naubuc Elementary School.

Women's Basketball Weekly Video Update November 5, 2010

West Hartford, CT – This week’s women’s basketball blog features highlights from the 2010 Tip-a-Hawk Dinner held on Thursday, November 4 at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Hartford. The Tip-a-Hawk Dinner is the women’s basketball team’s primary fundraising event and raises more than $20,000 annually to support the team’s goals of winning an America East Championship.

Within this week’s video update is an interview with senior Mary Silvia about the dinner as well as player remarks given by senior Jackie Smith during the night’s festivities. Jackie talks about the importance of fundraising and how the money raised helps the women’s team achieve the level of success they have.

Weekly video updates will continue throughout the season and will touch on many different topics. Do you have an idea or a question you would like to ask a coach or player? If so, email athletics@hartford.edu with your question and stay tuned for the answer.

SPECIAL POST: President Clinton Leaves A Message for the Hawks Women's Basketball Team

On Sunday, October 31 the University of Hartford welcomed former President Bill Clinton for a Democratic rally for Gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy. The rally was held in the Sports Center and members of the women’s basketball team, knowing that President Clinton would be using the women’s basketball lounge as a staging area, left a message for the former President. The message read:

Dear Mr. Clinton,

We hope you enjoy your day in the Reich Family Pavilion. Please come back to watch the Lady Hawks Basketball Team in action!!!

Sincerely,
Hartford Women’s Basketball Team


Just prior to President Clinton taking the stage in support of Malloy he noticed the message and left one of his own for the women’s team. President Clinton’s message read:

Look Forward to it!
Thanks,
Bill Clinton
10-31-10

Where Are They Now: Checking in with former Hartford guard Allison (Macca) Reyes!

The newest feature on the Hartford Hawks Women’s Basketball Blog returns for its newest installment. The Where Are They Now section will be updated every few weeks with an update from a former member of the Hartford women’s basketball team. Cedric Quackenbush, women’s basketball manager, will catch up with former Hawks and provide an update on their life after basketball. If you have a question or a possible topic for a future Where Are They Now feature, email athletics@hartford.edu.

Where Are They Now: Checking in with former Hartford guard Allison (Macca) Reyes!

It’s been eleven year’s since Allison Reyes (formerly Macca) put on a Hartford jersey and stepped onto the basketball court for Hawks. Heading into her senior season, which also served as the first year for head coach Jen Rizzotti in 1999-2000, Reyes wasn’t sure what to expect. When she returned back to campus for the fall of her final college season, she and her teammates were greeted with a new set of standards and expectations from their new coach.

“Looking back I remember how hard Jen (Rizzotti) worked to get to know all of us on a personal level off of the court and it made embracing her very easy,” Reyes said in a recent interview. “We were all very excited to have her and she was received well by the team. That year was an all around great experience.”

Her playing days may be over, but she has still managed to stay involved with the sport she loves. After her graduation from the University of Hartford with degrees in both math and education, Reyes served as a graduate assistant coach at Hartford in 2001.

She relied on that experience when she took over as the head coach for the varsity girl’s basketball team at Ledyard High School in Connecticut in 2006 while also teaching math at Wheeler High School in Stonington. In four years as head coach, Reyes transformed Ledyard from a one win team in her first season to a team that went to the state tournament in two of the past four years.

“It was tough to get the players to buy into the work ethic and intensity that I brought with me from my playing and coaching days at Hartford,” said Reyes of her experience at Ledyard. “The first year was very challenging but over time the girls bought into it and it turned into a great experience.”

While teaching at Wheeler, Reyes had the opportunity to teach current Hawks junior Keyokah Mars-Garrick in the classroom. “She was one of my favorite teachers,” said Mars-Garrick when asked about having Reyes as a teacher. “She was really good at getting through to her students and made class really interesting and fun.”

Despite a busy schedule which also includes coaching varsity girls lacrosse, Reyes still enjoys following the Hawks and say’s she’s not at all surprised about the level of success Hartford has reached over the past years. In the past, she has brought her high school team’s to games and still tries to follow them online.

This past spring she and her husband Michael welcomed their first daughter Ella on March 10th. Reyes plans to take a break from coaching this year to enjoy more time with her daughter and her husband, who also serves as the varsity boy’s basketball coach at Stonington High School.

Women's Basketball Weekly Update with Nikkia Smith

This week’s women’s basketball blog features an interview with sophomore forward Nikkia Smith.

Nikkia discusses the differences of being a sophomore on the team and also provide an update on how practice is going. Nikkia also provides a unique look into the team’s recent trip to a high adventure ropes course at Camp Jewel.

Weekly video updates will continue throughout the season and will touch on many different topics. Do you have an idea or a question you would like to ask a coach or player? If so, email athletics@hartford.edu with your question and stay tuned for the answer.

Senior Amanda Weaver's Thoughts on Midnight Mania 2010

The University of Hartford men’s and women’s basketball teams officially kicked off the 2010-11 season at the annual Midnight Mania held on Friday, October 15 at the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. After introductions to the crowd of approximately 1,600 students and fans, the Hawks were treated to a special performance by special guest host Jamie Drastick of his hit new song “You Just Like My Car.”

Check out the video on the right for senior Amanda Weaver’s thoughts on her final Midnight Mania as a Hartford Hawk and for a quick look at Jamie Drastik’s live performance.

Hawks Picked to Finish Second, Jackie Smith Named to Preseason All-Conference Team

The University of Hartford women’s basketball team was picked to finish second overall in a preseason poll of the league coaches, while the head coaches also picked senior Jackie Smith as one of seven players on the preseason All-Conference team.

The Hawks return two of three starters from the 2009-10 team including both Smith and Ruthanne Doherty who earned postseason honors on the All-Conference Third Team and All-Rookie Team, respectively. Smith finished the season averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 assists-per-game, which both lead all returning players. Doherty returns after averaging 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds-per-game as a rookie who started 21 of the 32 games.

Women's Basketball Weekly Video Update with Alyssa Englert

This week’s women’s basketball blog features an interview with freshman guard Alyssa Englert.

Alyssa discusses the transition from high school to college, adapting to college practices and getting to know her new teammates. We also have a chance to learn a little about Alyssa and what she likes to do outside of basketball.

Weekly video updates will continue throughout the season and will touch on many different topics. Do you have an idea or a question you would like to ask a coach or player? If so, email athletics@hartford.edu with your question and stay tuned for the answer.

Photo Day with the Hawks

The Hawks had their annual photo day on Thursday afternoon. Watch the video to see some of the new pictures as they were taken and some of the behind the scenes footage. Be sure to check HartfordHawks.com to see the complete photo gallery once its posted.

Women’s Basketball Pre-season Underway

The women's basketball team kicked off the 2010-11 season Tuesday with its first official full-team practice. The Hawks return a pair of starters from the 2009-10 cast, which includes senior point guard Jackie Smith and sophomore Ruthanne Doherty, who both earned post season honors last year.

Smith will look to guide the Hawks back to the America East Championship, after leading the team to its first ever undefeated conference campaign in its 34 year history. Doherty will have large shoes to fill, needing to step up following the loss of the 2010 America East Player of the Year Diana Delva, and the Defensive Player of the Year Erica Beverly.

The women’s basketball team will spend the next six weeks preparing for the 2010-11 season opener against Central Connecticut State University. The season is scheduled to tip-off in New Britain, Conn. on Friday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m.

Season tickets for the 2010-11 season are still available for as low as $70. Contact the Malcolm & Brenda Berman Athletics Ticket Office at (860) 768-HAWK (4-2-9-5) or email tickets@hartford.edu for more information or to reserve your season tickets.

Flight Zone Hosts Pre-Season Picnic on Tuesday

It may have been overcast and gloomy out on Tuesday afternoon, but at the University of Hartford Sports Center the members of the Flight Zone, the official Fan Club of the University of Hartford Women’s Basketball Team, were all smiles. The Flight Zone hosts an annual pre-season picnic, which gives members a chance to interact with the players and coaches, specifically with the intent of getting to know the newest members of the Hawks program. For more information about the Flight Zone or to become a member contact Chris Sanford, Administrative Assistant for the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, at (860) 768-4653 or email Chris at csanford@hartford.edu. Also, check out the official Flight Zone website at www.flightzone.org.

Where Are They Now: Checking in with former Hartford point guard Courtney Gomez!

The newest feature on the Hartford Hawks Women’s Basketball Blog has arrived. The Where Are They Now section will be updated every few weeks with an update from a former member of the Hartford women’s basketball team. Cedric Quackenbush, women’s basketball manager, will catch up with former Hawks and provide an update on their life after basketball. If you have a question or a possible topic for a future Where Are They Now feature, email athletics@hartford.edu.

Where Are They Now: Checking in with former Hartford point guard Courtney Gomez!

When former Hartford women’s basketball player Courtney Gomez suited up for the Hawks between 2004 and 2008, she helped the Hawks win three America East championships and two NCAA tournament games throughout her tenure. Her passion, leadership and teamwork enabled her to blossom into a relentless point-guard and team captain in her senior year.

Those same qualities are now helping Courtney blossom in a world off of the basketball court in a field in which she is putting her strengths as a leader on display. After spending two years studying at the University of Hartford following her college basketball career, she graduated in 2009 with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. This spring Courtney began working for Ardor Health Solutions, a traveling company based out of Coral Springs, Fla. Now working as a Traveling Physical Therapist, she is placed in a working assignment for 13 weeks anywhere in the country she chooses. She is currently halfway through her first assignment in Austin, Texas.

"I love helping people recover and get back to the activities that they enjoy doing,” said Gomez in a recent interview. “I absolutely love Austin. It’s one of my favorite cities that I’ve ever been too.”

Although she admits adjusting to Austin’s high temperatures has been challenging, they haven’t prevented her from getting out and enjoying the city. Recently, she completed a triathlon and is still competing in a recreational basketball league.

After her time in Austin, Courtney plans on spending a couple of years completing assignments in Denver, Seattle, California and Oregon before working her way back to the east coast to cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and New York City.

“Right now I’m enjoying traveling, meeting new people and experiencing new and exciting things,” added Gomez. “I plan on using this traveling experience to find an area that I will end up focusing in.”

When asked to look back at her experience as a Hartford basketball player and pick out a favorite memory, she admitted there were just too many for her to choose from.

“I can’t give just one fond memory because I obviously have so many! I think the best part about being a part of the team is the relationships that I have now. I am still friends with amazing people on the teams I played for. I miss the coaches and my teammates and sometimes I sit and think of how I will never have that kind of experience again.”

Women's Basketball Weekly Video Update with Mary Silvia

This week’s women’s basketball blog features an interview with senior guard Mary Silvia.

Mary discusses returning to school for her senior season, receiving her 2010 championship ring as well as talking about her goals for her final campaign with the Hawks. Mary also talks about the 2010 Women’s Basketball Golf Tournament held this past Monday and the importance of the fundraising events held by the women’s basketball team.

Weekly video updates will continue throughout the season and will touch on many different topics. Do you have an idea or a question you would like to ask a coach or player? If so, email athletics@hartford.edu with your question and stay tuned for the answer.

11th Annual Hartford Hawks Women's Basketball Golf Tournament

The University of Hartford women’s basketball team held their 11th annual Hartford Hawks Women’s Basketball Golf Tournament at Blue Fox Run in Avon on Monday. The annual golf tournament is a key fundraising event that helps the women’s basketball team travel across the nation to play the best competition. The success over the past 11 years of the golf tournament has helped support a team bonding trip to Italy and two trips to Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Classic, which the Hawks won in 2007.

This year more than 80 golfers came out to the course, but only one foursome can win the title. The 2010 Hartford Hawks Women’s Basketball Golf Tournament winners were Bob Fiondella, George Crowle, John Coury and Joe Petrone. Check HartfordHawks.com for updates on the 2011 golf tournament.

Women's Basketball Weekly Video Update with Keyokah Mars-Garrick

This week’s women’s basketball blog features an interview with junior forward Keyokah Mars-Garrick.

Keyokah discusses her return to school and the beginning of classes. She also talks about last year’s success and this seasons team goals as well as talking about the beginning of fall practices and individual workouts.

Weekly video updates will continue throughout the season and will touch on many different topics. Do you have an idea or a question you would like to ask a coach or player? If so, email athletics@hartford.edu with your question and stay tuned for the answer.

Women's Team Honored at Halftime on Men's Soccer Game

The women's basketball team was recently recognized during halftime of the men's soccer home opener against Boston University. The team was honored for their success on the court last season, including a 27-5 overall record, an undefeated record in conference play, the program's first ever national ranking and first ever at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, among others.

Women's Basketball Blog Now Features Weekly Video Updates

The women’s basketball blog has returned and will now feature weekly video updates with the coaches and players. The first weekly update includes an interview with Coach Rizzotti.

Rizzotti discusses the student-athletes’ return to campus for the fall 2010 semester as well as talking about summer workouts and the beginning of fall practices.

The weekly video updates will continue throughout the season and will touch on many different topics. Do you have an idea or a question you would like to ask a coach or player? If so, email athletics@hartford.edu with your question and stay tuned for the answer.

US Wins GOLD

After three weeks of trials, practices, scrimmages, and pool play, the Gold Medal game finally arrived. We watched Brazil come from behind on Saturday against Canada to earn a spot in the Gold Medal game. We defeated Chile in the other semi-final to advance to a much anticipated day of competition. It was hard to find a way to challenge our players after winning our first 4 games by a 40 point or more margin. Plus we had played Brazil twice already so we decided to give them an opportunity to come up with their own game scout as well as game goals so that they would have some accountability in the preparation.

You could see the positive energy of the players throughout the day. We took them to IHOP for a gold medal breakfast and after our scout session we headed over to our last shootaround of the tournament. I think the players were just as excited to be going home as they were to play the game. We had all been in Colorado Springs since June 7th so it was hard to blame them. Many of the player’s families came out to watch the tournament and the stands were filled with anticipation of the culmination of the process as well.

Whenever you coach a team like this, you never know what kind of mix of players you’re going to get. Before I arrived I was nervous that it would be difficult to build chemistry with so many different players from different backgrounds in such a short amount of time. So on the last day, I couldn’t have been more proud of the TEAM we put together. We progressed so much as basketball players, as people and as a team. It was fun to watch things click for this team and see the excitement on their faces when they realized how great they could be. Don’t get me wrong, there were times I had to remind them not to settle or worry about the margin of victory. I challenged them to work to be the best version of themselves and compete against that. And for the most part, they did.

This is the first gold medal in their young careers. I hope there will be many more to come and I’ll be proud to have been a small part of it. It’s exciting to think that there may have been a future Olympian on this team so you can bet I’ll be watching their careers from afar, rooting for their success. As for me, I gained a great deal of experience and will be excited for my next opportunity to coach the U19 World Championship team next summer.

For all that followed, thank you. I hope you enjoyed the experience as well. Now it’s time to get back to Hartford and start getting ready for the 2010-2011 season with the Hawks!

It's Game Time --- After a Little Fun at Pikes Peak

USA Basketball's FIBA Championships Website

I've been in Colorado Springs for 15 days now and the tournament is about to begin. Today is our last day of practice before our first game vs. Argentina tomorrow (Wednesday @ 5:45 p.m. MST). We had some great opportunities to scrimmage some of the teams that arrived in Colorado Springs early.

Chile and Brazil were the first to arrive. Despite having no one over six feet tall, Chile was feisty and played hard but we had a considerable rebounding advantage. They ran good offense however and showed our post players how in international basketball they really need to be ready to defend on the perimeter. Our players made fast friends with them in the dorms because of their room proximity as well as their open friendliness. They speak a dialect similar to Spanish so they seem to be able to communicate well.

Brazil will most likely be the toughest competition in our pool so getting a chance to see them early was beneficial. They are athletic and passionate. They cheer hard for each other and have a lot of pride in playing for their country. It was good for our players to see. Although we got out to a sizable lead, Brazil's press caused some problems for us late and showed us another area we needed to work on -- handling pressure.

Then on Sunday, we scrimmaged Canada who is the favorite to win the Group A. Many of their players will end up on Division I programs in the US so they play the most similar to us. The game was close early, but our full court pressure and athleticism wore them down in the end.

We played that scrimmage against Canada at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. It was good for our players to see families at the base who had mothers, fathers, husbands and wives overseas fighting for our country. Sometimes they need a reminder that there are more important things than the mall, video games and texting.

After two weeks of double sessions, we gave the players a much deserved afternoon off yesterday. We took the Cog Railway up to the top of Pikes Peak to give the team a chance to see something outside of the Olympic training center. It is the highest cog train in the world and climbs to over 14000 feet. At the top, you can see four different states and over 30 different peaks.

My family arrived Saturday, so my mom and my boys came along for the ride. Holden and Conor were of course fascinated by the train. The players seemed a little bored until we reached Windy Point and they were able to really see the breathtaking view that inspired Katherine Lee Bates' song "America the Beautiful." Then the cameras came out and the sweatshirts went on. The top of the mountain was about 35 degrees so after bundling up, stocking up on snacks and trinkets, we made our way back down to the warmth of Manitou Springs.

It's been a great ride so far, but the best is about to begin. Opening ceremonies for the FIBA Americas tournament is tomorrow at 5:30pm and our first game starts right after. Pool play will consist of games against Argentina, Brazil and Puerto Rico and then the semifinals and finals will be over the weekend. Our players have worked really hard and I'm proud to coach them and represent the USA in these games.

I'll keep you posted!!
Coach Rizzotti

The team is complete and only nine more days until the Championship begins.

I can't believe I've been in Colorado Springs for a week now.

My trip out was uneventful and then it was a day and a half of waiting for the trials to begin. I was very anxious to get going but ever since that first session, it has been non-stop! After three days of trials, the selection committee narrowed our list down to 16 players. We had a chance to work with that group for a few days before we had to select 12 for the final roster. It wasn't easy because the players competed hard and showed how much they wanted to make the team. It was nice to see how much this experience meant to so many of them.

We named the final roster on Sunday and it was our first day with only one practice. I think the players were very relieved - not just to make the team, but also to only have to practice one time. In the evening, we headed over to Carol Callan's house (the Women's National Team Director) to enjoy some pizza and the NBA Finals game. We had a primarily Celtics crowd with a few west coast kids cheering for LA.

The other group that has been around the Olympic Training Center since we've been here is the U17 National Team, which will be competing in the U17 World Championships in France later this summer. It's been nice to have them around to scrimmage against. The level of competition will certainly help prepare both teams for their respective tournaments. Their coach's have also been a lot of fun to get to know and hang out with.

Of course I can't finish up without giving a shout out to my assistant coach's who have been AWESOME so far, Sue and Joi. As my husband always says, its not easy being my assistant coach, so I have to give them a lot of credit for putting up with me.

I'll be sure to keep you posted as we start scrimmaging some of the other teams coming in for the tournament. Nine more days before it all begins!


Go USA!
Coach Rizzotti

Excitement Right Around the Corner for Rizzotti

I've been asked many times throughout the last few weeks if I'm ready to go to Colorado Springs for the USA Basketball U18 team trials and FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Although May and June is supposed to be our ‘down time’ I seem to keep finding new things that I have to get done before I go. I am fortunate, however, to have a great staff I can leave all my Hartford responsibilities to while I'm gone for the next three weeks. So ... now that it's right around the corner ... YES, I'm excited to head out to Colorado!

It's a unique experience to work with 25 of the very best high school seniors all at one time. These kids will be future college All-Americans, WNBA players and possible Olympians and I will hopefully have a positive impact on building a foundation for their careers. These players have always been the best of the best and we will be asking them to check their egos at the door and try and understand the significance of what it means to represent the United States of America in the sport of basketball.

I'm really looking forward to working with and learning from my staff, Sue Semrau (Florida State) and Joi Williams (Central Florida). We will all bring our own experiences and philosophies to the Olympic Training Center. Together, we will work hard to find the right approach and style that will help the remaining 12 players, that make the team, reach their potential by the end of the three weeks.

We will ask them to work hard, learn quickly, be unselfish yet play with their own sense of style. It will be our job to mesh all of them together in order to put the best team on the floor and accomplish our goal of winning a gold medal.

So, to all of those who've asked, the answer is yes, I can't wait to get started!

This is Your Team - A Fan's Perspective

Let me for a moment drop the reporter perspective and turn into a fan. I promise, it will only take a few minutes.

As a senior at the University of Hartford set to graduate in May, I have seen firsthand for four years what the Hartford Hawks women's basketball team means to this school.

I remember going to my first game in Chase Family Arena as a freshman. I was sitting in the student section for a game against Seton Hall. Unfortunately, Hartford lost that game. However, that was the last time the Hawks lost at Chase before ripping off 26 straight home wins.

As a sophomore, I watched most of the games from that student section. However, when Hartford hosted the America East tournament, I was given the opportunity to work for sports information. I was only answering phones, but I began to see the game differently.

The Hawks won that tournament, and I felt a sense of pride by association. I went to Hartford. That was my team.

I watched that team win in the NCAA tournament over Syracuse. Thanks to some late-game magic, I was able to feel that pride again.

Fast forward, now two years later, to today. The Hawks once again are in the NCAA tournament. The difference for me now is I get to watch the game from just behind press row. Now, instead of simply watching the game, I get to cover it, too.

While I do see the games in a bit of a different light, I am still very much a fan. When the team was ranked this season for the first time in school history, when they played for the America East Championship and when they were selected as an at-large bid to the tournament, I again felt that pride. This is my team, and it always will be.

For that pride, I would like to thank the young women on the team. They have made my four years at Hartford special as both a student and as a fan.

Speaking as a fan, and for the fans, even in defeat the Hartford Hawks women's basketball team instills that Hawk pride in all of us. To the team, I say thank you. Keep it up. You are great.

It's been an amazing ride.


Post by Keith Arsenault – Senior Communications Major

Pregame Rituals - Dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

The night before taking on LSU in the NCAA tournament, the Hartford Hawks women's basketball team had dinner together at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Ruth's Chris is perhaps becoming a team ritual the night before a tournament game. In Baton Rouge in 2008, the Hawks had their Friday night meal at the restaurant. The next day, the Hawks, a 10 seed, upset Syracuse, a seven seed.

The Hawks, again a 10 seed, are trying to recreate that magic. In Louisiana, University of Hartford President Walter Harrison arrived at the restaurant midway through the meal. This year, Harrison was again fashionably late.

The dinner was enjoyed by all in attendance, including special guest Tom Reich. The efforts of Reich made the dinner at Ruth's Chris possible.


Blog by Keith Arsenault - Senior Communications Major

Hawks Catch Their Prey

The culinary tastes of the Hawks ranged from seafood dishes such as a variety of chicken and pasta dishes and even a buffet.

"It was amazing," junion guard Jackie Smith said of her lobster ravioli. The notion was seconded by freshman guard Daphne Elliott, who ordered the same dish.

Additionally, Smith said that her meal "dominated" that of junior guard Amanda Weaver. Weaver's plate featured stuffed shrimp.

Senior forwards Diana Delva and Erica Beverly had a more difficult time selecting just one thing. Instead, the adventurous pair sampled the buffet.

Delva described the buffet as a "first-time experience" in regards to the various dishes she tried. "I don't know what it is, but it's good."

Beverly was equally impressed by the selection, grading the buffet an A-.

Unfortunately for three Hawks, senior center Kacey Pratt, sophomore guard Ilicia Mathis and frehman Ruthanne Doherty, the mead did not go as planned. They could not eat their meals. Pratt's chicken dish was still cold.

"Rough start," Doherty said. Optimistically though, she and her teammates did mention that they enjoyed their earlier meal, sandwiches from Subway on the way to the hotel.


Blog by Keith Arsenault - Senior Communications Major

Hawks Head to Durham

Video Link

The Hartford Hawks women's basketball team left West Hartford this morning headed for Durham, NC, and a date with the Louisiana State University Tigers Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Hawks were sent on their way by a crowd of well-wishers, all hoping for a Hawks victory.

The rally of fans put a smile on the faces of the players, who understand the opportunity that lies ahead of them.

"I'm so excited," freshman guard Alex Hall said. "I've always wanted to go to the NCAA tournament and I can't believe it's happening now."

"We're really excited as a team," senior guard Jenna Peterson said.

Peterson is one of the players on this year's team that won a game in the NCAA tournament in 2008. However, Peterson, now a starter, did not see much playing time as a sophomore in 2008.
While the team is excited to be in the tournament, they realize that just making it is not the goal. There is work to be done.

"Our practices have been getting increasingly better, and we'll see after tomorrow's practice how we feel," Peterson said.

As she sees it, the team is ready to match up against LSU. With that in mind, the Hawks are hoping once again to return to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Recall in 2008, the Hawks advanced to the second round by defeating Syracuse in Baton Rouge, in LSU's gym. On Saturday, the Hawks will need to go through the LSU team, not the gym, to advance.


Blog by Keith Arsenault - Senior Communications Major

An America East Tournament Update by Mary Silvia

This past weekend, both the men’s and women’s quarterfinal and semifinal games were played at the University of Hartford, bringing big crowds and lots of excitement. Our student section was very supportive and included the Red Army, a new student fan group, who had some very creative chants.

On Friday night, we played UNH, and after a slow first half, we cruised to a 68-35 win. At practice Saturday afternoon we prepared for our semifinal game against Stony Brook, which we knew would be physical and come down to a toughness battle! Basketball is a physical game, and this was evident on Sunday afternoon. But we won the toughness battle and the game, with our bench outscoring Stony Brook’s bench 44-0 and our team winning the rebounding battle 42-29.

Now we have this week to prepare for the championship game against Vermont on Saturday night. I hope all of our fans can join us as we look for another championship this season. Click Here to Purchase Tickets

Senior Day Memorable on All Fronts by Erica Beverly

What an awesome atmosphere senior night was. It had all kinds of emotions in the air from happiness to excitement to bitter-sweetness. It was a great night to celebrate with family, teammates and fans. Although, at the start of the ceremony I was struggling to keep my tears down, ultimately, it was a victorious day! So I was very proud to be a part of the great atmosphere.

The game was fantastic too. We played very hard and stayed focus on what we set out to do and that was to win our first Championship of the season with a complete 16-0 in conference. I love the fact that this team has trust within it, because it makes playing together so much more relaxing and enjoyable. All in all, to share senior day with my wonderful teammates and coaches was very special to me. I love them; they are my second family that has been with me throughout my college years guiding me to greatness - I thank them very much!

In the end, I was very grateful to be honored with my senior class, as well as, being appreciated by the Hartford family.

An Update from Senior Jenna Peterson & Junior Jackie Smith

Battling Two Opponents - Boston University & Breast Cancer - WBCA PinkZone Game Review

This year there was a twist on my pink day experience. Not only was I a part of the game but I was able to help with the set up and pre game ‘Women in Sports Day’ activities. At the game we had such an incredible crowd, probably one of the biggest we have had all year! Playing in front of a bigger crowd always lifts the atmosphere and makes the game for the players more enjoyable and for the crowd too, I am sure!

I have recently been working with Harold and Laurie in the marketing department as a part of my major. I was asked to help set up and get the gym ready for the pink day activities. Knowing what this day was truly marketing brought a new light upon it.

I know that all the girls knew it was pink day, we had our special uniforms and warm-up shirts, and most of the girls I am sure knew it was fundraising for breast cancer, but being able to help set up the gym and reflect on the true meaning of the day was special. After the game, it was incredible to hear how much money all of our fans were able to raise for the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at St. Francis Hospital.

An added bonus that I was able to enjoy before the game was the Women in Sports Day festivities. A female athlete from each team is selected, and I was chosen from women’s basketball. This recognition was a nice compliment from my coaches and a huge honor for me.

~ Jenna


This afternoon we stepped on the court to battle two different opponents - The Boston University Terriers and breast cancer. It was great to see so many supporters of the cause and our team. We have the greatest fans in the country and it showed today! After a bumpy start, we were able to feed off the crowds’ energy and come away with our 16th straight win.

BU always comes out hard against us and we had some trouble early on the offensive end. Our defense continued to be effective and sparked us offensively. After a very sloppy first half, our post players came out and got some better looks. Once we started knocking down shots we were able to pull away from our long standing rival.

After the game we were given the regular season trophy which was a great feeling. Winning this championship was a big goal of ours, but we are nowhere near satisfied! There is a whole lot of basketball left to play, and many things we still need to improve on. We’re taking it one game at a time, like we have been all year, and continue to have ablast playing together. See you on Saturday!

~Jackie

Sorry it's been so long!!

It's been a week since we last played and since we made history by being the first WBB team in school history to be ranked in the Top 25. So you can imagine that we are eagerly awaiting our next game. Don't get me wrong, it has been nice to give our team the mental and physical break they've earned. We gave them off from practice over the weekend knowing that we would still have plenty of time to get prepared for our Binghamton game this Thursday. It was a nice break for our coaching staff as well. I don't remember the last time I took a day from coming in the office- I actually got stuff done around the house!

But you can also imagine that the team would much rather be playing games then practicing. They have continued to work hard to improve even though the season is winding down. They are determined to be playing their best in March which makes my job easier because I know they will come to work hard every day in practice. We also know that we need to be prepared to get our opponent's best. No matter their record or place in the league, team's always seem to be ready to play Hartford. So with 4 games to go, we can't afford to not be ready or to take anyone lightly.

We are excited to have 3 of our last 4 games at home. Our Pink Zone game will be held this coming Sunday, the 21st at 2pm vs. Boston University and we are expecting a tremendous crowd. Then we wrap up our road games with a short trip to Albany on the 24th before celebrating Senior Day on February 27th at 4pm vs. Vermont. Then of course, it's on to the America East Tournament which is also here at Hartford. I look forward to seeing all of our great fans quite a bit in the weeks to come. Thanks for supporting us all year- hopefully the best is yet to come!

Coach Rizzotti