SHE'S GOT GAME

Monarchs go under, but could resurface in San Jose-Modbee.com

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:59:25 -0500

Monarchs go under, but could resurface in San Jose-Modbee.com:

“The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern California,” Orender said. Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, which runs the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion — a potential WNBA venue — could be an option. The organization had not yet been contacted by the WNBA.

Rutgers women facing fresh test on road after inconsistent homestand-NJ.com

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:56:53 -0500

Rutgers women facing fresh test on road after inconsistent homestand-NJ.com:

When the Rutgers women’s basketball team starts its first road trip of the season Sunday, the Scarlet Knights will face the same issues that confronted them at the year’s outset: consistent scoring and consistent rebounding. As expected, considering coach C. Vivian Stringer’s 10-player roster, these burdens were spread around during the opening three-game homestand. “We’re more of a team now,” sophomore guard Khadijah Rushdan said after the opening loss to No. 2 Stanford.

Charles Learning to Meet Big Expectations-FanHouse.com

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:53:43 -0500

Charles Learning to Meet Big Expectations-FanHouse.com:

Auriemma has a knack for viewing the glass half-empty when it comes to Charles. Fine has never been good enough to stop the yelling and the cajoling. It is really an existential thing between the demanding coach and his senior center who hasn’t always risen to meet his demands.

Baylor finally comes to Bay Area to face Cal - College Women's Basketball - Rivals.com

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:18:21 -0500

Baylor finally comes to Bay Area to face Cal - College Women's Basketball - Rivals.com:

Alexis Gray-Lawson and her California teammates are long overdue to face Baylor on their home court. Little did they know they would have to prepare for defending the dunk. The teams were supposed to meet at Haas Pavilion last Dec. 22, but a severe winter storm in the Northwest kept the Baylor team from getting to the Bay Area after its game at Oregon. The eighth-ranked Lady Bears (1-1) will finally come to play the No. 17 Cal Golden Bears (2-0) on Sunday. “We’ve been waiting for this game a really long time,” Gray-Lawson said. ADVERTISEMENT And now there’s an intriguing new dimension to the matchup: star Baylor freshman Brittney Griner and her attempts to dunk. “It’s great for the women’s game,” Cal coach Joanne Boyle said. “You just don’t see it that often.”

Reload or rebuild? Louisville Cardinals still working on answer - ESPN

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:52:38 -0500

Reload or rebuild? Louisville Cardinals still working on answer - ESPN:

Dressed in shorts, sneakers and a long sleeve T-shirt, beads of perspiration sprouting as he scrimmages with his players the night before a game at Hartford, Louisville coach Jeff Walz doesn’t look like a guy burdened by the pressure of living up to last season’s eye-opening run to the national championship game. He doesn’t schedule like someone sucking up antacid, either, opening this season with back-to-back road games at Dayton and Hartford, two quality mid-major programs and two places where you wouldn’t find many national contenders willing to start the season after graduating cornerstones like Angel McCoughtry and Candyce Bingham.

The Maggie Dixon Story: An Inspiring Legacy-depaulbluedemons.com

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:49:07 -0500

The Maggie Dixon Story: An Inspiring Legacy-depaulbluedemons.com:

With the first Maggie Dixon Classic at DePaul tipping off at 5:30 p.m. Friday in McGrath Arena, we take a look back at the Maggie Dixon story—-one that comes straight from the heart. Doug Bruno was getting fired up about an evening with the guys on a spring-fever kind of Friday night in May of 2000 when Blair Banwart hollered into the DePaul locker room: “Coach, there are a couple of tall girls that look like players standing at center court and they are asking to see you.” Recruits, thought Bruno, and the nationally renowned women’s basketball coach finished his shower and quickly got dressed. Little did Bruno suspect he was about to embark on a most amazing life experience as he walked out to the old Alumni Hall gym.

WNBA IN DISCUSSIONS TO MOVE MONARCHS TO BAY AREA

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:39:52 -0500

WNBA IN DISCUSSIONS TO MOVE MONARCHS TO BAY AREA:

“The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern California,” said Orender. “Maloof Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Monarchs, has deemed it essential to focus all of its resources on the Sacramento Kings at this time. We understand this decision was a difficult one for them and appreciate the vision, leadership, and support of the Maloof family over the past 10 years.

Former Missouri women's basketball standout returns as opposing coach - Columbia Missourian

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:12:01 -0500

Former Missouri women's basketball standout returns as opposing coach - Columbia Missourian:

The fiery McFerrin constantly paces up and down the Memphis sideline, never taking a break to sit down. Whether it’s jawing with the referees or calling out offensive and defensive sets, she is completely immersed in the basketball game. McFerrin’s attitude rubs off on her players.

Sister act moves from Oklahoma to Israel-Haaretz-Israel News

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:04:56 -0500

Sister act moves from Oklahoma to Israel-Haaretz-Israel News:

“I could have played in France or Russia, but I chose Israel because my agent told me it’s the best league to be in your first year outside the U.S.,” explains Courtney, as Ashley nods in agreement. She says she picked Ashdod over one of the traditional powerhouses because she wants to accumulate experience, but that enjoying herself is more important than making money.

A Coach's Job Begins Off the Court-eastbayexpress.com

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:29:36 -0500

A Coach's Job Begins Off the Court-eastbayexpress.com:

When Joanne Boyle became head coach of UC Berkeley’s women’s basketball team, her program was an afterthought. Cal had gone twelve seasons without a winning record or a finish in the top half of the Pac-10 conference. During games, Haas Pavilion was another quiet place students could go to and study.

Lady Vols won't renew UConn series-tennessean.com

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:16:21 -0500

Lady Vols won't renew UConn series-tennessean.com :

Although Tennessee and Connecticut were in the same arena Tuesday night, don’t hold your breath waiting for the women’s basketball teams to be on the same court again during the regular season. But don’t abandon hope either.

Lansing State Journal: MSU's Aitch following in the footsteps of her late father

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:14:09 -0500

Lansing State Journal: MSU's Aitch following in the footsteps of her late father:

Some people become leaders through genetics. Others hone their abilities through trial and tribulation. Advertisement Both have shaped the focus of Lauren Aitch. As a fifth-year senior on Michigan State University’s women’s basketball team who graduated in the spring, Lansing native Aitch decided to extend her college career and work toward a master’s degree in public relations. She’s also been selected as a team captain, a feat her late father, Matt, also accomplished when he was a Spartan on the men’s basketball team in 1966-67. Every time Aitch walks into the Breslin Center, she thinks about what her dad taught her. And how much she misses him. And she thinks about how much she wants to follow in his footsteps.

The bigger the better-SI.com

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:33:57 -0500

The bigger the better-SI.com:

With Jayne Appel in the middle of a lineup that opponents have to look up to, Stanford spies a national title within its reach.

All Is Well in Homesick Delle Donne's Delaware Debut-FanHouse.com

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:28:15 -0500

All Is Well in Homesick Delle Donne's Delaware Debut-FanHouse.com:

Delaware women’s basketball coach Tina Martin let the phrase “triple-double” creep into her comments following her team’s season opener Tuesday night, and once it was out, she couldn’t reel it back in. But anybody who had watched the highly anticipated, unusually delayed college debut of Elena Delle Donne wouldn’t have needed prodding to envision such feats in the future. “If Coach says it, then yes, I can, definitely. Whatever I can do to contribute to the team the best I can to my ability, I’ll try it,” said Delle Donne, the redshirt freshman who, on her way back to her favorite sport, had once been the best high school player in the country, then one of its best-known victims of intense homesickness. “We’ll see what the future holds,” she added.

Delle Donne happily shakes off the rust-Philadelphia Inquirer

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:17:46 -0500

Delle Donne happily shakes off the rust-Philadelphia Inquirer :

She was back playing the sport she was meant to play. Elena Delle Donne admitted that later, and also admitted she was nervous just before her long-awaited collegiate hoops debut for Delaware. During the national anthem, as all other players stood motionless, the former national high school player of the year kept bending her knees, ready to spring.

Together again: Auriemma shrugs off Summitt spat-Rivals.com

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:51:46 -0500

Together again: Auriemma shrugs off Summitt spat-Rivals.com:

It’s safe to say that Geno Auriemma and Pat Summitt didn’t spend much time catching up in Texas. Auriemma and Summitt were at the AT&T Center on Tuesday night for a doubleheader in San Antonio, where the Final Four will be held in the spring. Summitt’s sixth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols beat Texas Tech in the first game before Auriemma’s top-ranked Huskies demolished No. 10 Texas. The two Hall of Fame coaches had a falling out two years ago when their powerhouse programs canceled their regular-season series. Auriemma said in April 2008 that it was because Summitt accused UConn of cheating in recruiting. Auriemma said he’ll say hello to Summitt like anyone else, but doesn’t see why anyone expects them to, say, go to dinner. “Why? I don’t go out to dinner with these guys,” Auriemma said, sitting between two of his UConn players. “And I like them.”

Cards, Falcons proved last year that MAC belongs on big stage-cleveland.com

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:17:46 -0500

Cards, Falcons proved last year that MAC belongs on big stage-cleveland.com :

When it comes to women’s basketball, the 2008-09 postseason proved Mid-American Conference teams can hold their own on the big stage. For the first time in a long time, Bowling Green’s women’s basketball, the clear league powerhouse, could not finish the job last season in the MAC Tournament. The Falcons fell to Ball State in the title game. But then all watched as the Cardinals pulled the college basketball upset of the ages in the NCAA Tournament. Ball State defeated Tennessee, a dominant program in the game, 71-55, in the first round.

Bowling Green’s Lauren Prochaska via media.cleveland.com

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15:00 -0500

Bowling Green’s Lauren Prochaska via media.cleveland.com

Big 12 teams trying to reach elite status enjoyed by Tennessee, UConn-Red Raiders.com

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:59:36 -0500

Big 12 teams trying to reach elite status enjoyed by Tennessee, UConn-Red Raiders.com:

Budke said the problem for the rest of the sport is that Summitt and Auriemma have first pick at the nation’s best talent. Tennessee and UConn claim long-established success, therefore guaranteeing elite players the best chances of being noticed in a game still struggling to find a national audience.

Cal Freshmen Look to Fill in Post Duties-The Daily Californian

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:54:35 -0500

Cal Freshmen Look to Fill in Post Duties-The Daily Californian:

“I feel like our defense is really good for as young as we are,” guard Natasha Vital said. “If we come out and play the way we know we can play there’s no reason why we can’t go as far as we did last year or even farther.” This Sunday’s matchup against a highly-tauted Baylor squad will give Cal a chance to make a statement worthy of everyone’s attention.