UConn seeking return to customary Final Four spot in NCAA Women's tournament

3/16/2006 9:06 PM

Connecticut had its string of three straight national championships and five straight NCAA women's Final Four appearances snapped with last year's stunning 17-point regional semifinal loss to Stanford.

Huskies coach Geno Auriemma's program can start anew Sunday when his second-seeded team plays No. 15 seed Coppin State in a 2006 NCAA women's tournament first-round game at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.

UConn (29-4) is seeded behind rival and top-seeded Duke, a potential regional final opponent in Bridgeport, Conn. But the Huskies must first contend with Coppin State (22-8), which carries a school-record 21-game winning streak into this game.

Derek Brown's squad won its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament title and is making a return trip to the field of 64. The 21-game run is the second-longest active win streak in women's college basketball, trailing only Chattanooga's 26-game winning streak.

``Height-wise, we match up with them well. There are some things they do defensively that we might have problems with, but if we defend as I think we can, we'll make a game of it,'' said Brown, whose team gives up just 52.7 points per game.

Offensively, Sherrie Tucker leads Coppin State, averaging 12.8 points.

Connecticut finished second in the Big East, but the Huskies did win the conference tournament. They are aware that wins in the first two rounds could provide a huge advantage playing so close to home in the regionals, but senior Barbara Turner was quick not to make it out to be something pivotal.

``I don't think it matters during the NCAA tournament,'' Turner said. ``It's about what team is playing well ... Yes, there's a possibility that we could play at home, but if we're not playing well then that won't matter.''

Senior Ann Strother leads UConn, averaging 13.8 points. Turner is averaging 11.3 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds.

While this edition of the Huskies lacks a marquee player like years past, Auriemma knows they have created a team-first legacy that will endure.

``None of these seniors is going to leave like (former UConn standouts) Svetlana (Abrosimova), Diana (Taurasi) or Rebecca (Lobo),'' Auriemma said. ``They're not first team All-Americans three times in a row or National Players of the Year ... I think the one thing they can all hold onto is they have all done this together. They need each other and what they leave behind may be more team oriented than individual oriented.''

The winner plays either seventh-seeded Virginia Tech (20-9) or 10th-seeded Missouri (21-9) in the second round Tuesday.