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Connecticut Huskies
Road to the Final Four.............................................................................................
Overview  The Huskies will have to try and defend the national championship without their big guns, Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph, who were both Kodak All-Americans in 2000. Abrosimova is out with a foot injury, Ralph with a third ACL tear. All-Big East point guard Sue Bird and freshman sensation Diana Taurasi are good playmakers, ball handlers and shooters. They generate the Husky transition game or hit the big 3-pointer when needed. Swin Cash, Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones and Kelly Schumacher (who set an NCAA title-game record last season with nine blocks) give UConn plenty of depth up front. They rebound, run, alter shots and work relentlessly.Player to WatchSue Bird, a junior, is the key to the Huskies' success, and now that Shea Ralph is out, Bird needs to step up even more and provide the leadership, emotional spark and energy that had become Ralph's trademark contributions. As Nancy Lieberman-Cline says, Bird is perhaps the best point guard in the country. "Bird's like a CEO," Lieberman-Cline said. "Point guard is the most important position on the floor, and when she's on the court, she's not just taking care of herself. She has to be able to take care of everybody else as well, be the communicator, the cheerleader or even the scolding parent at times." Roster NO. PLAYER POS HT YRS HOMETOWN 3 Diana Taurasi G-F 6-0 FR Chino, CA 5 Maria Conlon G 5-9 FR Derby, CT 10 Sue Bird G 5-9 JR Syosset, NY 11 Kelly Schumacher F-C 6-5 SR Quyon, Canada 13 Marci Czel G 5-7 SR Guilford, CT 14 Keirsten Walters G 5-8 JR Littleton, CO 15 Asjha Jones F 6-2 JR Piscataway, NJ 20 Morgan Valley G 6-0 FR Colchester, VT 22 Ashley Battle G 6-0 FR Pittsburgh, PA 23 Kennitra Johnson G 5-7 SO New Albany, IN 25 Svetlana Abrosimova F 6-2 SR St. Petersburg, Russia 31 Jessica Moore C 6-3 FR Palmer, AK 32 Swin Cash G 6-2 JR McKeesport, PA 33 Shea Ralph G-F 6-0 SR Fayetteville, NC 34 Tamika Williams F 6-2 JR Dayton, OH 44 Christine Rigby C 6-6 SR Victoria, CanadaNotable Numbers The defending NCAA champs had won 30 straight games before losing to Notre Dame 92-76 on Jan. 15. Tournament history Previous NCAA Tournament Bids: 12 NCAA Tournament Record: 31-10 Final Four Appearances: 4 NCAA Tournament Championships: 2 Best NCAA Tournament Finish: 1995, 2000 National Champions Last NCAA Appearance: 2000, defeated Tennessee, 71-52, NCAA Championship
 Lieberman-Cline: Rounding up Ralph Shea Ralph has done a lot for the sport, but even before tearing her ACL, her WNBA future was in jeopardy.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |  |
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Diana Taurasi scores on an uncontested drive to the hoop in the final seconds of the first half.
Coach Geno Auriemma credits UConn's defense with setting the tone throughout the game.
