Hartford to Play UConn in NCAA Tournament

Members of the Hartford women's basketball team cheer as Hartford shows up in the NCAA tournament bracket during the selection show on ESPN. Players and fans gathered in the Hawk's Nest on Monday evening to watch the selection show. Photo by Steve McLaughlin.

The University of Hartford women’s basketball team will take on the No. 1 team in the country – the University of Connecticut – in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

The 16th seeded Hawks will face off against top seed UConn on Sunday, March 20, at 12:05 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.  The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

To purchase tickets to the game, stop by the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Box Office in the Sports Center, or call the box office at 860-768-HAWK (4295). The box office is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hartford Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti – a former All-American at UConn – said that she and her players recognize the daunting challenge ahead. But, she said, they are not happy simply to be in the NCAA tournament – they are going to give it their all, and they are going to play to win.

Rizzotti spoke Monday evening at the Hawk's Nest, where players, coaches, cheerleaders, and fans had gathered to watch the NCAA selection show on ESPN.  Rizzotti encouraged Hartford fans to come to Storrs on Sunday to cheer on the Hawks, and to fill the stands with University of Hartford red.

Download the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship bracket.

The Hawks earned a spot in the NCAA tournament by winning their fifth America East Championship on Saturday, with a 65-53 victory over Boston University. After starting the season with a 1-9 record, Hartford (now 17-15) has won 11 of its last 12 games.

This will be Hartford’s sixth trip to the NCAA tournament during Rizzotti’s 12 seasons as coach. Five of the NCAA tournament appearances were the result of conference championships; in addition, the Hawks received an at-large bid in 2010.

The Hawks hold a 2-5 overall record in NCAA tournament play, having beaten Temple in a first-round game in 2006 and Syracuse in the first round in 2008.