Hawks Headed to Trenton for Match-Up With Temple

The Hartford women’s basketball team has earned a No. 11 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament, its best ever, and will play No. 6 Temple on Sunday, March 19, at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J. The game is scheduled to tip off at noon and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

The best way to secure tickets to the game is to log on to www.sovereignbankarena.com or call 888-SBA-TIXX. Single session tickets are $30.

Kampus Activities Team and the Student Government Association are sponsoring a bus to take students to and from the game in Trenton. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up, go to the Campus Concierge in Gengras Student Union. There is no cost for the game or the bus ride, thanks to KAT and SGA, but you will need to pay a $20 deposit and present your University of Hartford ID when you register. The deposit will be returned when you board the bus.

The student bus will depart campus from the Sports Center at 6:30 a.m. Sunday for the 4 ½ hour trip to Trenton and will return immediately after the game.

In addition, efforts are under way to organize a fan bus to the game. If you are interested, please contact Laurie Fasciano at fasciano@hartford.edu. The cost for the fan bus ride will not include tickets; you must purchase those on your own.

The winner of Sunday's game between Hartford and Temple will advance to face No. 3 Georgia or No. 14 Marist in Trenton on Tuesday, March 21. From there, winning teams will advance to the regionals in Bridgeport, Conn.

This will be the Hawks’ second consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, and their third in five years. Their tournament ranking has steadily improved with each appearance. In 2002, the Hartford women were a No. 16 seed; in 2005 they earned a No. 14 seed, and this year they moved up to No. 11.

A Call from the Governor

The Hawks and their fans, still exuberant from Sunday’s America East Championship win over Boston University, filled the Intramural Gym in the Sports Center Monday evening to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on ESPN.

Before the show began, Hartford Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti and her team received a call from Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who said she is “thrilled” by the Hawks’ success. “All of you are great role models, both on and off the court,” Rell said.

Rizzotti thanked all the fans who have supported the Hawks, and said she and her players were especially delighted by the large and enthusiastic student turnout at the America East tournament. Rizzotti also noted the difference in mood between last year’s NCAA Selection Show – when her players were thrilled just to get an invitation to the “Big Dance” – and this year’s, when the team is entering the tournament in its strongest position ever.

“We’re waiting for our name to be up there,” Rizzotti said just before Monday evening’s Selection Show. “But this year, we’re waiting for it to be up there so we can see who we’re going to beat.”