Hartford Women Picked First in America East

The University of Hartford women’s basketball team has been picked to finish first in the America East conference by a unanimous vote of the league's head coaches. This is the first time that the Hartford women have been selected as the preseason favorite.

The University of Hartford men's basketball team was picked to finish fifth this season in the nine-team league. The University at Albany was selected as the men’s basketball favorite.

The results of the America East Preseason Poll were announced Tuesday.

The Hartford women are the reigning America East women’s basketball champions. They have won the conference championship twice under Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti, in 2002 and 2005.

In March 2006, for the fifth straight season, Hartford will host the Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Women’s Basketball Championship at Chase Arena in The Reich Family Pavilion.

In addition to selecting the Hawks as the women’s basketball conference favorite for 2005-06, the preseason poll also placed two Hartford women, Erika Messam and Ikea Witt, on the America East Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Hartford women will open their season on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Rhode Island, with the home opener scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. against Loyola (Md.). Prior to the opening game at Chase Arena, the Hawks will unveil their 2004-05 championship banner.

The University of Hartford men’s basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll after placing at the bottom of the league during an injury-plagued 2004-05 season. Head coach Larry Harrison returns his top five scorers from last season, including starters Aaron Cook (14.9 ppg), David Ruffin (8.1 ppg) and Charles Ford (7.2 ppg). Senior transfer Kenny Adeleke, a power forward who scored over 1,000 points and recorded over 800 rebounds in three seasons at Hofstra, is also expected to be a low-post force for the Hawks.

The Hartford men will open their regular season on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the University of Massachusetts. Before the season begins, the Hawks will play Southern Connecticut State University in exhibition action on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. at Chase Arena in the Reich Family Pavilion.

For more information, go to www.hartfordhawks.com.