Hawks Will Play Sunday in Trenton

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.

Efforts are under way to organize a student bus and a fan bus to Trenton on Sunday. Details will be posted in UNotes Daily as soon as they become available.

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.

The Hawks earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by winning their second straight America East Women’s Basketball Championship on Sunday.

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.

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.”