NCAA Chronicles 4

A sunny and cool day in Princeton/Trenton as the Hawks get to sleep in a bit this morning. Breakfast is at 9:30 a.m. followed by our first look at the Sovereign Bank Arena. The team arrives with a formal press conference beginning at 11:20. Head coach Jen Rizzotti moves into the media interview room with players Erika Messam, Ikea Witt, and Danielle Hood. After a brief statement by Coach Rizzotti, the attendees are invited to ask questions of the student-athletes. Then they are excused leaving Hartford head's coach alone to field questions. It is nice to see familiar faces from the Connecticut media already on hand in Trenton. Lori Riley of the Hartford Courant is already at work in the back media area. Following the press conference, the Hawks conduct a 50-minute practice on the very floor they will play on in 24 hours. Per NCAA rules, the practice is open to the public. Channel 8 television arrives on the scene at this time, one of media outlets in the state having the same crew cover the UConn men in Philadelphia and the Hartford women in Trenton. The team next boards the bus for part two of today's practice, back at Rider University. Speaking of Rider, it has done a great job, along with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, of hosting this weekend's opening rounds. Representatives staff a table in the hotel lobby area to help teams and fans find what they need and the set-up at the arena is very efficient and orderly.