Nice Story on Host From Trentonian of 3/20

Linda Weise watched Hartford knock off Temple yesterday in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships then talked about her new athletic inheritance.

"I’ve gotta go talk to my team," said Weise, after No. 11 Hartford defeated No. 6 Temple, 64-58.

Weise, the Allentown High girls head basketball coach, now boasts a collegiate allegiance with the Hartford Hawks.

The Hawks yesterday displayed a Trentonian-liketenacity in a victory over Temple.

Weise is one of eight area residents playing a host role for teams in competition at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

"I woke up and had butterflies this morning. It was like I was playing basketball again. How do you not get excited about this,’’ said Weise, a former star player at McCorristin High and the University of Delaware.

"My first three years at Delaware we won our conference championship. But back then the NCAA championship had just 32 teams so we never had this opportunity.’’

Weise is making up for missed NCAA championship opportunities as a den mother and booster for Hawks players.

"You know I’m a Hawks fan for life now,’’ she said.

Weise added her voice to a Hartford crowd that may have mistaken Sovereign Bank Arena for the Hawks’ Chase Arena.

Temple could never match the heartfelt Hartford passion, highlighted by the lip-locked congratulations Joe Caruso laid on his fiancee, Hawks associate coach Kristin Lamb.

"This was like we were playing at home,’’ said Hawks star Ikea Witt who scored 17 points.

Danielle Hood added a game-high 20 points and followed Witt’s fan assessment with her own critique.

"We have the most loyal fans. They come to every game,’’ Hood beamed.

The Hartford victory means that Hawks fans and players will spend another two nights in metropolitan Trenton.

The City and Mercer County showcased an SBA that in the past has highlighted acts like Cher, Elton John and most recently Bruce Springsteen.

Hartford faithful did everything but light an encore candle after the Hawks posted its first win over a ranked opponent and first NCAA tournament victory.