2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

The 2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 22, 2003, and concluded on April 8, 2003, when the Connecticut Huskies (UConn) won their second straight national title. The Final Four was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6–8, 2003. UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma, defeated archrival Tennessee, coached by Pat Summitt, 73–68 in the championship game. UConn's Diana Taurasi was named Most Outstanding Player.

2003 NCAA Division I
women's basketball tournament
2003 Women's Final Four logo
Teams64
Finals siteGeorgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia
ChampionsConnecticut Huskies (4th title, 4th title game,
7th Final Four)
Runner-upTennessee Volunteers (10th title game,
14th Final Four)
Semifinalists
Winning coachGeno Auriemma (4th title)
MOPDiana Taurasi (Connecticut)
Attendance334,587
NCAA Division I women's tournaments
«2002 2004»

This was the first year of a new format, in which the final game is held on the Tuesday following the men's championship, in contrast to prior years, when it was held on Sunday evening, between the men's semi-final and final. The game now is the final game of the Division 1 collegiate basketball season.

Tournament records

edit
  • Rebounds – Connecticut recorded 22 rebounds in the Championship game against Tennessee, setting the record for fewest rebounds in an NCAA tournament Championship game.
  • Free throws – Villanova attempted zero free throws in the Mideast Regional final game against Tennessee, one of only two times a team has attempted zero free throws in an NCAA Regional game
  • Three-point field goals made – Diana Taurasi made 20 three-point field goals, tying the record for most three-point field goals in an NCAA tournament
  • Free throws – Tennessee completed 128 free throws, setting the record for made free throws in an NCAA tournament[1]

Qualifying teams – automatic

edit

Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA tournament.[1]

Automatic bids
    Record  
Qualifying school Conference Regular
Season
Conference Seed
Alabama State University SWAC 20–10 15–3 16
Austin Peay State University Ohio Valley Conference 27–3 16–0 14
Boston University America East 16–14 10–6 16
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Southern Conference 26–4 16–2 12
Duke University ACC 31–1 16–0 1
The George Washington University Atlantic 10 24–6 15–1 7
Georgia State University Atlantic Sun Conference 20–10 12–4 16
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Horizon League 27–3 15–1 8
Hampton University MEAC 23–8 16–1 15
Harvard University Ivy League 22–4 14–0 14
College of the Holy Cross Patriot League 24–7 13–1 13
Liberty University Big South Conference 26–3 14–0 13
Louisiana Tech University WAC 29–2 18–0 5
Louisiana State University SEC 27–3 11–3 1
Manhattan College MAAC 20–9 15–3 14
Missouri State University Missouri Valley Conference 18–12 11–7 15
University of New Mexico Mountain West 22–8 9–5 6
Old Dominion University Colonial 21–10 15–3 12
Pepperdine University West Coast Conference 22–7 12–2 12
Purdue University Big Ten 26–5 12–4 2
St. Francis (PA) Northeast Conference 23–7 16–2 15
Stanford University Pac-10 26–4 15–3 3
Texas Christian University Conference USA 19–13 8–6 9
University of Texas at Austin Big 12 25–5 15–1 2
Texas State University Southland 18–13 14–6 16
University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 26–4 15–1 7
Valparaiso University Mid-Continent 18–12 8–6 15
Villanova University Big East 25–5 12–4 2
Weber State University Big Sky Conference 21–8 11–3 13
Western Kentucky University Sun Belt Conference 22–8 12–2 13
Western Michigan University MAC 20–11 10–6 14

Qualifying teams – at-large

edit

Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[1]

At-large Bids
    Record  
Qualifying school Conference Regular
season
Conference Seed
University of Arizona Pacific-10 22–8 13–5 6
University of Arkansas Southeastern 21–10 7–7 7
Boston College Big East 20–8 12–4 5
Brigham Young University Mountain West 19–11 8–6 11
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Conference USA 21–8 12–2 12
University of Cincinnati Conference USA 23–7 11–3 10
University of Colorado at Boulder Big 12 22–7 11–5 6
University of Connecticut Big East 31–1 16–0 1
DePaul University Conference USA 22–9 10–4 9
University of Georgia Southeastern 19–9 10–4 5
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlantic Coast 20–10 8–8 10
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Big Ten 17–11 9–7 9
Kansas State University Big 12 28–4 14–2 3
University of Miami Big East 18–12 8–8 11
Michigan State University Big Ten 17–11 10–6 8
University of Minnesota Big Ten 23–5 12–4 6
Mississippi State University Southeastern 23–7 10–4 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Atlantic Coast 27–5 13–3 3
University of Notre Dame Big East 19–10 10–6 11
Ohio State University Big Ten 21–9 10–6 4
University of Oklahoma Big 12 19–12 9–7 10
Pennsylvania State University Big Ten 24–8 13–3 4
Rutgers University Big East 20–7 13–3 4
University of South Carolina Southeastern 22–7 9–5 5
University of Tennessee Southeastern 28–4 14–0 1
Texas Tech University Big 12 26–5 13–3 2
Tulane University Conference USA 19–9 10–4 11
University of Utah Mountain West 23–6 12–2 8
Vanderbilt University Southeastern 21–9 9–5 4
University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 16–13 9–7 8
Virginia Tech Big East 21–9 10–6 7
University of Washington Pacific-10 22–7 13–5 9
Xavier University Atlantic 10 20–9 11–5 10

Bids by conference

edit

Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In twenty-two cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from nine of the conferences.[1]

Bids Conference Teams
7 Big East Villanova, Boston College, Connecticut, Miami Fla., Notre Dame, Rutgers, Virginia Tech
7 Southeastern LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi St., South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
6 Big Ten Purdue, Illinois, Michigan St., Minnesota, Ohio St., Penn St.
5 Big 12 Texas, Colorado, Kansas St., Oklahoma, Texas Tech
5 Conference USA TCU, Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Tulane
4 Atlantic Coast Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia
3 Mountain West New Mexico, BYU, Utah
3 Pacific-10 Stanford, Arizona, Washington
2 Atlantic 10 George Washington, Xavier
1 America East Boston U.
1 Atlantic Sun Georgia St.
1 Big Sky Weber St.
1 Big South Liberty
1 Big West UC Santa Barb.
1 Colonial Old Dominion
1 Horizon Green Bay
1 Ivy Harvard
1 Metro Atlantic Manhattan
1 Mid-American Western Mich.
1 Mid-Continent Valparaiso
1 Mid-Eastern Hampton
1 Missouri Valley Missouri St.
1 Northeast St. Francis Pa.
1 Ohio Valley Austin Peay
1 Patriot Holy Cross
1 Southern Chattanooga
1 Southland Texas St.
1 Southwestern Alabama St.
1 Sun Belt Western Ky.
1 West Coast Pepperdine
1 Western Athletic Louisiana Tech

2003 NCAA tournament schedule and venues

edit
 
 
West Lafayette
 
Storrs
 
Manhattan
 
Norfolk
 
Norman
 
Knoxville
 
Boulder
 
University Park
 
Athens
 
Raleigh
 
Albuquerque
 
Lubbock
 
Eugene
 
Stanford
 
Cincinnati
 
Ruston
2003 NCAA NCAA first and second round venues
 
 
Dayton
 
Knoxville
 
Albuquerque
 
Stanford
 
Atlanta
2003 NCAA regionals and Final Four

In 2003, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1–16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In 2003, a change was implemented in the way first and second round sites were determined. From 1982 (the year of the first NCAA women's basketball tournament) through 2002, the first rounds sites were offered to the top seeds. Starting in 2003, sixteen sites for the first two rounds were determined approximately a year before the team selections and seedings were completed.[2]

First and Second rounds

The following lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:[3]

Regional semifinals and finals

The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 29 to April 1 at these sites:[4]

Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held April 6 and April 8 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome, (Host: Georgia Institute of Technology)

Bids by state

edit

The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. Virginia had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[1]

 
NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 2003
Bids State Teams
5 Virginia Hampton, Liberty, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech
4 Massachusetts Boston U., Harvard, Holy Cross, Boston College
4 Tennessee Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
4 Texas TCU, Texas, Texas St., Texas Tech
3 California Pepperdine, Stanford, UC Santa Barb.
3 Georgia Georgia St., Georgia, Georgia Tech
3 Indiana Purdue, Valparaiso, Notre Dame
3 Louisiana Louisiana Tech, LSU, Tulane
3 North Carolina Duke, Charlotte, North Carolina
3 Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio St., Xavier
3 Utah Weber St., BYU, Utah
2 Illinois DePaul, Illinois
2 Michigan Western Mich., Michigan St.
2 New York Manhattan, St. Francis Pa.
2 Pennsylvania Villanova, Penn St.
1 Alabama Alabama St.
1 Arizona Arizona
1 Arkansas Arkansas
1 Colorado Colorado
1 Connecticut Connecticut
1 District of Columbia George Washington
1 Florida Miami Fla.
1 Kansas Kansas St.
1 Kentucky Western Ky.
1 Minnesota Minnesota
1 Mississippi Mississippi St.
1 Missouri Missouri St.
1 New Jersey Rutgers
1 New Mexico New Mexico
1 Oklahoma Oklahoma
1 South Carolina South Carolina
1 Washington Washington
1 Wisconsin Green Bay

Brackets

edit

Data Source[5]

Mideast Region – Knoxville, Tennessee

edit
First round
March 22 and 23
Second round
March 24 and 25
Regional semifinals
March 29
Regional finals
March 31
            
1 Tennessee 95
16 Alabama State 43
1 Tennessee 81
Knoxville, Tennessee – Sat/Mon
8 Virginia 51
8 Virginia 72
9 Illinois 56
1 Tennessee 86
4 Penn State 58
5 South Carolina 68
12 UT-Chattanooga 54
5 South Carolina 67
State College, Pennsylvania – Sun/Tue
4 Penn State 77
4 Penn State 64
13 Holy Cross 33
1 Tennessee 73
2 Villanova 49
6 Colorado 84
11 BYU 45
6 Colorado 86
Boulder, Colorado – Sat/Mon
3 North Carolina 67
3 North Carolina 72
14 Austin Peay 70
6 Colorado 51
2 Villanova 53
7 George Washington 71
10 Oklahoma 61
7 George Washington 57
Norman, Oklahoma – Sun/Tue
2 Villanova 70
2 Villanova 51
15 St. Francis (PA) 36

Midwest Region – Albuquerque, New Mexico

edit
First round
March 22 and 23
Second round
March 24 and 25
Regional semifinals
March 29
Regional finals
March 31
            
1 Duke 66
16 Georgia State 48
1 Duke 65
Raleigh, North Carolina – Sun/Tue
8 Utah 54
8 Utah 73
9 DePaul 64
1 Duke 66
5 Georgia 63
5 Georgia 80
12 Charlotte 61
5 Georgia 74
Athens, Georgia – Sat/Mon
4 Rutgers 64
4 Rutgers 64
13 Western Kentucky 52
1 Duke 80
2 Texas Tech 79
6 New Mexico 91
11 Miami (FL) 85
6 New Mexico 73
Albuquerque, New Mexico – Sat/Mon
3 Mississippi State 61
3 Mississippi State 73
14 Manhattan 47
6 New Mexico 76
2 Texas Tech 81
7 UC Santa Barbara 71
10 Xavier 62
7 UC Santa Barbara 48
Lubbock, Texas – Sun/Tue
2 Texas Tech 71
2 Texas Tech 67
15 Missouri State 59

East Region – Dayton, Ohio

edit
First round
March 22 and 23
Second round
March 24 and 25
Regional semifinals
March 30
Regional finals
April 1
            
1 Connecticut 91
16 Boston University 44
1 Connecticut 81
Storrs, Connecticut – Sun/Tue
9 TCU 66
8 Michigan State 47
9 TCU 50
1 Connecticut 70
5 Boston College 49
5 Boston College 73
12 Old Dominion 72
5 Boston College 86
Norfolk, Virginia – Sat/Mon
4 Vanderbilt 85
4 Vanderbilt 54
13 Liberty 44
1 Connecticut 73
2 Purdue 64
6 Arizona 47
11 Notre Dame 59
11 Notre Dame 59
Manhattan, Kansas – Sun/Tue
3 Kansas State 53
3 Kansas State 79
14 Harvard 69
11 Notre Dame 47
2 Purdue 66
7 Virginia Tech 61
10 Georgia Tech 59
7 Virginia Tech 62
West Lafayette, Indiana – Sat/Mon
2 Purdue 80
2 Purdue 66
15 Valparaiso 51

West Region – Stanford, California

edit
First round
March 22 and 23
Second round
March 24 and 25
Regional semifinals
March 30
Regional finals
April 1
            
1 LSU 86
16 Texas State 50
1 LSU 80
Eugene, Oregon – Sat/Mon
8 Green Bay 69
8 Green Bay 78
9 Washington 65
1 LSU 69
5 Louisiana Tech 63
5 Louisiana Tech 94
12 Pepperdine 60
5 Louisiana Tech 74
Ruston, Louisiana – Sun/Tue
4 Ohio State 61
4 Ohio State 66
13 Weber State 44
1 LSU 60
2 Texas 78
6 Minnesota 68
11 Tulane 48
6 Minnesota 68
Stanford, California – Sat/Mon
3 Stanford 56
3 Stanford 82
14 Western Michigan 66
6 Minnesota 60
2 Texas 73
7 Arkansas 71
10 Cincinnati 57
7 Arkansas 50
Cincinnati, Ohio – Sun/Tue
2 Texas 67
2 Texas 90
15 Hampton 46

Final Four – Atlanta, Georgia

edit
National semifinals
April 6
National championship
April 8
      
ME1 Tennessee 66
MW1 Duke 56
ME1 Tennessee 68
E1 Connecticut 73
E1 Connecticut 71
W2 Texas 69

E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West.

Record by conference

edit
Conference # of Bids Record Win % Round
of 32
Sweet
Sixteen
Elite
Eight
Final
Four
Championship
Game
Big East L 15–6 .714 L L 2 1 1
Southeastern 7 14–7 .667 7 3 2 1 1
Big Ten 6 8–6 .571 4 3 1 0 0
Big 12 5 10–5 .667 4 3 2 1 0
Conference USA 5 1–5 .167 1 0 0 0 0
Atlantic Coast 4 6–4 .600 3 1 1 1 0
Mountain West 3 3–3 .500 2 1 0 0 0
Pacific-10 3 1–3 .250 1 0 0 0 0
Atlantic 10 2 1–2 .333 1 0 0 0 0
Western Athletic 1 2–1 .667 1 1 0 0 0
Big West 1 1–1 .500 1 0 0 0 0
Horizon 1 1–1 .500 1 0 0 0 0

Nineteen conferences went 0–1: America East, Atlantic Sun Conference, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Colonial, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Missouri Valley Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt Conference, and West Coast Conference

All-Tournament team

edit

Game officials

edit
  • Scott Yarbrough (semifinal)
  • Joe Cunningham (semifinal)
  • June Courteau (semifinal)
  • Sally Bell (semifinal)
  • Dee Kantner (semifinal)
  • Eric Larson (semifinal)
  • Wesley Dean (final)
  • Melissa Barlow (final)
  • Lisa Mattingly (final) [1]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Nixon, Rick. "Official 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  2. ^ HAVEL, CARRIE J. (2005). "The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship: an analysis of first and second rounds and the change to predetermined sites" (PDF). p. 1. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  3. ^ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  4. ^ "2003 DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HANDBOOK" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  5. ^ "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book". NCAA. February 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.