Cornell To Face UConn

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Courtesy of CornellBigRed.com

The Cornell women's basketball team will open the 2008 NCAA Championship at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn., taking on top-seeded Connecticut in the first round matchup. The Big Red learned of its tournament fate when the brackets were announced on Monday night on ESPN.

A gathering of the Big Red players, staff and other guests met at the Moakley House at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course and cheered when the Cornell vs. Connecticut matchup was the first game unveiled. The Big Red will take on the Huskies on Sunday, at 7 p.m., televised nationally on ESPN2.

"I'm ecstatic for our players right now," said head coach Dayna Smith. "Obviously, Connecticut is a great team, but this will be a great experience for our girls to walk into a packed arena and I just want them to enjoy every minute of it. We'll work hard and prepare hard, but I want to make sure the players get to enjoy the moment."

UConn (32-1, 15-1 Big East), which has claimed three of the last six NCAA titles, will be making their 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and boast a 61-14 (.813) mark all-time in NCAA play.

The Huskies earned an automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament after earning BIG EAST Tournament and Regular Season Titles and are ranked No. 1 nationally in both the Associated Press and ESPN Coaches polls.

No. 8 seed Texas (21-12) will battle No. 9 seed Minnesota (20-11) on Sunday, March 23, approximately 30 minutes following the Cornell-UConn match-up.

Each game of the 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPN Fullcourt.

2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds
at the Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, Conn.)
First Round Games - Sunday, March 23

Greensboro Regional
No. 1 seed Connecticut (32-1) vs. No. 16 seed Cornell (20-8), 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 8 seed Texas (21-12) vs. No. 9 seed Minnesota (20-11), Approx. 30 minutes following UConn-Cornell game (ESPN2)

New Orleans Regional
No. 5 seed Kansas State (21-9) vs. No. 12 seed Chattanooga (29-3), Noon (ESPN2)
No. 4 seed Louisville (24-9) vs. No. 13 seed Miami (Ohio) (23-10), Approx. 30 minutes following Kansas State-Chattanooga game (ESPN)

- A.S.