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University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Hoops Picked Fifth In A-10 East
November 11, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2003
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - In voting conducted by the league's coaches and media, the University of Massachusetts women's basketball team has been predicted to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 East as announced at this morning's media day. The Minutewomen did not have any players selected to any of the preseason All-Conference teams. Saint Joseph's (East) and George Washington (West) were tabbed as the teams to beat.
The Minutewomen graduated seven seniors and 85 percent of its scoring from last year's team which went 14-14 overall and were third in the A-10 East. Massachusetts started off the 2002-03 season 8-1, but went 6-13 the rest of the way. The Minutewomen went 3-9 after point guard Katie Nelson (Ellicott City, Md.) went down with an injury on January 26, 2003, at Dayton.
The All-Conference first team included Tara Boothe of Xavier, Kate Flavin of Richmond, Candace Futrell of Duquesne as well as Cathy Joens and Ugo Oha of George Washington.
Saint Joseph's received 13 of the 15 first-place votes in the East. Temple was picked second and has the other two first-place votes. Rhode Island, Fordham, Massachusetts and St. Bonaventure round out the division. In the west, George Washington is the unanimous top team. Richmond, Xavier, Duquesne, Dayton and La Salle round it out.
The Minutewomen dropped their only exhibition tilt of the season to Team Concept last Friday, 73-58, at the Mullins Center, but showed a lot of promise against the roster comprised of former WNBA players. UMass led by two at halftime and shot 58 percent from the field in the first half.
Massachusetts opens the regular season on Friday, Nov. 21, with a 7:00 p.m. game at Sacred Heart. The Minutewomen hit the Mullins Center hardwood for the first time this season on Sunday, Nov. 23. They will host Holy Cross at 4:00 p.m.
