American Conference Postseason WBB Play Starts Tonight

By Bob Phillips

ALBANY—Once again, the American Athletic Conference finds itself well represented in women’s basketball this postseason. In all, five American teams will begin play in either the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT beginning this evening (two NCAA; three WNIT).

Since The American’s inaugural season in 2013-14, all 12 women’s basketball program have made at least one postseason appearance, and this marks the second-straight year The American has placed five teams into postseason play. The conference has earned 14 bids to the NCAA Championship and compiled a 39-9 record in the tournament, with five-time conference champion UConn claiming three national titles. All-time, American programs sport a 137-80 record in the NCAA Championship.

Crème de la Crème
It comes as no surprise to anyone that the University of Connecticut Huskies claimed their sixth-straight American Athletic Conference title on March 11 at the Mohegan Sun Arena, culminating yet another unbeaten conference season. Indeed, the Huskies have never lost a conference game—regular season or postseason championship tournament—since joining The American. UConn will be making its 31st-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, and is the winningest program in NCAA tournament history with an overall 117-19 mark. The Huskies will be seeking its 12th-straight Final Four appearance and 12th national title.

First for Pheesa

UConn senior forward Napheesa Collier became the first player in American Athletic Conference history to earn both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Pheesa is the only American Athletic Conference player to average a double-double on the season, and became one of just six active Division I players to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Collier has already notched one All-America nod (espnW) and is a finalist for four national awards.

Rising Knights

UCF will make its first NCAA Championship appearance since 2011 on Friday, and earned the program’s first at-large bid. So far this season, the Knights have set the program record for wins (26), earned its highest American Athletic Conference finish (second) and advanced to the program’s first American Athletic Conference championship game. UCF has been receiving votes in one or both national polls every week this season, and enter the postseason ranked 15 in the RPI.

Three-Time Ladies

The American placed three teams in the Postseason WNIT field for the second-straight season, as Cincinnati, Houston and USF will open postseason play on Thursday evening. The Bearcats and Cougars make their second-straight WNIT appearances, with Cincinnati earning the conference’s automatic bid by virtue of its third-place finish. USF has a storied WNIT history, having claimed the tournament title in 2009 and advancing to the semifinals in 2014.

POSTSEASON WNIT FIRST ROUND

Thursday, March 21 • 7 p.m. ET

Cincinnati, Ohio
Youngstown State at Cincinnati

Thursday, March 21 • 7 p.m. ET

Tampa, Fla.
Stetson at USF

Thursday, March 21 • 8 p.m. ET

Fayetteville, Ark.
Houston at Arkansas

NCAA FIRST ROUND

Friday, March 22 • 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Albany Region • Storrs, Conn.
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Towson

Friday, March 22 • 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Portland Region • Coral Gables, Fla.
No. 12 UCF vs. No. 5 Arizona State

For more information, please visit TheAmerican.org.

—with staff reports