GREATEST WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTS PRESENTED BY
1991 - UConn Arrives on the National Scene
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The 1991 UConn team that defeated Providence in the BIG EAST Championship, 79-74 broke barriers in the NCAA Tournament that no other conference team had since the league’s women’s basketball inception in 1983.
After winning the school’s first BIG EAST Tournament crown, the Huskies went on to become the first league team to qualify for the Final Four.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Meghan Pattyson scored 20 points and posted nine rebounds and five assists in the final. The Huskies notched 28 assists on 31 total field goals and shot an astounding 57 percent from the floor – including 64 percent in the second half. They also won despite allowing 29 points from Tracy Lis.
All-Tournament Team:
Lorri Johnson (Pittsburgh)
Kris Durham (Seton Hall)
Kerry Bascom (Connecticut)
Shanya Evans (Providence)
Tracy Lis (Providence)
Most Valuable Player: Meghan Pattyson (Connecticut)
1983 - First Women's Championship
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The first-ever BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player Debbie Beckford scored 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting in the title game to lead St. John’s (23-5) to a 74-63 win over host Providence (23-6) in the inaugural league tournament, which was held in Alumni Hall.
Beckford averaged 20 points per game in the tournament, playing at least 38 minutes in each of SJU’s three contests.
Providence reached the final by virtue of its 71-69 overtime victory against Villanova.
St. John’s (No. 7 seed) ultimately was the only BIG EAST team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, falling by a 86-63 margin to second-seeded Old Dominion.
All-Tournament Team
Nancy Bernhart (Villanova)
Laurie St. Jean (Providence)
Diane Pugh (St. John’s)
Kathy Finn (Providence)
Janet Roos (St. John’s)
1995 - UConn's Perfect Run
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UConn (29-0) continued its magical season with a three-game romp through the BIG EAST Championship. Winning its three Championship games by an average of more than 30 points (29, 32 and 36), the Huskies captured their fourth BIG EAST Championship.
Kara Wolters had a game-high 32 points connecting on 13-of-18 attempts from the field against Seton Hall and earned the Most Outstanding Performer honors. Wolters tallied the 32 points in just 21 minutes.
UConn would go on to win the National Championship, its first in women’s basketball, and complete the season 35-0.
2003 - Villanova Stuns Connecticut
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With its 52-48 upset of top-seeded and top-ranked Connecticut in the BIG EAST Championship, Villanova ended two monumental streaks. The Huskies had won nine consecutive BIG EAST Championships and an astounding 70 straight games, dating back to the 2001-02 season opener.
The Wildcats, with their slow pace and solid defense, held the Huskies to 30 percent shooting for the game and won despite being outrebounded, 42-33.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Trish Juhline scored a game-high 18 points to lead the way.
The Huskies kept one streak alive that year - winning their second consecutive National Championship. Villanova reached the Elite 8 before falling to top-seeded Tennessee.