Tennessee
Knoxville, 31-2.
Nickname: Lady Vols. Coach: Pat Summitt.
Conference: Southeastern. Bid: SEC champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 1.
Tournament Record: 106-21, 29 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (79.2); Meighan Simmons 13.7; Shekinna Strickland 12.6; Glory Johnson 11.9.
Rebounds: Team (46.0); Glory Johnson 9.6; Shekinna Strickland 7.5.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.9/15.8); Meighan Simmons 2.8/2.9; Angie Bjorklund 2.1/1.5.
3-pointers: Team (.381); Angie Bjorklund 68; Meighan Simmons 58.
Last Ten: 10-0.
The Skinny: Despite being fourth in the poll for most of the season, this might be one of the least talked about of Pat Summitt’s talented teams. The Lady Vols ran through the SEC and will try for a record ninth NCAA championship. The team has a nice mixture of size and a really talented speedy guard in Meighan Simmons.
Stetson
DeLand, Fla., 20-12.
Nickname: Hatters. Coach: Lynn Bria.
Conference: Atlantic Sun. Bid: Atlantic Sun champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 16.
Tournament Record: 0-1, 1 year. Last appearance: 2005.
Scoring: Team (66.2); Victoria McGowan 14.2; Tierra Brown 13.8; Jessica Conner 10.5.
Rebounds: Team (37.1); Natasha Graboski 6.8; Jessica Conner 6.2.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.8/17.0); Victoria McGowan 4.4/4.7; Tierra Brown 2.4/2.9.
3-pointers: Team (.341); Tierra Brown 47; Victoria McGowan 44.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Victoria McGowan already had the play of the season hitting a 55-footer at the buzzer to get Stetson to the conference tournament final. Stetson then easily handled Jacksonville to advance to the NCAA tournament for the second time.
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Marquette
Milwaukee, 23-8.
Nickname: Golden Eagles. Coach: Terri Mitchell.
Conference: Big East. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 8.
Tournament Record: 3-8, 8 years. Last appearance: 2007.
Scoring: Team (66.2); Angel Robinson 13.3; Tatiyiana McMorris 12.5; Paige Fiedorowicz 10.5.
Rebounds: Team (36.0); Sarina Simmons 5.7; Jasmine Collins 5.2; Angel Robinson 5.2.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.5/17.1); Angel Robinson 4.8/1.6; Tatiyiana McMorris 3.8/1.3.
3-pointers: Team (.342); Tatiyiana McMorris 72; Courtney Weibel 49.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: Terri Mitchell has the Golden Eagles back in the tournament for the first time in four years. This senior-laden team has found ways to win close games all season.
Texas
Austin, 19-13.
Nickname: Longhorns. Coach: Gail Goestenkors.
Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 9.
Tournament Record: 32-23, 24 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (76.6); Chassidy Fussell 16.3; Kathleen Nash 13.8; Yvonne Anderson 12.0.
Rebounds: Team (42.9); Kathleen Nash 7.9; Ashley Gayle 7.2; Chassidy Fussell 5.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.7/17.1); Ashleigh Fontenette 3.8/2.7; Yvonne Anderson 3.1/2.8.
3-pointers: Team (.369); Kathleen Nash 70; Chassidy Fussell 63.
Last Ten: 4-6.
The Skinny: Freshman Chassidy Fussell has made an immediate impact for the Longhorns. Coach Gail Goestenkors needs to get more consistent play out of her bench to make a tournament run.
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Georgia Tech
Atlanta, 23-9.
Nickname: Yellow Jackets. Coach: MaChelle Joseph.
Conference: Atlantic Coast. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 5.
Tournament Record: 2-6, 6 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (66.2); Alex Montgomery 14.2; Tyaunna Marshall 13.5.
Rebounds: Team (39.6) Alex Montgomery 8.4; Sasha Goodlett 6.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.9/19.6); Metra Walthour 3.8/2.2; Deja Foster 2.6/2.5.
3-pointers: Team (.333); Alex Montgomery 69; Metra Walthour 45.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: Georgia Tech won 23 games for the second straight season, matching the mark set in 1977-78. Alex Montgomery has carried them all season to impressive victories over North Carolina and Maryland.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio, 28-4.
Nickname: Falcons. Coach: Curt Miller.
Conference: Mid-American. Bid: Mid-American champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 12.
Tournament Record: 3-10, 10 years. Last appearance: 2010 .
Scoring: Team (72.3); Lauren Prochaska 17.8; Tracy Pontius 12.3; Chrissy Steffen 10.2.
Rebounds: Team (37.7); Jen Uhl 6.2, Lauren Prochaska 6.0; Maggie Hennegan 5.5.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.9/10.5); Tracy Pontius 3.5/2.2; Lauren Prochaska 2.6/1.5
3-pointers: Team (.361); Tracy Pontius 75; Lauren Prochaska 69.
Last Ten: 10-0.
The Skinny: The Falcons have depth and experience. Prochaska is a terrific all-around player, who gets it done on both ends of the floor. A two-time MAC player of the year, she’s frequently assigned the opponent’s top scorer and shuts them down with her length and quickness. Three of Bowling Green’s four losses this season were by one point. Miller demanded a lot from his senior-led squad and they’ve delivered. Now they get a chance to do it on the biggest stage yet.
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Ohio State
Columbus, 22-9.
Nickname: Buckeyes. Coach: Jim Foster.
Conference: Big Ten. Bid: Big Ten champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 4.
Tournament Record: 20-19, 19 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (74.1); Jantel Lavender 22.7; Samantha Prahalis 14.1; Tayler Hill 12.7.
Rebounds: Team (40.6); Jantel Lavender 10.9; Sarah Schulze 5.7.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.9/14.7); Samantha Prahalis 6.9/3.9; Tayler Hill 3.5/2.3.
3-pointers: Team (.396); Brittany Johnson 75; Samantha Prahalis 36.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: It’s been a roller coaster season for the Buckeyes. They started off well winning their first seven games before dropping six of nine. They righted things to win the Big Ten tournament and have momentum headed into the NCAAs.
Central Florida
Orlando, 22-10.
Nickname: Knights. Coach: Joi Williams.
Conference: Conference USA. Bid: Conference USA champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: 13.
Tournament Record: 0-3. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (67.3); D’Nay Daniels 14.2; Chelsie Wiley 13.9; Aisha Patrick 10.6.
Rebounds: Team (41); Aisha Patrick 8; D’Nay Daniels 7.7.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.9/15.1); Aisha Patrick 3.9/2.5; Chelsie Wiley 2.1/1.3
3-pointers: Team (.336); Chelsie Wiley 74; Jelisa Caldwell 35.
Last Ten: 10-0.
The Skinny: UCF won the Conference USA tournament for the second time in three seasons, beating rival Tulane in the championship game. The Knights are riding an 11-game winning streak into the tournament.
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Oklahoma
Norman, 21-11.
Nickname: Sooners. Coach: Sherri Coale.
Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 6.
Tournament Record: 25-13, 13 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (75.8); Danielle Robinson 18.4; Aaryn Ellenberg 16.5; Whitney Hand 11.6.
Rebounds: Team (39.2); Joanna McFarland 6.2; Whitney Hand 5.7.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.4/16.6); Danielle Robinson 4.8/3.8; Whitney Hand 2.7/2.6.
3-pointers: Team (.358); Aaryn Ellenberg 87; Morgan Hook 54.
Last Ten: 4-6.
The Skinny: Sherri Coale may be hard pressed to make it back to the Final Four for a third straight season. The Sooners can shoot the ball from beyond the arc without much problem, but don’t have a potent interior game. Aaryn Ellenberg has really had a strong freshman season.
James Madison
Harrisonburg, Va., 26-7.
Nickname: Dukes. Coach: Kenny Brooks.
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association. Bid: CAA champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 11.
Tournament Record: 7-8, 8 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (70.4); Dawn Evans 23.2; Lauren Jimenez 14.1; Tarik Hislop 10.7.
Rebounds: Team (44.8); Lauren Jimenez 8.6; Jalissa Taylor 6.6; Lauren Whitehurst 6.2.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.7/14.7); Dawn Evans 4.5/3.6; Tarik Hislop 1.9/2.4.
3-pointers: Team (.317); Dawn Evans 98; Courtney Hamner 59.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Dawn Evans will try and lift James Madison to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1996. She is one of the most dynamic players in the nation, but will need help on the offensive end for the Dukes to advance that far.
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Miami
Miami, 27-4.
Nickname: Hurricanes. Coach: Katie Meier.
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 3.
Tournament Record: 2-6, 6 years. Last appearance: 2004.
Scoring: Team (79.8); Riqua Williams 21.7; Shenise Johnson 19.7; Morgan Stroman 13.4.
Rebounds: Team (40.8); Shenise Johnson 8.2; Morgan Stroman 7.9.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.0/16.7); Porsche Landry 4.0/4.0; Veronica Hicks 3.3/2.3.
3-pointers: Team (.302); Riqua Williams 71; Stefanie Yderstrom 46; Shenise Johnson 41.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Katie Meier completed a worst-to-first turnaround for the Hurricanes in the ACC. Miami has one of the most talented backcourts in the country with Riqua Williams and Shenise Johnson.
Gardner-Webb
Boiling Springs, N.C., 23-10.
Nickname: Runnin’ Bulldogs. Coach: Rick Reeves.
Conference: Big South. Bid: Big South champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 14.
Tournament Record: First appearance.
Scoring: Team (63.9); Monique Hudson 13.6; Dominique Hudson 12.9; Sierra Little 9.0.
Rebounds: Team (39.6); Sierra Little 6.9; LaTroya Pope 6.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.6/16.6); Dominique Hudson 5.9/3.6; Monique Hudson 3.7/3.7.
3-pointers: Team (.305); Monique Hudson 47; Jasmine Dale 42.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Twin sisters Monique and Dominque Hudson will cause problems for their opponents. Rick Reeves becomes the first coach in Big South history to lead two conference teams to the NCAA tournament. He took Liberty to three straight appearances from 1997-99. Gardner-Webb had lost to the Flames the past two years in the conference tournament title game before finally edging them this season.
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Arizona State
Tempe, 20-10.
Nickname: Sun Devils. Coach: Charli Turner Thorne.
Conference: Pac-10. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 7.
Tournament Record: 13-10, 10 years, Last NCAA appearance: 2009.
Scoring: (61.4); Dymond Simon 13.5; Kimberly Brandon 9.5; Becca Tobin 8.5.
Rebounds: (37.0); Kimberly Brandon 6.5; Becca Tobin 5.7.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.5/17.3) Dymond Simon 2.7/3.1; Tenaya Watson 2.3/2.1.
3-pointers: Team (.268); Dymond Simon 36; Tenaya Watson 23
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: An early exit in the Pac-10 tournament left Arizona State on the bubble on selection Monday. The Sun Devils have point guard Dymond Simon back from a knee injury that caused her to miss last year.
Temple
Philadelphia, 23-8.
Nickname: Owls. Coach: Tonya Cardoza.
Conference: Atlantic 10. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 10.
Tournament Record: 4-9, 9 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (62.1); Shey Peddy 14.0; Shaqwedia Wallace 13.8; Kristen McCarthy 13.2.
Rebounds: Team (40.5); Natasha Thames 5.2; Shey Peddy 5.1; Kristen McCarthy 4.9.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.6/17.7); Shey Peddy 4.2/2.2; Shaqwedia Wallace 2.7/2.6.
3-pointers: Team (.325); Shaqwedia Wallace 60; Shey Peddy 45.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Temple continues to play strong defense under Cardoza. For the Owls to advance far they will need some interior help to complement Shey Peddy and Shaqwedia Wallace _ the team’s all-time 3-point shooter.
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Notre Dame
South Bend, Ind., 26-7.
Nickname: Irish. Coach: Muffet McGraw.
Conference: Big East. Bid: At-Large.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 2.
Tournament Record: 27-16, 17 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (77.8); Natalie Novosel 14.8; Skylar Diggins 14.2; Devereaux Peters 11.6.
Rebounds: Team (38.9); Devereaux Peters 7.2; Natalie Achonwa 5.4; Becca Bruszewski 5.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (17.3/17.8); Skylar Diggins 4.6/3.7; Brittany Mallory 2.7/1.8.
3-pointers: Team (.347); Brittany Mallory 36; Skylar Diggins 25.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: It’s been another solid year for coach Muffet McGraw, who will be put into the 2011 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. They finished third in the conference and lost in the tournament championship to Connecticut. Devereaux Peters will be the key to a long NCAA run. When she plays well the Irish are really good, when she struggles, they struggle.
Utah
Salt Lake City, 18-16.
Nickname: Utes. Interim Coach: Anthony Leverts.
Conference: Mountain West. Bid: Mountain West Conference champion.
Region: Dayton. Seed: No. 15.
Tournament Record 9-16, 16 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (56.6); Iwalani Rodrigues 14.7; Michelle Plouffe 13.9; Janita Badon 12.6.
Rebounds: Team (37.4); Michelle Plouffe 7.3; Janita Badon 6.4; Michelle Harrison 6.4.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.8/15.9); Janita Badon 5.6/3.9; Rachel Messer 2.0/1.4.
3-pointers: Team (.329); Iwalani Rodrigues 106; Rachel Messer 34.
Last Ten: 6-4
The Skinny: After going 14-16 in the regular season and 7-9 in conference, the young Utes won four games in five days to become the first No. 5 seed to win the MWC tourney. It was their farewell as they move to the Pac-12 in 2011-12.
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