Hartford Defeats Boston University for America East Championship

By Ann K. Miller: SPM CT Writer
Posted Monday, March 17, 2008

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Hartford Hawks defeated the Boston University Terriers 61-45 Sunday to win the America East Conference tournament championship and thereby assuring their berth in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The Hawks were in a must-win situation, although they came into the tournament as the number-one seed. They needed the win to get the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney since the America East league does not have a good enough win record to place any other teams in the post season.

Last year the Hawks were upset in the tournament final by Maryland-Baltimore County, and they remembered how bad it felt to sit at home, watching other teams still playing ball.

Junior point guard Lisa Etienne led the way for the Hawks, doing it on both ends of the floor with a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds. She was voted to the All-Tournament Team and was selected as Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Senior forward Danielle Hood, who was also named to the All-Tournament team, was playing in her last game at Chase Arena and did her best to go out with a bang – with 14 points and six rebounds.

The Terriers were led by junior forward Jesyka Burks-Wiley with 12 points and six rebounds. She was closely followed by junior guard Christine Kinneary who chipped in 11 points.

The Hawks played aggressive defense in the first half, employing multiple zone defenses which confused the visitors and created foul troubles for three of their starters.

"Hartford jumped out on us early," Terrier coach Kelly Greenburg said. "Their defensive strategy in the first half really rattled us and got us out of any kind of offensive flow.”

The Terriers needed double-overtime to beat Vermont on Saturday night and might have been feeling the effects of the game.

"We're not an excuse team," Greenburg added. "However, we did play a double-overtime game last night. That showed in the second half, how tired we were. But we also fouled way too much in the first half.”

The Hawks led at the half, 28-20.

Hartford kept up the pressure in the second half, using mostly man-to-man defense. Not wanting to take any chances that the Terriers would be able to mount a comeback and take home the trophy, everyone stepped up on defense and rebounding – their coach's mantra for the tournament.

The Terriers did manage to cut the lead to four early in the second half, but the Hawks responded with a Hood layup and an Etienne 3-pointer to build the lead to nine, and they never looked back.

"I felt like they played this weekend like they were on a mission," Hartford coach Jen Rizzotti said. "A year is a long time to wait to redeem yourself and they stayed focused."

The Hawks will continue to celebrate and then gather around the television Monday evening to see where they will be playing in the NCAA tournament.