2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
![]() 2003 Women's Final Four logo | |||||
Teams | 64 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finals site | Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia | ||||
Champions | Connecticut Huskies (4th title, 4th title game, 7th Final Four) | ||||
Runner-up | Tennessee Volunteers (10th title game, 14th Final Four) | ||||
Semifinalists |
| ||||
Winning coach | Geno Auriemma (4th title) | ||||
MOP | Diana Taurasi (Connecticut) | ||||
Attendance | 334,587 | ||||
|
The 2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 22, 2003, and concluded on April 8, 2003, when the Connecticut Huskies (UConn) won their second straight national title. The Final Four was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6–8, 2003. UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma, defeated archrival Tennessee, coached by Pat Summitt, 73–68 in the championship game. UConn's Diana Taurasi was named Most Outstanding Player.
This was the first year of a new format, in which the final game is held on the Tuesday following the men's championship, in contrast to prior years, when it was held on Sunday evening, between the men's semi-final and final. The game now is the final game of the Division 1 collegiate basketball season.
Tournament records
[edit]- Rebounds – Connecticut recorded 22 rebounds in the Championship game against Tennessee, setting the record for fewest rebounds in an NCAA tournament Championship game.
- Free throws – Villanova attempted zero free throws in the Mideast Regional final game against Tennessee, one of only two times a team has attempted zero free throws in an NCAA Regional game
- Three-point field goals made – Diana Taurasi made 20 three-point field goals, tying the record for most three-point field goals in an NCAA tournament
- Free throws – Tennessee completed 128 free throws, setting the record for made free throws in an NCAA tournament[1]
Qualifying teams – automatic
[edit]Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA tournament.[1]
Qualifying teams – at-large
[edit]Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[1]
At-large Bids | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Record | ||||
Qualifying school | Conference | Regular season |
Conference | Seed |
University of Arizona | Pacific-10 | 22–8 | 13–5 | 6 |
University of Arkansas | Southeastern | 21–10 | 7–7 | 7 |
Boston College | Big East | 20–8 | 12–4 | 5 |
Brigham Young University | Mountain West | 19–11 | 8–6 | 11 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Conference USA | 21–8 | 12–2 | 12 |
University of Cincinnati | Conference USA | 23–7 | 11–3 | 10 |
University of Colorado at Boulder | Big 12 | 22–7 | 11–5 | 6 |
University of Connecticut | Big East | 31–1 | 16–0 | 1 |
DePaul University | Conference USA | 22–9 | 10–4 | 9 |
University of Georgia | Southeastern | 19–9 | 10–4 | 5 |
Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlantic Coast | 20–10 | 8–8 | 10 |
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | Big Ten | 17–11 | 9–7 | 9 |
Kansas State University | Big 12 | 28–4 | 14–2 | 3 |
University of Miami | Big East | 18–12 | 8–8 | 11 |
Michigan State University | Big Ten | 17–11 | 10–6 | 8 |
University of Minnesota | Big Ten | 23–5 | 12–4 | 6 |
Mississippi State University | Southeastern | 23–7 | 10–4 | 3 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Atlantic Coast | 27–5 | 13–3 | 3 |
University of Notre Dame | Big East | 19–10 | 10–6 | 11 |
Ohio State University | Big Ten | 21–9 | 10–6 | 4 |
University of Oklahoma | Big 12 | 19–12 | 9–7 | 10 |
Pennsylvania State University | Big Ten | 24–8 | 13–3 | 4 |
Rutgers University | Big East | 20–7 | 13–3 | 4 |
University of South Carolina | Southeastern | 22–7 | 9–5 | 5 |
University of Tennessee | Southeastern | 28–4 | 14–0 | 1 |
Texas Tech University | Big 12 | 26–5 | 13–3 | 2 |
Tulane University | Conference USA | 19–9 | 10–4 | 11 |
University of Utah | Mountain West | 23–6 | 12–2 | 8 |
Vanderbilt University | Southeastern | 21–9 | 9–5 | 4 |
University of Virginia | Atlantic Coast | 16–13 | 9–7 | 8 |
Virginia Tech | Big East | 21–9 | 10–6 | 7 |
University of Washington | Pacific-10 | 22–7 | 13–5 | 9 |
Xavier University | Atlantic 10 | 20–9 | 11–5 | 10 |
Bids by conference
[edit]Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In twenty-two cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from nine of the conferences.[1]
Bids | Conference | Teams |
7 | Big East | Villanova, Boston College, Connecticut, Miami Fla., Notre Dame, Rutgers, Virginia Tech |
7 | Southeastern | LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi St., South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt |
6 | Big Ten | Purdue, Illinois, Michigan St., Minnesota, Ohio St., Penn St. |
5 | Big 12 | Texas, Colorado, Kansas St., Oklahoma, Texas Tech |
5 | Conference USA | TCU, Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Tulane |
4 | Atlantic Coast | Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia |
3 | Mountain West | New Mexico, BYU, Utah |
3 | Pacific-10 | Stanford, Arizona, Washington |
2 | Atlantic 10 | George Washington, Xavier |
1 | America East | Boston U. |
1 | Atlantic Sun | Georgia St. |
1 | Big Sky | Weber St. |
1 | Big South | Liberty |
1 | Big West | UC Santa Barb. |
1 | Colonial | Old Dominion |
1 | Horizon | Green Bay |
1 | Ivy | Harvard |
1 | Metro Atlantic | Manhattan |
1 | Mid-American | Western Mich. |
1 | Mid-Continent | Valparaiso |
1 | Mid-Eastern | Hampton |
1 | Missouri Valley | Missouri St. |
1 | Northeast | St. Francis Pa. |
1 | Ohio Valley | Austin Peay |
1 | Patriot | Holy Cross |
1 | Southern | Chattanooga |
1 | Southland | Texas St. |
1 | Southwestern | Alabama St. |
1 | Sun Belt | Western Ky. |
1 | West Coast | Pepperdine |
1 | Western Athletic | Louisiana Tech |
2003 NCAA tournament schedule and venues
[edit]In 2003, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1–16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In 2003, a change was implemented in the way first and second round sites were determined. From 1982 (the year of the first NCAA women's basketball tournament) through 2002, the first rounds sites were offered to the top seeds. Starting in 2003, sixteen sites for the first two rounds were determined approximately a year before the team selections and seedings were completed.[2]
First and Second rounds
The following lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:[3]
- March 22 and 24
- East Region
- Mideast Region
- Midwest Region
- West Region
- March 23 and 25
- East Region
- Mideast Region
- Midwest Region
- West Region
Regional semifinals and finals
The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 29 to April 1 at these sites:[4]
- March 29 and 31
- Mideast Regional, Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee (Host: University of Tennessee)
- Midwest Regional, The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Host: University of New Mexico)
- March 30 and April 1
- East Regional, University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton)
- West Regional, Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California (Host: Stanford University)
Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held April 6 and April 8 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome, (Host: Georgia Institute of Technology)
Bids by state
[edit]The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. Virginia had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/NCAA_Women%27s_basketball_Tournament_invitations_by_state_2003.svg/500px-NCAA_Women%27s_basketball_Tournament_invitations_by_state_2003.svg.png)
Bids | State | Teams |
---|---|---|
5 | Virginia | Hampton, Liberty, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech |
4 | Massachusetts | Boston U., Harvard, Holy Cross, Boston College |
4 | Tennessee | Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Vanderbilt |
4 | Texas | TCU, Texas, Texas St., Texas Tech |
3 | California | Pepperdine, Stanford, UC Santa Barb. |
3 | Georgia | Georgia St., Georgia, Georgia Tech |
3 | Indiana | Purdue, Valparaiso, Notre Dame |
3 | Louisiana | Louisiana Tech, LSU, Tulane |
3 | North Carolina | Duke, Charlotte, North Carolina |
3 | Ohio | Cincinnati, Ohio St., Xavier |
3 | Utah | Weber St., BYU, Utah |
2 | Illinois | DePaul, Illinois |
2 | Michigan | Western Mich., Michigan St. |
2 | New York | Manhattan, St. Francis Pa. |
2 | Pennsylvania | Villanova, Penn St. |
1 | Alabama | Alabama St. |
1 | Arizona | Arizona |
1 | Arkansas | Arkansas |
1 | Colorado | Colorado |
1 | Connecticut | Connecticut |
1 | District of Columbia | George Washington |
1 | Florida | Miami Fla. |
1 | Kansas | Kansas St. |
1 | Kentucky | Western Ky. |
1 | Minnesota | Minnesota |
1 | Mississippi | Mississippi St. |
1 | Missouri | Missouri St. |
1 | New Jersey | Rutgers |
1 | New Mexico | New Mexico |
1 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
1 | South Carolina | South Carolina |
1 | Washington | Washington |
1 | Wisconsin | Green Bay |
Brackets
[edit]Data Source[5]
Mideast Region – Knoxville, Tennessee
[edit]First round March 22 and 23 | Second round March 24 and 25 | Regional semifinals March 29 | Regional finals March 31 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 95 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Alabama State | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
Knoxville, Tennessee – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Virginia | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Virginia | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Illinois | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Penn State | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | South Carolina | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | UT-Chattanooga | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | South Carolina | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
State College, Pennsylvania – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Penn State | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Penn State | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Holy Cross | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Villanova | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Colorado | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | BYU | 45 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Colorado | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
Boulder, Colorado – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | North Carolina | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | North Carolina | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Austin Peay | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Colorado | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Villanova | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | George Washington | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Oklahoma | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | George Washington | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
Norman, Oklahoma – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Villanova | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Villanova | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | St. Francis (PA) | 36 |
Midwest Region – Albuquerque, New Mexico
[edit]First round March 22 and 23 | Second round March 24 and 25 | Regional semifinals March 29 | Regional finals March 31 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Georgia State | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
Raleigh, North Carolina – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Utah | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Utah | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | DePaul | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Georgia | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Georgia | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Charlotte | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Georgia | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
Athens, Georgia – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Rutgers | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Rutgers | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Western Kentucky | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas Tech | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | New Mexico | 91 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Miami (FL) | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | New Mexico | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
Albuquerque, New Mexico – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Mississippi State | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Mississippi State | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Manhattan | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | New Mexico | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas Tech | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | UC Santa Barbara | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Xavier | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | UC Santa Barbara | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
Lubbock, Texas – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas Tech | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas Tech | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Missouri State | 59 |
East Region – Dayton, Ohio
[edit]First round March 22 and 23 | Second round March 24 and 25 | Regional semifinals March 30 | Regional finals April 1 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 91 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Boston University | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
Storrs, Connecticut – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | TCU | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Michigan State | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | TCU | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Boston College | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Boston College | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Old Dominion | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Boston College | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
Norfolk, Virginia – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Vanderbilt | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Vanderbilt | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Liberty | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Purdue | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Arizona | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Notre Dame | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Notre Dame | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
Manhattan, Kansas – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Kansas State | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Kansas State | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Harvard | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Notre Dame | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Purdue | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Virginia Tech | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Georgia Tech | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Virginia Tech | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
West Lafayette, Indiana – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Purdue | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Purdue | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Valparaiso | 51 |
West Region – Stanford, California
[edit]First round March 22 and 23 | Second round March 24 and 25 | Regional semifinals March 30 | Regional finals April 1 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | LSU | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Texas State | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | LSU | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
Eugene, Oregon – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Green Bay | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Green Bay | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Washington | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | LSU | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisiana Tech | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisiana Tech | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Pepperdine | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisiana Tech | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
Ruston, Louisiana – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Ohio State | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Ohio State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Weber State | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | LSU | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Minnesota | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Tulane | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Minnesota | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
Stanford, California – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Stanford | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Stanford | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Western Michigan | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Minnesota | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Arkansas | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Cincinnati | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Arkansas | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
Cincinnati, Ohio – Sun/Tue | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Texas | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Hampton | 46 |
Final Four – Atlanta, Georgia
[edit]National semifinals April 6 | National championship April 8 | ||||||||
ME1 | Tennessee | 66 | |||||||
MW1 | Duke | 56 | |||||||
ME1 | Tennessee | 68 | |||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 73 | |||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 71 | |||||||
W2 | Texas | 69 |
E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West.
Record by conference
[edit]Conference | # of Bids | Record | Win % | Round of 32 |
Sweet Sixteen |
Elite Eight |
Final Four |
Championship Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Big East | L | 15–6 | .714 | L | L | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Southeastern | 7 | 14–7 | .667 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Big Ten | 6 | 8–6 | .571 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Big 12 | 5 | 10–5 | .667 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Conference USA | 5 | 1–5 | .167 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Atlantic Coast | 4 | 6–4 | .600 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mountain West | 3 | 3–3 | .500 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pacific-10 | 3 | 1–3 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Atlantic 10 | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Western Athletic | 1 | 2–1 | .667 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Big West | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Horizon | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nineteen conferences went 0–1: America East, Atlantic Sun Conference, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Colonial, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Missouri Valley Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt Conference, and West Coast Conference
All-Tournament team
[edit]- Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
- Ann Strother, Connecticut
- Alana Beard, Duke
- Gwen Jackson, Tennessee
- Kara Lawson, Tennessee [1]
Game officials
[edit]- Scott Yarbrough (semifinal)
- Joe Cunningham (semifinal)
- June Courteau (semifinal)
- Sally Bell (semifinal)
- Dee Kantner (semifinal)
- Eric Larson (semifinal)
- Wesley Dean (final)
- Melissa Barlow (final)
- Lisa Mattingly (final) [1]
See also
[edit]- NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
- 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- 2003 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Nixon, Rick. "Official 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ HAVEL, CARRIE J. (2005). "The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship: an analysis of first and second rounds and the change to predetermined sites" (PDF). p. 1. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
- ^ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
- ^ "2003 DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HANDBOOK" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ^ "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book". NCAA. February 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
- 2002–03 NCAA Division I women's basketball season
- March 2003 sports events in the United States
- April 2003 sports events in the United States
- Basketball competitions in Lubbock, Texas
- Basketball competitions in Atlanta
- Women's sports in Georgia (U.S. state)
- College sports tournaments in Georgia (U.S. state)