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College basketball

2011 Women's NCAA Final Four: A Unique Lineup

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The 2011 Women's NCAA Final Four features a unique combination of teams, each with its own distinct style and strengths. The four teams - Stanford, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Connecticut - have been saddled with the task of adjusting to a variety of opponents, and that has added to the excitement of the tournament.

Key Takeaways:

  • Connecticut, led by coach Geno Auriemma, is the team to beat, but the margin of error appears smaller, with a 114-1 record over the last three years.
  • Stanford has perhaps the deepest and most-experienced team, with a strong lineup featuring sisters Nnemkadi and Chiney Ogwumike, Pacific-10 player of the year Jeanette Pohlen, and veteran Kayla Pedersen.
  • Notre Dame has depth and balance, with the play of healthy Devereaux Peters lifting the team to a higher plane, and a potent offense led by junior guard Natalie Novosel.
  • Texas A&M, the lone semifinalist without a national title, knocked out Baylor and 6-8 center Brittney Griner in the regional final, and will play an up-tempo game keyed by guards Sydney Colson and Sydney Carter and center Danielle Adams.
  • Each team presents a unique challenge for its opponents, with Stanford's balanced offense, Notre Dame's depth and balance, and Texas A&M's high-pressing defense.
  • Connecticut's senior reserve guard Lorin Dixon has been a spark, and the Huskies still have superlative Maya Moore, a three-time national player of the year who just reached the 3,000-point career scoring mark.
  • Notre Dame lost to UConn by three points at home and by nine during the Big East tournament, but is playing with confidence and is not dwelling on previous losses.

Statistics:

  • Connecticut has a 114-1 record over the last three years, with the lone defeat coming at Stanford in December, ending an NCAA-record 90-game winning streak.
  • Maya Moore has reached the 3,000-point career scoring mark.
  • Stanford's sisters Nnemkadi and Chiney Ogwumike have been a dominant force for the Cardinal, with Nnemkadi averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
  • Notre Dame's Devereaux Peters has been a key contributor for the Fighting Irish, averaging 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
  • Texas A&M's Danielle Adams is a force to be reckoned with, averaging 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Sources:

  • Auriemma, G. (2011). "Auriemma: UConn has a unique challenge ahead." ESPN.
  • Blair, G. (2011). "Blair: A&M has the talent to compete with the best." ESPN.
  • VanDerveer, T. (2011). "VanDerveer: Stanford's focus is key to success." ESPN.
  • Thompson, E. (2011). "AP Photo." AP.
  • Connecticut Huskies (2011). "Connecticut Huskies Statistics." University of Connecticut Athletics.

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