Women's NCAA

A tournament rarity: a wide-open field

The women's NCAA Tournament will start with some grumbling over travel and an outcome in doubt.

There might even be a few upsets in the early rounds, a rarity.

A year ago, the only thing that could have kept Connecticut from winning the championship might have been failing to get to the arena on time.

The Huskies have the talent to repeat and they're ranked No.1. But they're relying on three freshmen, leading scorer Diana Taurasi has ankle and back problems and Villanova showed UConn was vulnerable.

By ending the Huskies' 70-game winning streak 52-48 in the Big East tournament championship game, Villanova gave hope to everyone else.

"Connecticut was so dominant last year, it was almost like everybody else was playing for second," said Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp, whose team is seeded second in the Midwest Region.

"I do think we've got a little different look this year. There are several teams that probably have enough of a total package and a chance to get it done."

The sprint to the Final Four in Atlanta begins Saturday with 16 first-round games in eight campus arenas. The remaining 16 first-round games will be Sunday at eight other sites.

Connecticut (31-1), seeded No.1 in the East Region, plays first-time qualifier Boston University at home Sunday. The Huskies are aiming for a second straight title and third in four years.

"We're just looking forward to starting a new season and trying to win six games," freshman Barbara Turner said. "Seventy victories was great and we appreciated it. But the most important thing is winning six games."

The NCAA's new format of picking the 16 regional sites in advance has created a system that many coaches feel is unfair. Some higher seeds will be playing at home because they had winning bids for those sites, while others are going on the road.

Among those playing at home is sixth-seeded New Mexico in the Midwest. The Lobos expect a sellout crowd of 16,151 in the Pit for their game with Miami on Saturday night.

PENN RARING TO GO: If anyone thought South Carolina star Jocelyn Penn would be slowed by an ankle sprain, forget it.

The queen of transition, and the country's fourth-leading scorer at 24.3 points, says she's ready to run when the fifth-seeded Gamecocks (22-7) open against No.12 seed Chattanooga (26-4) on Sunday.

"The wheels are all oiled up and ready to go," Penn said.

The team will leave today for its Mideast Region site in State College, Pa.

One of its biggest questions was if Penn's gimpy right ankle, injured in her last home game Feb.27 with South Carolina way ahead of Kentucky, would heal enough to get her back as the Gamecocks' main scorer.

Penn had 13 points in a Southeastern Conference tournament win over Mississippi, and she committed six turnovers as the Gamecocks were knocked out a game later by Mississippi State.

"I don't think she had the greatest tournament in the SEC," South Carolina coach Susan Walvius said. "She was a half-step slow, she was just a little tentative, she had not practiced in a week. I expected that a little bit."

But in the time since that March 7 tournament loss, Penn has grown stronger and regained her aggressive style in practice.

"I tell you what, she hasn't lost a step," Walvius said.

KEELER OUT: Washington forward Sarah Keeler has a torn ligament in her left knee and will miss the tournament. The Huskies (22-7) play Wisconsin-Green Bay (27-3) in the first round Saturday at Eugene, Ore. Keeler was injured Tuesday during practice. She has come off the bench in all 29 games this season, averaging 3.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.

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