Women's Hoops Guru

By Mel Greenberg

Everything that was Villanova's roller coaster season became a one-game highlight/horror film in Bouler, Colo., Thursday night when the Wildcats were knocked out of the Women's National Invitation Tournament by a 16-1 closing run by host Colorado for a 64-58 defeat.

For most of the game, which the Guru tracked back here in Philadelphia, Villanova held a lead and appeared poised to join St. Joseph's as the only two Big Five teams to advance to the WNIT quarterfinals. The Wildcats also are the only Big Five team to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament and in 1982, the last year of the AIAW tournament, coach Harry Perretta's teams advanced with Rutgers, the ultimate winner, Texas and Wayland Baptist to the Final Four at the Palestra.

Then, as has been the case of Villanova dry spells, it all fell apart in the high altitude and Colorado moved on to host TCU on Sunday.

Stacie Witman closed out her career with 20 points and Maria Getty had 15.

In the past, the Guru has found Colorado coach Kathy McConnell-Miller, the older sister of Duquesne coach Suzie McConnell-Serio, amusing as a former Virginia teammate of Dawn Staley, and later as an assistant to Theresa Grentz before moving on to her first head coaching job at Tulsa.

Well, as it turns out, Colorado also has some interest names on its roster, such as Whitney Houston and Brittany Spears, who played roles in the rally that produced the victory.

Guru's Ears Weren't Burning

Not really, but Stephen checked in from Rutgers after the team's pre-Greensboro press briefing to report he would be filing out of the interview session and noted that coach C. Vivian Stringer invoked the Guru's name and more ancient history involving Cheyney and the formative years of the poll.

We'll wait for the email before making any kind of rebuttal.

Waner's Latest AP Blog

The Associated Press is using blogging reports from Rutgers' Essence Carson, North Carolina's Erlana Larkins, Duke's Abby Waner, and Maryland's Crystal Langhorne, all of whom are still alive in the tournament regional semifinals.

Here's the most recent report, which comes from Waner.

THURSDAY, March, 27:

DURHAM, N.C. - Well, we finally made it home - but not for long! Last night was a great game versus Arizona State, and despite the not so friendly support from the Terrapins fans, we were able to pull out the win.

In case you didn't catch the game, Chante Black was a minor 26-point, 13-rebound reason for our success. It's pretty safe to say that this game was largely dependent on the post play seeing as ASU has Lauren Lacey and Sybil Dosty on the inside - which would explain why I avoided the paint for the entire game! Other than our 8-0 start from the tip, it was a tight game until we closed the game with free throws at the end.

So about 10 minutes to go in the first half, I had a literal run-in with Charli Turner Thorne. Quick rewind: Charli was my assistant coach this summer while I played with the U21 USA World Championship team, and it was so great to see her again before we played. Charli could be the all-time most fashionable coach, and last night was no exception.

Unfortunately, her stylish heels were a detriment to us both. I shot a three in the corner (and no, it was not my one make of the night ... that would be the wide open layup in the first three minutes!) and as I ran back, it clearly was not in a straight line because I managed to step out of bounds and directly on Charli's foot.

Seeing as how I am:

A. Not so coordinated/graceful in the least bit

B. Have zero elasticity in my ankles, my right ankle turned and I found myself on the ground like I too often do. I'm pretty sure Charli also took a spill, but I had to watch as my team attempted to guard 5 on 4. A quick tape job and re-lacing later, everything was fine. I'm not sure if I can say the same about Charli's heels.

So here is what's on tap for the next few days in Durham:

1. Laundry is a must; unfortunately, I can't talk Dave, our equipment guy, into throwing my personal laundry in with my practice gear.

2. Catching up on classes (Hear that, Coach P?). Coach P is always sure to send us friendly reminders/threats to get to class once we get back ... not saying that it would take a threat for us to go to class, of course!

3. Briefly scanning the 594 packet that will be waiting on my locker from Coach Brown regarding everything one might need to know about Texas A&M - favorite colors, shoe sizes and siblings' ages included.

Can't wait to tell more from Oklahoma City, Go Duke!

- Duke junior Abby Waner

WBCA Gives Less to UConn's Moore

Unless there is a freshman rule blocking eligibility under the WBCA guidelines, the Guru finds it quite remarkable that Connecticut freshman Maya Moore did not make the final 12 for the organization's player of the year.

Huskies teammates Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery made the cut, but since the finalists,we believe, are picked off the 40 finalists for the WBCA's All-America team, we find it interesting that the other two, talented that they are, were picked by a coaches' panel ahead of Moore.

Philly Roots in the Sweet 16

Still alive from the City of Brotherly Love are former University City star Marcedes Walker with Pittsburgh, the first men's or women's Panthers squad to advance this far, The team is coached by South Jersey's Angus Berenato.

George Washington's coach Joe McKeown is a Father Judge graduate and redshirt junior Lisa Steele is from South Jersey, as is Ivy Abiona, and former Colonial star Lisa Cermingnano, who is now an assistant with Vanderbilt. Connecticut's Meghan Gardler is from Springfield, while Huskies coach Geno Auriemma grew up in Norristown.

And Rutgers coach C.Vivian Stringer's Cheyney background has already been noted.

-- Mel