Hartford Hawks women's basketball
{{Infobox college basketball team
|current = 2024–25 Hartford Hawks women's basketball team
|women=yes
|name = Hartford Hawks women's basketball
|logo = Hartford Athletics wordmark.svg
|logo_size = 200
|university = University of Hartford
|record = {{Winning percentage|577|644|record=y}}
|conference = Conference of New England
|location = West Hartford, Connecticut
|coach = Jackie Smith
|tenure = 1st
|arena = Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion
|capacity = 4,017
|nickname = Hawks
|h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
|h_body=CC0000
|h_shorts=CC0000
|h_pattern_s=_blanksides2
|a_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides
|a_body=CC0000
|a_shorts=CC0000
|a_pattern_s=_whitesides
|NCAAchampion2 =
|NCAAchampion =
|NCAAfinalfour =
|NCAAeliteeight =
|NCAAsweetsixteen =
|NCAAroundof32 = 2006, 2008
|NCAAtourneys = 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
|conference_tournament = 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011
|conference_season = 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
}}
The Hartford Hawks women's basketball team is the basketball team that represents the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States. The school's team currently competes as in the NCAA Division III Conference of New England.
History
The school began the women's basketball team in 1975 as a Division III school. The program moved to Division II and was a member of the Northeast-10 Conference (originally Northeast-7) between 1980 and 1984. The school transitioned to Division I in 1984, playing as an independent school in 1984–85, and then becoming part of the Seaboard Conference in 1985–86. The Seaboard Conference became the North Atlantic Conference in 1989, and changed their name to America East in 1996.
=2000s=
Hartford's most successful run came in the early and mid 2000s under head coach Jen Rizzotti who was hired in 1999.{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/84780b453c4ec14ce285c3c996e8a390|title=Rizzotti To Coach Hartford Women|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=January 20, 2019}} Under Rizzotti, Hartford made 6 NCAA tournament appearances. In 2006 Hartford knocked of the sixth seeded Temple Owls in the first round advancing to the round of the 32 for the first time in program history.{{cite web |url=https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Rizzotti-s-Hawks-knock-off-Temple-95077.php|title=Rizzotti's Hawks knock off Temple|date=20 March 2006 |publisher=newstimes|accessdate=January 23, 2019}} Hartford has continued its success under current head coach Kim McNeill, making the 2018 America East championship game.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-hartford-women-maine-0310-20180309-story.html|title=Hartford Wiped Out By Dominant Quarter In America East Final|publisher=Hartford Courant|accessdate=January 20, 2019}}
=Division III=
On May 6, 2021, the University of Hartford Board of Regents voted to drop its athletic department to Division III. The drop is set to take place no later than September 1, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/05/07/hartford-hawks-athletics-drop-division-iii-ncaa|title=University of Hartford Votes to Drop Athletic Department to Division III|website=Sports Illustrated|date=May 6, 2021|accessdate=May 7, 2021}}
Year by year results
| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Hartford Hawks|Season|Coach|Overall|Conference|Standing|Postseason}} |
| align="center"
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead| |name= Nancy Lauritis |conference= DIII |startyear=1975 |endyear=1976 |
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1975–76
| name = Nancy Lauritis
| overall = 2–6
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Nancy Lauritis
| overall = 2–6
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Roger Wickman
|conference= DIII, DII
|startyear=1976
|endyear=1984
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1976–77
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 11–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1977–78
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 11–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1978–79
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 8–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1979–80
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 14–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1980–81
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 8–11
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1981–82
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 7–14
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1982–83
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 5–18
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1983–84
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 3–20
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Roger Wickman
| overall = 67–78
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Carlos Aldave
|conference= Independent/America East Conference
|startyear=1984
|endyear=1986
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1984–85
| name = Carlos Aldave
| overall = 6–18
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
|-style="background: #ffffdd;"
| colspan="8" align="center" | Division I
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1985–86
| name = Carlos Aldave
| overall = 3–23
| conference = 1–11
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Carlos Aldave
| overall = 9–41
| confrecord = 1–11
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Jean Walling Murphy
|conference= America East
|startyear=1986
|endyear=1990
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1986–87
| name = Jean Walling Murphy
| overall = 7–18
| conference = 3–11
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1987–88
| name = Jean Walling Murphy
| overall = 9–18
| conference = 6–8
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1988–89
| name = Jean Walling Murphy
| overall = 4–19
| conference = 4–8
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1989–90
| name = Jean Walling Murphy
| overall = 4–22
| conference = 2–10
| confstanding = T-6th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Jean Walling Murphy
| overall = 24–77
| confrecord = 15–37
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Mark Schmidt
|conference= America East
|startyear=1990
|endyear=1992
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1990–91
| name = Mark Schmidt
| overall = 11–18
| conference = 5–5
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1991–92
| name = Mark Schmidt
| overall = 9–19
| conference = 2–12
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Mark Schmidt
| overall = 20–37
| confrecord = 7–17
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Allison Jones
|conference= America East
|startyear=1992
|endyear=1999
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1992–93
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 11–16
| conference = 6–8
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1993–94
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 9–18
| conference = 2–12
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1994–95
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 7–20
| conference = 2–14
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1995–96
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 15–13
| conference = 10–8
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1996–97
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 15–12
| conference = 12–6
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1997–98
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 11–16
| conference = 20–8
| confstanding = T-4th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1998–99
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 8–19
| conference = 5–13
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Allison Jones
| overall = 76–114
| confrecord = 47–69
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name=Jennifer Rizzotti
|conference= America East
|startyear=1999
|endyear=2016
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1999–00
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 14–14
| conference = 9–9
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2000–01
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 15–14
| conference = 9–9
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2001–02
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 16–15
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =NCAA first round
| championship =conference tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2002–03
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 7–21
| conference = 5–11
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2003–04
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 18–12
| conference = 9–9
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2004–05
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 22–9
| conference = 13–5
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =NCAA first round
| championship =conference tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2005–06
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 27–4
| conference = 15–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =NCAA second round
| championship =confboth
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2006–07
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 25–9
| conference = 15–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =WNIT Second Round
| championship =conference
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2007–08
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 28–6
| conference = 14–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =NCAA second round
| championship =confboth
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2008–09
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 20–12
| conference = 14–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =WNIT Second Round
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2009–10
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 27–5
| conference = 16–0
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =NCAA first round
| championship =conference
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2010–11
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 17–15
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =NCAA first round
| championship =conference tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2011–12
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 19–13
| conference = 10–6
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =WNIT First Round
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2012–13
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 21–12
| conference = 10–6
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =WNIT First Round
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2013–14
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 13–18
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2014–15
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 16–17
| conference = 8–8
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2015–16
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 11–19
| conference = 7–9
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Jennifer Rizzotti
| overall = 316–216
| confrecord = 183–97
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name=Kim McNeill
|conference= America East
|startyear=2016
|endyear=2019
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2016–17
| name = Kim McNeill
| overall = 17–14
| conference = 7–9
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2017–18
| name = Kim McNeill
| overall = 19–13
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2018–19
| name = Kim McNeill
| overall = 23–11
| conference = 14–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =WNIT First Round
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Kim McNeill
| overall = 59–38
| confrecord = 30–18
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name=Morgan Valley
|conference= America East
|startyear=2019
|endyear=2021
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2019–20
| name = Morgan Valley
| overall = 1–28
| conference = 1–15
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2020–21
| name = Morgan Valley
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 3–9
| confstanding = T-9th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Morgan Valley
| overall = 4–37
| confrecord = 4–24
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Melissa L. Hodgdon
|conference= America East
|startyear=2021
|endyear=2022
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2021–22
| name = Melissa L. Hodgdon
| overall = 4–26
| conference = 4–14
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Melissa L. Hodgdon
| overall = 4–26
| confrecord = 4–14
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Polly Thomason
|conference= Independent
|startyear=2022
|endyear=2023
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2022–23
| name = Polly Thomason
| overall = 2–25
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
|-style="background: #ffffdd;"
| colspan="6" align="center" | Division III
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Polly Thomason
|conference= Commonwealth Coast Conference
|startyear=2023
|endyear=2024
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2023–24
| name = Polly Thomason
| overall = 11–14
| conference = 7–11
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name= Polly Thomason
|conference= Conference of New England
|startyear=2024
|endyear=present
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2024–25
| name = Polly Thomason
| overall = 10–16
| conference = 8–10
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason =
| championship =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Polly Thomason
| overall = 23–55
| confrecord = 15–21
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall =590–683
}}
Postseason
=NCAA Division I tournament results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||
| {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Hartford Hawks|Year|Seed|Round|Opponent|Result}} | ||||
| rowspan=1 | 2002 | (16) | First Round | (1) Oklahoma | L 52–84 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1 | 2005 | (14) | First Round | (3) Rutgers | L 37–62 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1 | 2006 | (11) | First Round Second Round | (6) Temple (3) Georgia | W 64–58 L 54–73 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1 | 2008 | (10) | First Round Second Round | (7) Syracuse (2) Texas A&M | W 59–55 L 39–63 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1 | 2010 | (10) | First Round | (7) LSU | L 39–60 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1 | 2011 | (16) | First Round | (1) Connecticut | L 39–75 |
| style="text-align:center;" |
=WNIT results=
File:2013–14 Hartford Hawks Women's Basketball team cropped.jpg
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Hartford Hawks|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
| 2007 | First Round Second Round | Bucknell South Carolina | W 70–54 L 40–81 |
| 2009 | Second Round | St. John's | L 59–70 |
| 2012 | First Round | Syracuse | L 42–59 |
| 2013 | First Round | Harvard | L 57–61 |
| 2019 | First Round | Providence | L 54–71 |
Notable players
File:Danielle Hood cropped.jpg
- Danielle Hood, played 2004–2008. Was drafted by the Atlanta Dream as the 32nd pick of the 2008 draft. Although she did not make the final roster, she is the first player from Hartford, and only the second player from an America East Conference team to be drafted by the WNBA.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/2008/05/14/uharts-hood-released/|title=Uhart's Hood Released|publisher=Hartford Courant|access-date=September 16, 2013}}
- Liz Stich, played 2001–2005. Coached Plymouth State University from 2012–2015. She was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://athletics.plymouth.edu/sports/wbkb/2012-13/releases/201305232x9os1|title=PSU Women's Basketball Coach earns Hall of Fame nod|publisher=Plymouth State University|accessdate=September 16, 2013}}
- Erica Beverly, played 2005–2010. She was inducted to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Bridgeport-s-Beverly-inducted-to-New-England-4615505.php|title=Bridgeport's Beverly inducted to New England Basketball Hall of Fame|date=22 June 2013 |publisher=CTPost|accessdate=September 16, 2013}}
Head coaches
- Nancy Lauritis (1975–1976)
- Roger Wickman (1976–1984)
- Carlos Aldave (1984–1986)
- Jean Walling Murphy (1986–1990)
- Mark Schmidt (1990–1992)
- Allison Jones (1992–1999){{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1999/08/31/womens-coach-for-hawks-resigns/|title=Women's Coach For Hawks Resigns|publisher=Hartford Courant|access-date=February 4, 2018}}
- Jennifer Rizzotti (1999–2016){{cite web |url=http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-jen-rizzotti-to-gw-from-hartford-0416-20160415-story.html|title=After 316 Wins At UHart, Jen Rizzotti Leaving To Coach At George Washington|publisher=Hartford Courant|accessdate=February 4, 2018}}
- Kim McNeill (2016–2019){{cite web |url=http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-hartford-women-basketball-coach-0526-20160525-story.html|title=Hartford Hires UVA's Kim McNeill As Women's Basketball Coach To Replace Jen Rizzotti|publisher=Hartford Courant|accessdate=February 4, 2018}}
- Morgan Valley (2019–2021){{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-sp-morgan-valley-introduced-as-hartford-coach-20191804-20190418-ibkanehy6zdxtmi2qmcwa65iei-story.html|title=UConn alum Morgan Valley introduced as University of Hartford women's basketball coach|publisher=Hartford Courant|accessdate=April 21, 2018}}
- Melissa Hodgdon (2021–2022)
- Polly Thomason (2022–present)
References
{{Reflist}}