Hartford Hawks women's basketball

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 Commonwealth Coast Conference. 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.

Hartford Hawks
2023–24 Hartford Hawks women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Hartford
All-time record577–644 (.473)
Head coachPolly Thomason (2nd season)
ConferenceCommonwealth Coast Conference
LocationWest Hartford, Connecticut
ArenaChase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion
(Capacity: 4,017)
NicknameHawks
ColorsScarlet and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament round of 32
2006, 2008
NCAA tournament appearances
2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
Conference tournament champions
2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011
Conference regular season champions
2006, 2007, 2008, 2010

History

2000s

Hartford's most successful run came in the early and mid 2000s under head coach Jen Rizzotti who was hired in 1999.[2] 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.[3] Hartford has continued its success under current head coach Kim McNeill, making the 2018 America East championship game.[4]

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.[5]

Year by year results
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Nancy Lauritis (DIII) (1975–1976)
1975–76 Nancy Lauritis 2–6
Nancy Lauritis: 2–6
Roger Wickman (DIII, DII) (1976–1984)
1976–77 Roger Wickman 11–2
1977–78 Roger Wickman 11–2
1978–79 Roger Wickman 8–8
1979–80 Roger Wickman 14–3
1980–81 Roger Wickman 8–11
1981–82 Roger Wickman 7–14
1982–83 Roger Wickman 5–18
1983–84 Roger Wickman 3–20
Roger Wickman: 67–78
Carlos Aldave (Independent/America East Conference) (1984–1986)
1984–85 Carlos Aldave 6–18
Division I
1985–86 Carlos Aldave 3–231–117th
Carlos Aldave: 9–411–11
Jean Walling Murphy (America East) (1986–1990)
1986–87 Jean Walling Murphy 7–183–117th
1987–88 Jean Walling Murphy 9–186–85th
1988–89 Jean Walling Murphy 4–194–87th
1989–90 Jean Walling Murphy 4–222–10T-6th
Jean Walling Murphy: 24–7715–37
Mark Schmidt (America East) (1990–1992)
1990–91 Mark Schmidt 11–185–54th
1991–92 Mark Schmidt 9–192–128th
Mark Schmidt: 20–377–17
Allison Jones (America East) (1992–1999)
1992–93 Allison Jones 11–166–85th
1993–94 Allison Jones 9–182–128th
1994–95 Allison Jones 7–202–149th
1995–96 Allison Jones 15–1310–84th
1996–97 Allison Jones 15–1212–64th
1997–98 Allison Jones 11–1620–8T-4th
1998–99 Allison Jones 8–195–139th
Allison Jones: 76–11447–69
Jennifer Rizzotti (America East) (1999–2016)
1999–00 Jennifer Rizzotti 14–149–95th
2000–01 Jennifer Rizzotti 15–149–94th
2001–02 Jennifer Rizzotti 16–159–75thNCAA first round
2002–03 Jennifer Rizzotti 7–215–118th
2003–04 Jennifer Rizzotti 18–129–94th
2004–05 Jennifer Rizzotti 22–913–52ndNCAA first round
2005–06 Jennifer Rizzotti 27–415–11stNCAA second round
2006–07 Jennifer Rizzotti 25–915–11stWNIT Second Round
2007–08 Jennifer Rizzotti 28–614–21stNCAA second round
2008–09 Jennifer Rizzotti 20–1214–22ndWNIT Second Round
2009–10 Jennifer Rizzotti 27–516–01stNCAA first round
2010–11 Jennifer Rizzotti 17–1511–54thNCAA first round
2011–12 Jennifer Rizzotti 19–1310–63rdWNIT First Round
2012–13 Jennifer Rizzotti 21–1210–63rdWNIT First Round
2013–14 Jennifer Rizzotti 13–189–75th
2014–15 Jennifer Rizzotti 16–178–85th
2015–16 Jennifer Rizzotti 11–197–96th
Jennifer Rizzotii: 316–216183–97
Kim McNeill (America East) (2016–2019)
2016–17 Kim McNeill 17–147–96th
2017–18 Kim McNeill 19–139–76th
2018–19 Kim McNeill 23–1114–22ndWNIT First Round
Kim McNeill: 59–3830–18
Morgan Valley (America East) (2019–2021)
2019–20 Morgan Valley 1–281–158th
2020–21 Morgan Valley 3–93–9T-9th
Morgan Valley: 4–374–24
Melissa L. Hodgdon (America East) (2021–2022)
2021–22 Melissa L. Hodgdon 4–264–14
Melissa L. Hodgdon: 4–264–14
Polly Thomason (Independent) (2022–present)
2022–23 Polly Thomason 2–250–0
Polly Thomason: 2–25
Total:579–669

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason

NCAA Division I tournament results
Year Seed Round Opponent Result
2002 (16)First Round(1) OklahomaL 52–84
2005 (14)First Round(3) RutgersL 37–62
2006 (11)First Round
Second Round		(6) Temple
(3) Georgia		W 64–58
L 54–73
2008 (10)First Round
Second Round		(7) Syracuse
(2) Texas A&M		W 59–55
L 39–63
2010 (10)First Round(7) LSUL 39–60
2011 (16)First Round(1) ConnecticutL 39–75

WNIT results
Year Round Opponent Result
2007First Round
Second Round		Bucknell
South Carolina		W 70–54
L 40–81
2009Second RoundSt. John'sL 59–70
2012First RoundSyracuseL 42–59
2013First RoundHarvardL 57–61
2019First RoundProvidenceL 54–71

Notable players
Danielle Hood, basketball player for the University of Hartford women's basketball team. Taken at fundraiser, where she was the featured speaker.
  • 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.[6]
  • 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.[7]
  • Erica Beverly, played 2005–2010. She was inducted to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.[8]

Head coaches

References
  1. University of Hartford Brand Identity Guide. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. "Rizzotti To Coach Hartford Women". Associated Press. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  3. "Rizzotti's Hawks knock off Temple". newstimes. 20 March 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  4. "Hartford Wiped Out By Dominant Quarter In America East Final". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  5. "University of Hartford Votes to Drop Athletic Department to Division III". Sports Illustrated. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  6. "Uhart's Hood Released". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  7. "PSU Women's Basketball Coach earns Hall of Fame nod". Plymouth State University. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  8. "Bridgeport's Beverly inducted to New England Basketball Hall of Fame". CTPost. 22 June 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  9. "Women's Coach For Hawks Resigns". Hartford Courant. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  10. "After 316 Wins At UHart, Jen Rizzotti Leaving To Coach At George Washington". Hartford Courant. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  11. "Hartford Hires UVA's Kim McNeill As Women's Basketball Coach To Replace Jen Rizzotti". Hartford Courant. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  12. "UConn alum Morgan Valley introduced as University of Hartford women's basketball coach". Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
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