Cincy favored in C-USA women's tourney

By Erik Williams
Daily Cougar Staff

As this year's Conference USA women's basketball tournament in New Orleans rolls around, nearly every team's outlook is high. For as many as five teams, an NCAA tournament berth could be possible. This incentive will add intensity to the games in Fogleman Arena. The following is a rundown of the teams by seeding.

No. 1 Cincinnati (20-7, 12-4 C-USA)

The Cincinnati Lady Bearcats are the hottest team to enter. The Bearcats are led by guard Madinah Slaise (19.9 points per game, second in C-USA) and forward Doris Scott (14.3 ppg). They face the Saint Louis/DePaul winner Saturday at 1 p.m., after a first-round bye.

Last year's result -- Cincinnati lost in semifinals to Memphis, 72-64.

Prediction -- The Bearcats will be C-USA Tournament champions over Louisville. They may not need to win the tournament for NCAA consideration.

No. 2 Louisville (20-9, 12-4 C-USA)

The Lousville Lady Cardinals are led by center Sharon Bellamy and point guard Jenny Knight. Louisville averages 73.4 points per game along with hitting 70 percent of its free throws, a conference best. Louisville has a first-round bye and faces the South Florida/Southern Miss winner Saturday at 8 p.m.

Last year's result -- The Cardinals lost in tournament final to Memphis, 79-75.

Predictions -- Louisville will lose in the tournament final to Cincinnati. The Cardinals' record from the last three weeks may remove them from the NCAA tournament.

No. 3 Tulane (21-5, 12-4 C-USA)

Led by perennial all-conference guard Grace Daley (18.5 ppg, fourth in C-USA) and the frontcourt tandem of Janell Burse and Gwen Slaughter, the Tulane Green Wave is No. 2 in C-USA offensively (74.4 ppg), and it holds opponents to 63.3 points per contest. After a first-round bye, Tulane will play the UAB/UNC Charlotte winner at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Last year's result -- The Green Wave lost in quarterfinals to Cincinnati, 77-62.

Predictions -- Tulane will lose in semifinals to Louisville. As for the Green Wave's NCAA hopes, its four in-conference losses really stick out.

No. 4 Marquette (20-6, C-USA 12-4)

The Marquette Golden Eagles go into this weekend's tournament with momentum. They're led by forwards Abbie Willenbourg (16.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg) and Lisa Oldenburg (57 percent from the field, No. 2 in C-USA). They have a bye in the first round and play the Memphis/Houston winner Saturday at 3:00pm.

Last year's result-- Marquette lost in semifinals to Louisville, 77-66. 

Predictions --The Golden Eagles will lose in quarterfinals to Memphis.

No. 5 Memphis (18-8, 10-6 C-USA)

A lot was expected of defending-C-USA-tourney-champs Memphis Lady Tigers, especially with forward Tamika Whitmore, preseason player of the year, coming back for her senior year. Memphis' first-round game will be Friday against Houston at 3 p.m.

Last year's result-- Memphis won the C-USA tournament over Louisville, 79-75.

Predictions-- The Lady Tigers will lose in semifinals to Cincinnati. If Memphis hopes to return to the NCAA tourney, it has to win the tournament.

No. 6 UAB (13-13, 8-8 C-USA)

Perhaps the biggest surprise in C-USA was the UAB Lady Blazers. UAB is led by front-runner for C-USA Freshman of the Year center Deanna Jackson along with forward Holly Holland, UAB's three-point ace.

Last year's result-- The Lady Blazers lost in quarterfinals to Louisville, 90-44.

Prediction -- UAB will lose in quarterfinals to Tulane.

No. 7 South Florida (14-12, 8-8 C-USA)

The South Florida Lady Bulls are led by forward Sonya Swick and guard Dione Smith. The Bulls went through a rough stretch in which they lost 10 out of 12 games. USF's first-round matchup will be against Southern Miss Friday at 8 p.m.

Last year's result -- SFU lost to Memphis in the quarterfinals, 78-66.

Prediction -- The Bulls lose in quarterfinals to Louisville.

No. 8 DePaul (12-14, 7-9 C-USA)

The DePaul Lady Blue Demons are led by Anne McDonald, Lenae Williams and Maureen McManaman. Both McDonald and Williams are superb from three-point range. DePaul takes on Saint Louis in the first round, Friday at 1 p.m.

Last year's result -- DePaul lost in the first round to UNC Charlotte, 78-65.

Prediction -- The Demons will lose in quarterfinals to Cincinnati.

No. 9 Saint Louis (15-11, 6-10 C-USA)

The USL Lady Billikens are led by guard Mandy Lueking and point-guard Kara Wile. 

Last year's result -- USL lost in the first round to South Florida, 77-62

Prediction -- The Billikens will lose in first round to DePaul.

No. 10 Southern Miss (9-16, 5-11 C-USA)

USM has been unable to win consecutively since early January. Their standouts include forward Shayla Franklin and guard Angela Atterbury.

Last year's result -- Southern Miss lost in the first round to UAB, 74-72.

Prediction -- USM will lose in the first round to South Florida.

No. 11 UNC Charlotte (5-20, 3-13 C-USA)

Except for a game against East Carolina Nov. 24, the UNC Charlotte Lady '49ers haven't shot better than 51 percent in any of their games.

Last year's result -- The ‘49ers lost in quarterfinals to Marquette, 76-74.

Prediction -- UNC Charlotte will lose in the first round to UAB.

No. 12 Houston (5-21, 1-15 C-USA)

The UH Lady Cougars round out the field for C-USA. They are led by forward/center Sharonda Lasseter, guard Chiara Combs, and forward/guard Angela Curl. Forward Rosalind Carter, who made some incredible strides late in the year, could play an important role in the tourney.

Last year's result-- The Cougars lost to Cincinnati in the first round, 62-57.

Prediction -- The Cougars will lose in the first round to Memphis.