Sports

Competition makes UConn streak unique

Schmidt: Lady Tigers drop in poll, lose player

Christian Schmidt
Womenis Top 25

A 20-year-old record was broken, one coach reached a legendary milestone, another is about to and one of the three remaining unbeaten teams is, well, not unbeaten anymore.

That makes two unbeaten teams, one of which is Connecticut, the defending national champion and one of the favorites to win this yearis national championship.

The other, Duke, boasts Alana Beard, quite possibly the nationis best player, and an equally good shot at a national title.

<B>A week of records<P>

Lately, it seems like records are falling and milestones are being reached almost every day.

But when Connecticut won its 55th consecutive game, the Lady Huskies broke one of the most impressive records in basketball, and one many felt would never be broken.

In the early 1980s when Louisiana Tech set the previous mark of 54 consecutive wins, competition was less fierce and fewer top programs were around.

Connecticut, by contrast, has played many of the top teams in an era with plenty of top-flight schools fighting for supremacy.

Even more impressive is that the Lady Huskies are mostly a new team this season. With only one starter returning, many thought Connecticut would struggle.

But a team made mostly of freshmen and veterans with little experience has reeled off 17 wins to start this season.

The only streak left for the Huskies to break now is the collegiate record set by the UCLA menis squad. From 1971-74, the Bruins reeled off 88 wins.

<B>Summitt tops 800<P>

Pat Summitt, head coach at Tennessee, became the first female and the first womenis coach to win 800 collegiate games. Summitt has coached the Lady Volunteers since 1972 and has a career record of 802-161.

Summitt reached the mark with a 76-57 victory over DePaul on Jan. 14.

<B>And more to come<P>

Hot on Summittis heels is Jody Conradt, the legendary coach of the No. 16 Texas Lady Longhorns. Conradt has 799 career victories, and will be going for No. 800 tonight against Texas Tech in Austin.

Conradt and Summitt are, by most accounts, the two greatest coaches in the history of womenis collegiate basketball. Both have been inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Together they have seven national titles (Summitt has six) and 1,600 wins.

Conradt and Summitt are behind only Mt. St. Maryis Jim Phelan, Kentuckyis Adolph Rupp and North Carolinais Dean Smith in victories among all collegiate coaches, male and female.

<B>Rivalry continues<P>

No. 1 Duke got a scare Monday against North Carolina. The Blue Devils were forced to go to overtime to secure a 78-67 victory.

North Carolina led for much of the second half before Duke made a run to tie the game as regulation ended. In overtime, Duke made a quick run to open the period and North Carolina could not respond.

Junior forward Alana Beard scored 26 points for Duke, seven of which came in the overtime period as the Blue Devils pulled away to win the game.

<B>LSU no longer No. 2<P>

Louisiana State was undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the nation. Arkansas was 15-2 and the No. 9 team.

The Razorbacks came out of the gates firing and never looked back, beating the Lady Tigers 82-72.

To add insult to injury, Louisiana State lost Detrina White, one of the teamis best players, to a foot injury. White will be out for at least several weeks.

<B>Tech on a roll<P>

No. 7 Texas Tech lost its first game of the season, an 85-76 defeat at the hands of Louisiana Tech Nov. 10. Since that loss, the Lady Red Raiders havenit lost a game.

In fact, Texas Tech has only two wins by less than 10 points in that span. However, a big test will come for the Lady Raiders this weekend against Texas.

 Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu