HARTFORD (0-0)
F – Katie Kelley, 6-1, Jr.(0.0 ppg.)
F – Danielle Hood, 6-1, Sr. (0.0)
C – Diana Delva, 6-2, Soph. (0.0)
G – MaryLynne Schaefer, 5-10, Jr. (0.0)
G – Lisa Etienne, 5-6, Jr. (0.0)
KANSAS (0-0)
F – Porscha Weddington, 6-1, Soph. (0.0 ppg.)
F – Taylor McIntosh, 5-11, Sr. (0.0)
G – Danielle McCray, 5-11, Soph. (0.0)
G – Sade Morris, 5-11, Soph. (0.0)
G – Ivana Catic, 5-8, Jr. (0.0)
Tipoff: 1 p.m. today, Allen Fieldhouse.
Radio: Jayhawk Network, including 1320 KLWN.
Television: Sunflower Broadband channel 6.
Danielle McCray dazzled for Kansas University on Thursday, but Hartford U. has a dandy Danielle, too.
In fact, Danielle Hood and the rest of the Hawks have been tapped as the unanimous preseason favorite to capture the America East Conference women’s basketball championship.
In other words, Hartford isn’t the usual pastry found among the season openers of major-college teams.
“They’re good,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said of the Hawks. “They have good athleticism and good size. And the Hood kid.”
A two-time first-team all-conference pick and a unanimous choice to make it three in a row, the 6-foot-1 Hood led the Hawks to a 25-9 record last season by averaging 13.1 points and 4.3 rebounds a game.
Tipoff for the season opener for both clubs will be 1 p.m. today in Allen Fieldhouse. Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 will carry a live telecast.
While Hartford’s Hood is an established standout, KU’s McCray appears on the cusp of a memorable career. The 6-foot-1 sophomore staged a one-woman show Thursday, scoring a career-high 36 points in a 74-64 overtime win over Emporia State, an NAIA power.
A year ago at this time, McCray was out of shape after suffering an ankle injury the previous summer, and the Olathe East product didn’t become a contributor until late in her freshman season.
Henrickson calls McCray’s transformation from a year ago “unbelievable,” adding, “She couldn’t play that hard then, but now she practices and plays hard, and she’s leaned up.”
Although neither McCray nor Henrickson has given specific numbers, it’s believed McCray weighs at least 15 pounds less than she did last November.
Ivana Catic was impressive at point guard in Thursday’s exhibition finale against E-State with an eye-opening eight steals.
“Defensively, I think Ivana can do better,” Henrickson said, “but eight steals : if she can get them, that’s great.”
Notes: Hartford’s coach is Jennifer Razzotti, a former WNBA standout who won the Wade Trophy in 1996 while at UConn. : Nicollete Smith was the only KU freshman who played in the E-State game. Smith took 12 shots, 11 from three-point range, making three. : Tipoff for today’s game was originally listed for 2 p.m., but was moved up an hour because the KU men have a home game tonight.
