2002 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

American college basketball tournament August 2023 March 2026 Women's 2002 2002 NCAA Women's Final Four logo.svg 64 Alamodome San Antonio, Texas Connecticut Huskies 3rd 3rd 6th Oklahoma Sooners 1st 1st Tennessee Lady Volunteers 13th Duke Blue Devils 2nd Geno Auriemma 3rd Swin Cash Connecticut The 2002 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament concluded on March 31, 2002 when Connecticut won the national title. The Final Four was held at the Alamodome in San Antonio on March 29–31, 2002. Connecticut, coached by Geno Auriemma, defeated Oklahoma 82-70 in the championship game. Notable events After wins in the first three rounds, Connecticut faced Old Dominion in the Mideast regional finals. The opening 16 minutes were described as "near-perfect", as the Huskies hit over 90% of their shots (19 of 21) and had a 49–28 lead. That 21-point margin would match the final margin, as the Huskies would move on to the Final Four. Sue Bird scored 26 points, a career high, and eleven assist. The team recorded 25 assists, which brought their season total to 811, a new NCAA season record. In the other three regions, number one seeds Oklahoma and Duke and number two seed Tennessee advanced to the Final Four. A dozen years earlier, Oklahoma attempted to eliminate the women's basketball program, but now the program had advanced to its first Final Four, and faced Duke in one semifinal game. Duke opened the game with a 13–7 run, but the Sooners responded with 12 consecutive points. Oklahoma managed to get to a 17-point lead in the second half, but Duke cut the lead to only two points with just under eight minutes to go. Oklahoma responded with a 16–3 run to take a decisive lead, and won the game 86–71 to head to the national championship game. In the other semifinal, UConn faced Tennessee. Although Tennessee scored first, but that would be the last time they would lead. The Huskies responded, opened up an early lead, and extended it to 13 points at halftime. Connecticut extended the lead in the beginning of the second half, with a 24–11 run, and went on to hold the Lady Vols to 31% shooting. No Tennessee player scored in double digits; Kara Lawson led the team with nine points. The win extended the perfect season by Connecticut to 38 games, while marking the fourth time in the last five meetings that the Huskies had beaten the Lady Vols. In the championship game, the Sooners were out rebounded and outshot, but did not give up. Oklahoma did not give up a single three point shot, the first time that has occurred in an NCAA title game, and the last time that would happen to the Connecticut team in any game for over a decade. With a minute and a half to go, the Huskies held a lead, but only six points. UConn had the ball, and despite having four seniors on the floor who would go 1,2 4 and 6 in the 2002 WNBA Draft, gave the ball to sophomore Diana Taurasi, who backed down Oklahoma's Stacy Dales then took a turn around jumper then went in, while Dales fouled Taurasi to foul out of the game. Taurasi hit the foul shot to extend the lead to nine points, and the Huskies would go on to be the first team in history to record two undefeated seasons, winning their third national championship. The championship game attendance of 29,619 set the still-standing attendance record for an official game in women's basketball history. A 2023 exhibition between Iowa and DePaul held at Kinnick Stadium, home to Iowa football, had an attendance of 55,646.https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/38668171/iowa-draws-55646-set-record-women-basketball-game Iowa draws 55,646 to set record for women's basketball game Associated Press ESPN.com October 15, 2023 October 16, 2023 Tournament records Fewest turnovers – Louisiana Tech committed only three turnovers in the East regional first-round game against UC Santa Barbara, setting the record for fewest turnovers in an NCAA tournament game. Unfortunately for the Lady Techsters, the low number of turnovers could not prevent UCSB from winning. Free throws – Sue Bird hit 20 free throws out of 20 attempts, one of several players to hit 100% of their free throws in an NCAA tournament; 20 is the largest such total. Assists – Connecticut recorded 128 assists, setting the record for most assists in an NCAA tournament Blocks – Connecticut recorded 53 blocks, setting the record for blocks in an NCAA tournament Qualifying teams – automatic Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA tournament. Automatic bids     Record   Qualifying School Conference Regular Season Conference Seed Arizona State University Pac-10 0.75 24–8 0.667 12–6 9 Austin Peay State University Ohio Valley Conference 0.633 19–11 0.563 9–7 15 Bucknell University Patriot League 0.7 21–9 0.786 11–3 15 BYU Brigham Young University Mountain West 0.733 22–8 0.714 10–4 11 Chattanooga University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Southern Conference 0.767 23–7 0.778 14–4 13 Cincinnati University of Cincinnati Conference USA 0.867 26–4 0.786 11–3 6 Connecticut University of Connecticut Big East 1.033 33–0 1.016 16–0 1 Creighton University Missouri Valley Conference 0.8 24–6 0.889 16–2 12 Duke University ACC 0.9 27–3 1.016 16–0 1 Florida International University Sun Belt Conference 0.839 26–5 0.929 13–1 5 Georgia State University Atlantic Sun Conference 0.7 21–9 0.7 14–6 15 Green Bay University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Horizon League 0.8 24–6 0.938 15–1 13 Hartford University of Hartford America East 0.533 16–14 0.563 9–7 16 Harvard University Ivy League 0.815 22–5 0.929 13–1 13 Indiana University Bloomington Big Ten 0.567 17–13 0.5 8–8 9 Kent State University MAC 0.667 20–10 0.813 13–3 14 Liberty University Big South Conference 0.767 23–7 0.929 13–1 14 Louisiana Tech University WAC 0.862 25–4 0.944 17–1 5 Norfolk State University MEAC 0.733 22–8 0.722 13–5 16 Oakland University Mid-Continent 0.567 17–13 0.571 8–6 16 Oklahoma University of Oklahoma Big 12 0.9 27–3 0.875 14–2 1 Old Dominion University Colonial 0.833 25–5 1.018 18–0 7 Pepperdine University West Coast Conference 0.767 23–7 0.786 11–3 8 Southern University SWAC 0.867 26–4 0.944 17–1 14 Saint Francis University Northeast Conference 0.633 19–11 0.778 14–4 16 Saint Peter's College MAAC 0.833 25–5 0.833 15–3 11 Stephen F. Austin State University Southland 0.828 24–5 0.95 19–1 13 Temple University Atlantic 10 0.667 20–10 0.75 12–4 14 UC Santa University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 0.833 25–5 1.016 16–0 12 Vanderbilt University SEC 0.818 27–6 0.714 10–4 1 Weber State University Big Sky Conference 0.733 22–8 0.786 11–3 15 Qualifying teams – at-large Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations. At-large Bids     Record   Qualifying School Conference Regular Season Conference Seed Arkansas University of Arkansas Southeastern 0.633 19–11 0.5 7–7 6 Baylor University Big 12 0.839 26–5 0.75 12–4 2 Boston College Big East 0.767 23–7 0.75 12–4 5 Clemson University Atlantic Coast 0.607 17–11 0.563 9–7 11 Colorado University of Colorado Boulder Big 12 0.7 21–9 0.688 11–5 3 Colorado State University Mountain West 0.8 24–6 0.857 12–2 7 Drake University Missouri Valley 0.767 23–7 0.833 15–3 7 Florida University of Florida Southeastern 0.643 18–10 0.571 8–6 6 Georgia University of Georgia Southeastern 0.655 19–10 0.429 6–8 10 Iowa University of Iowa Big Ten 0.63 17–10 0.625 10–6 9 Iowa State University Big 12 0.742 23–8 0.563 9–7 3 Kansas State University Big 12 0.686 24–7 0.688 11–5 3 LSU Louisiana State University Southeastern 0.607 17–11 0.571 8–6 6 Minnesota University of Minnesota Big Ten 0.75 21–7 0.688 11–5 5 Mississippi State University Southeastern 0.621 18–11 0.571 8–6 12 New Mexico University of New Mexico Mountain West 0.733 22–8 0.714 10–4 10 North Carolina University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Atlantic Coast 0.75 24–8 0.688 11–5 4 Notre Dame University of Notre Dame Big East 0.679 19–9 0.813 13–3 7 Pennsylvania State University Big Ten 0.656 21–11 0.688 11–5 4 Purdue University Big Ten 0.821 23–5 0.813 13–3 2 Santa Clara University West Coast 0.7 21–9 0.643 9–5 11 South Carolina University of South Carolina Southeastern 0.786 22–6 0.714 10–4 3 Stanford University Pacific-10 0.938 30–2 1.018 18–0 2 Syracuse University Big East 0.6 18–12 0.563 9–7 10 TCU Texas Christian University Conference USA 0.793 23–6 0.857 12–2 8 Tennessee University of Tennessee Southeastern 0.862 25–4 0.929 13–1 2 Texas University of Texas at Austin Big 12 0.69 20–9 0.625 10–6 4 Texas Tech University Big 12 0.621 18–11 0.5 8–8 4 Tulane University Conference USA 0.697 23–10 0.571 8–6 10 UNLV University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mountain West 0.767 23–7 0.643 9–5 12 Villanova University Big East 0.655 19–10 0.75 12–4 9 Virginia University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 0.586 17–12 0.563 9–7 8 Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison Big Ten 0.633 19–11 0.5 8–8 8 Bids by conference Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In twenty-one cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from ten of the conferences. Bids Conference Teams 8 Southeastern Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee 7 Big 12 Oklahoma, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas, Texas Tech 6 Big Ten Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin 5 Big East Connecticut, Boston College, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Villanova 4 Atlantic Coast Duke, Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia 4 Mountain West BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, UNLV 3 Conference USA Cincinnati, TCU, Tulane 2 Missouri Valley Creighton, Drake 2 Pacific-10 Arizona State, Stanford 2 West Coast Pepperdine, Santa Clara 1 America East Hartford 1 Atlantic 10 Temple 1 Atlantic Sun Georgia State 1 Big Sky Weber State 1 Big South Liberty 1 Big West UC Santa Barbara 1 Colonial Old Dominion 1 Horizon Green Bay 1 Ivy Harvard 1 Metro Atlantic Saint Peter’s 1 Mid-American Kent State 1 Mid-Continent Oakland 1 Mid-Eastern Norfolk State 1 Northeast Saint Francis (PA) 1 Ohio Valley Austin Peay 1 Patriot Bucknell 1 Southern Chattanooga 1 Southland Stephen F. Austin 1 Southwestern Southern U. 1 Sun Belt FIU 1 Western Athletic Louisiana Tech 2002 NCAA tournament schedule and venues USA 500 right 2002 NCAA NCAA first and second round venues USA green pog.svg 30.276958 -97.732216 bottom Austin USA green pog.svg 35.997528 -78.942306 bottom Durham USA green pog.svg 31.547903 -97.105969 right Waco USA green pog.svg 33.993611 -81.0325 bottom Columbia USA green pog.svg 40.433322 -86.916144 top West Lafayette USA green pog.svg 41.805292 -72.254194 left Storrs USA green pog.svg 40.808889 -77.855833 bottom State College USA green pog.svg 39.200361 -96.593833 right Manhattan USA green pog.svg 35.909526 -79.045408 right Chapel Hill USA green pog.svg 35.951167 -83.925028 top Knoxville USA green pog.svg 36.144611 -86.80742 left Nashville USA green pog.svg 42.02101 -93.634763 top Ames USA green pog.svg 35.187438 -97.444504 left Norman USA green pog.svg 40.004639 -105.260583 right Boulder USA green pog.svg 37.429646 -122.160528 right Stanford USA green pog.svg 33.581261 -101.886636 right Lubbock USA 500 right 2002 NCAA regionals and Final Four USA blue pog.svg 42.02101 -93.634763 left Ames USA blue pog.svg 35.803333 -78.721944 left Raleigh USA blue pog.svg 43.042222 -87.916944 bottom Milwaukee USA blue pog.svg 43.603567 -116.198892 right Boise USA red pog.svg 29.416944 -98.478889 top San Antonio In 2002, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first-round game. In all cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity. First and Second rounds The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations: March 15 and 17 East Region Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas (Host: University of Texas at Austin) Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina (Host: Duke University) Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas (Host: Baylor University) Mideast Region Bryce Jordan Center, State College, Pennsylvania (Host: Pennsylvania State University) Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas (Host: Kansas State University) Midwest Region Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee (Host: University of Tennessee) West Region CU Events Center, Boulder, Colorado (Host: University of Colorado Boulder) United Spirit Arena, Lubbock, Texas (Host: Texas Tech University) March 16 and 18 East Region Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, South Carolina (Host: University of South Carolina) Mideast Region Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana (Host: Purdue University) Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Connecticut (Host: University of Connecticut) Midwest Region Carmichael Auditorium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Host: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, Tennessee (Host: Vanderbilt University) Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa (Host: Iowa State University) West Region Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Oklahoma (Host: University of Oklahoma) Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California (Host: Stanford University) Regional semifinals and finals The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites: March 23 and 25 Midwest Regional, Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa (Host: Iowa State University) East Regional, Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina (Host: North Carolina State University) Mideast Regional, U.S. Cellular Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Host: Marquette University) West Regional, BSU Pavilion, Boise, Idaho (Host: Boise State University) Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held March 29 and March 31 in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome, (Host: University of Texas at San Antonio) Bids by state The sixty-four teams came from thirty states. Texas had the most teams with five bids. Twenty states did not have any teams receiving bids. thumb|right|500 px|NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 2002 Bids State Teams 5 Pennsylvania Bucknell, Temple, Penn State, Saint Francis, Villanova 5 Texas Stephen F. Austin, Baylor, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech 4 California Pepperdine, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanford 4 Louisiana Louisiana Tech, Southern U., LSU, Tulane 4 Tennessee Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Vanderbilt, Tennessee 4 Virginia Liberty, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Virginia 3 Indiana Indiana, Notre Dame, Purdue 3 Iowa Drake, Iowa, Iowa State 2 Colorado Colorado, Colorado State 2 Connecticut Connecticut, Hartford 2 Florida FIU, Florida 2 Georgia Georgia State, Georgia 2 Massachusetts Harvard, Boston College 2 North Carolina Duke, North Carolina 2 Ohio Cincinnati, Kent State 2 South Carolina Clemson, South Carolina 2 Utah BYU, Weber State 2 Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin 1 Arizona Arizona State 1 Arkansas Arkansas 1 Kansas Kansas State 1 Michigan Oakland 1 Minnesota Minnesota 1 Mississippi Mississippi State 1 Nebraska Creighton 1 Nevada UNLV 1 New Jersey Saint Peter’s 1 New Mexico New Mexico 1 New York Syracuse 1 Oklahoma Oklahoma Brackets Data Source * Denotes overtime period Mideast Region – Milwaukee, Wisconsin First roundMarch 15–16 Second roundMarch 17–18 Regional semifinalsMarch 23 Regional finalsMarch 25 Storrs, Connecticut – Sat/Mon State College, Pennsylvania – Fri/Sun Manhattan, Kansas – Fri/Sun West Lafayette, Indiana – Sat/Mon Connecticut Saint Francis 86 37 Virginia Iowa 62 69 Florida International Creighton 73 58 Penn State Chattanooga 82 67 Arkansas Clemson 78 68 Kansas State Kent State 93 65 Old Dominion Georgia 68 54 Purdue Austin Peay 80 49 1 Connecticut 9 Iowa 86 48 5 Florida International 4 Penn State 79 96 6 Arkansas 3 Kansas State 68 82 7 Old Dominion 2 Purdue 74* 70 1 Connecticut 4 Penn State 82 64 3 Kansas State 7 Old Dominion 62 82 1 Connecticut 7 Old Dominion 85 64 Midwest Region – Ames, Iowa First roundMarch 15–16 Second roundMarch 17–18 Regional semifinalsMarch 23 Regional finalsMarch 25 Nashville, Tennessee – Sat/Mon Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Sat/Mon Ames, Iowa – Sat/Mon Knoxville, Tennessee – Fri/Sun Vanderbilt Oakland 63 38 Wisconsin Arizona State 70 73 Minnesota UNLV 71 54 North Carolina Harvard 85 58 Florida BYU 52 90 Iowa State Temple 72 57 Notre Dame New Mexico 71 61 Tennessee Georgia State 98 68 1 Vanderbilt 9 Arizona State 61 35 5 Minnesota 4 North Carolina 69 72 11 BYU 3 Iowa State 75 69 7 Notre Dame 2 Tennessee 50 89 1 Vanderbilt 4 North Carolina 70 61 11 BYU 2 Tennessee 57 68 1 Vanderbilt 2 Tennessee 63 68 West Region – Boise, Idaho First roundMarch 15–16 Second roundMarch 17–18 Regional semifinalsMarch 23 Regional finalsMarch 25 Norman, Oklahoma – Sat/Mon Lubbock, Texas – Fri/Sun Boulder, Colorado – Fri/Sun Stanford, California – Sat/Mon Oklahoma Hartford 84 52 Pepperdine Villanova 46 67 Boston College Mississippi State 59 65 Texas Tech Stephen F. Austin 84 63 LSU Santa Clara 84 78 Colorado Southern 88 61 Colorado State Tulane 69 73 Stanford Weber State 76 51 1 Oklahoma 9 Villanova 66 53 12 Mississippi State 4 Texas Tech 55 77 6 LSU 3 Colorado 58 69 10 Tulane 2 Stanford 55 77 1 Oklahoma 4 Texas Tech 72 62 3 Colorado 2 Stanford 62 59 1 Oklahoma 3 Colorado 94 60 East Region – Raleigh, North Carolina First roundMarch 15–16 Second roundMarch 17–18 Regional semifinalsMarch 23 Regional finalsMarch 25 Durham, North Carolina – Fri/Sun Austin, Texas – Fri/Sun Columbia, South Carolina – Sat/Mon Waco, Texas – Fri/Sun Duke Norfolk State 95 48 TCU Indiana 55 45 Louisiana Tech UC Santa Barbara 56 57 Texas Green Bay 60 55 Cincinnati Saint Peter's 76* 63 South Carolina Liberty 69 61 Drake Syracuse 87 69 Baylor Bucknell 80 56 1 Duke 8 TCU 76 66 12 UC Santa Barbara 4 Texas 60 76 6 Cincinnati 3 South Carolina 56 75 7 Drake 2 Baylor 76 72 1 Duke 4 Texas 62 46 3 South Carolina 7 Drake 79 65 1 Duke 3 South Carolina 77 68 Final Four – San Antonio, Texas National semifinalsMarch 29 National championshipMarch 31 ME1 Connecticut 79 MW2 Tennessee 56 W1 Oklahoma 86 E1 Duke 71 ME1 Connecticut 82 W1 Oklahoma 70 E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West Record by conference Conference# of BidsRecordWin %Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourChampionship Game Southeastern 8 13–8 .619 6 3 3 1 0 Big 12 7 16–7 .696 7 5 2 1 1 Big Ten 6 5–6 .455 4 1 0 0 0 Big East 5 8–4 .667 3 1 1 1 1 Atlantic Coast 4 6–4 .600 2 2 1 1 0 Mountain West 4 2–4 .333 1 1 0 0 0 Conference USA 3 3–3 .500 3 0 0 0 0 Pacific-10 2 3–2 .600 2 1 0 0 0 Missouri Valley 2 2–2 .500 1 1 0 0 0 West Coast 2 0–2 .000 0 0 0 0 0 Colonial 1 3–1 .750 1 1 1 0 0 Big West 1 1–1 .500 1 0 0 0 0 Sun Belt 1 1–1 .500 1 0 0 0 0 Eighteen conferences went 0–1: America East, Atlantic 10, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Horizon League, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot League, Southern, Southland, SWAC, and WAC All-Tournament team Swin Cash, Connecticut Sue Bird, Connecticut Asjha Jones, Connecticut Stacey Dales, Oklahoma Rosalind Ross, Oklahoma Game officials Dennis DeMayo (semifinal) Barb Smith (semifinal) Bryan Enterline (semifinal) Sally Bell (semifinal) Lawson Newton (semifinal) Angie Lewis (semifinal) Scott Yarbrough (final) Melissa Barlow (final) Lisa Mattingly (final) See also NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 2002 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament Notes Jauss Bill March 26, 2002 Huskies flying behind Bird - Connecticut nears perfection https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/03/26/huskies-flying-behind-bird/ Chicago Tribune 29 May 2013 Kent Milton March 30, 2002 Okla. rockets by Duke, 86-71 https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/03/30/okla-rockets-by-duke-86-71/ The Baltimore Sun 29 May 2013 Kent Milton No. 1 UConn stays perfect, thumps Tenn. March 30, 2002 https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/03/30/no-1-uconn-stays-perfect-thumps-tenn/ The Baltimore Sun Tribune Company 29 May 2013 TERRY MIKE Huskies Remove Suspense March 30, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-30-sp-uconntenn30-story.html Los Angeles Times 29 May 2013 TERRY MIKE Huskies Remove Suspense April 1, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-apr-01-sp-women01-story.html Los Angeles Times 29 May 2013 Nixon Rick Official 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/WFF12.pdf NCAA 22 April 2012 November 7, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151107014710/http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/WFF12.pdf dead http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4269-official-2012-ncaa-womens-final-four-record-book.aspx Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book February 2012 NCAA 2012-04-17 Attendance and Sites http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_final4/2012/Attend.pdf NCAA 19 March 2012 Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Tournament NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Category:Basketball competitions in Austin, Texas Category:Basketball competitions in Lubbock, Texas Category:Basketball competitions in San Antonio Category:Basketball in Waco, Texas