Six weeks into the season, Auburn was 11-1. Then 2000 rolled in and league play began and the always-tough SEC took a toll on the Tigers, who suffered losses to Georgia (14 points), Mississippi State (six), LSU (two) and Tennessee (15) to finish fourth in the regular-season race. However, although Auburn's non-conference schedule is a bit suspect, other than a 12-point loss to Penn State on Dec. 11, the Tigers have remained solid, especially at home where they're 14-2. Balance -- four players average at least 9.8 ppg -- and team defense -- opponents are mustering just 57 points -- are keys for Auburn, which shoots 45.2 percent from the field. Another is how well leading scorer and rebounder and All-SEC first-team pick LeCoe Willingham, a freshman, comes back after a Feb. 28 surgery to repair a torn cartilage in her knee. Key stat: The Tigers enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak after losing to Tennessee in the regular-season finale and to lower-seeded Mississippi State in the SEC quarterfinals.
Final ESPN/USA Today Top 25 ranking: No. 18. Final The Associated Press poll ranking: No. 16. Final Ratings Percentage Index ranking: No. 21. NO. PLAYER POS HT YR 3 Kwameika Brown G 5-10 FR 4 Tiffany Krantz G 5-9 SR 5 Sabrina Minter G 5-6 SO 10 LaRita Spencer G 5-5 JR 13 Jackie Pugh F 6-1 SO 20 Jennifer Jespersen G 5-8 SR 24 Lisa Ware C 6-4 FR 25 Brandi Hillman F 6-1 SO 31 Lakeisha Johnson G 5-10 FR 33 Shana Askew F 6-0 JR 34 Kris Bernath F 6-3 SR 40 Tasha Hamilton G 5-10 JR 43 Le'Coe Willingham F 6-0 FR 44 Lori Nero F 6-2 SO 45 Conswella Sparrow C 6-2 SR |
| ESPN.com: Help | Advertiser Info | Contact Us | Tools | Site Map | Jobs at ESPN.com Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. |  |
