2009-10 Best of the Big East in Women's Sports

The Big East Conference offers 13

different women's' sports for the

member schools to participate in.

So, who was the best overall school

in 2009-10?

CARDINAL COUPLE came up with a
highly unscientific but pretty accurate
and comprehensive scoring system to
rate and rank how the schools did.
Our scoring system assigned point
values for several different things
accomplished for the teams.

1) We assigned a point value of two points for winning the conference championship or regular season title. One point for second place. In some cases, 1/2 point was assigned if there was a tie for first or second. Keep in mind that some sports did not have a regular season schedule or a championship tournament.

2) The 13 sports evaluated were: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Softball, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track (Indoor and Outdoor) and Volleyball.

3) 51 total points were available.

The results:

1) NOTRE DAME 14 points
The Irish got points for Softball (1-1 /2), Lacrosse (1/2), Rowing (2), Tennis (2), Soccer (4), Volleyball (2) and Swimming (2).

2) LOUISVILLE 7 points
The Cards scored in Volleyball (2), Track (2), Golf (2) and Softball (1). LOUISVILLE wins the tiebreaker with CONNECTICUT due to more categories scored in.

3) CONNECTICUT 7 points
UConn was awarded points in Basketball (4), and Field Hockey (3).

4) SYRACUSE 5 1/2 points
The Orange succeeded in Field Hockey (3), Softball (2) and Lacrosse (1/2).

5) GEORGETOWN 4 1/2 points
Hoyas tally in Lacrosse (4 ) and Basketball (1/2).

6) VILLANOVA 4 points
The Wildcats hit the board in Indoor Track (2) and Cross Country (2).

7) MARQUETTE 2 points
The Golden Eagles score with Soccer (2).

The rest:

CINCINNATI (1- 1/2), DEPAUL (1- 1/2), WVU (1- 1/2), RUTGERS (1), ST. JOHN (1) and PITT (1/2).

SETON HALL, PROVIDENCE and SOUTH FLORIDA were scoreless.

Some other awards we think are deserving:

*********Best Overall Performance by a team: UConn for their sweep of BIG EAST women's basketball conference and tournament and winning the NCAA national championship.

*********Biggest Underdog Award: Syracuse, for winning the Big East Softball Tournament as a #5 seed.

*********Surprising Stat: Rutgers with only 1 point out of the 51. And, it didn't come in basketball either...they scored with a second place finish in their soccer division.

*********Our top five athletes: Maya Moore and Tina Charles- UConn (Basketball), Jere Summers- UofL (Track and Field), Melissa Roth-UofL (Softball) and Kristi Frilling-Notre Dame (Tennis).

********* Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemna is too easy of a pick here, so let's go with Syracuse softball coach Leigh Ross. She pulled the major upset by winning the Big East tournament. Other candidates....Leonard Yelin (UofL) volleyball and Muffet McGraw (Notre Dame)basketball and Gina Procaccio (Villanova) track & field, cross country.

********* Info you may not have known: WEST VIRGINIA does not have a women's softball team and LOYOLA, MD. competes in the BIG EAST in Lacrosse.

Got a different list or viewpoint? Let us know in the comments section or e-mail us at :

cardinalcouple@insightbb.com

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We featured GRETA KUNTZWEILLER several days ago in an article. Congratulations go out to her for winning her first race since returing to being a jockey. Greta piloted DREAM DATE DIVA to a victory in the 4th race at Ellis Park Sunday in a $13,500 claiming race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up. They covered 5 1/2 furlongs in sloppy conditions in 1:06.27. DREAM DATE DIVA paid $15.20 to win as a 7-1 longshot. Kuntzweiller has also had several 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the Henderson, KY. track so far in the summer meet.

Keep on keeping on, Greta!