NCAA Tournament 2000

Xavier Musketeers
RECORD: 26-5 COACH: Melanie Balcomb | SEASON RESULTS

OUTLOOK

First round: Lost to Stephen F. Austin, 73-72

With four starters back from the team that nearly upset top-seeded UConn in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament, Xavier used a pair of upsets -- against then-No. 23 George Washington and top-seeded St. Joseph's -- to win the Atlantic 10 championship and an automatic bid to the Big Dance. A talented junior class -- Finland native Taru Tuukkanen (team-high 7.0 rpg and 14.9 ppg), Nicole Levandusky (13.4 ppg) and Jennifer Phillips (13.1 ppg) -- provides the bulk of the scoring for the Musketeers, who also are led by freshman guard Amy Waugh, who is averaing 10.8 points and 5.9 assists. All four have started all 30 games for Xavier this season. Key stat: Xavier can win on the road, and is 11-2 away from home heading into the tournament.

PROBABLE STARTERS

F - Katie Griggs (5-11, So., 3.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
F - Jennifer Phillips (6-3, Jr., 13.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
C - Taru Tuukkanen (6-3, Jr., 14.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
G - Nicole Levandusky (5-9, Jr., 13.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
G - Amy Waugh (5-6, Fr., 10.8 ppg, 5.9 apg)

NOTABLE

NCAA Tournament titles: None
Final Four appearances: None
Best finish: Second round
Total NCAA appearances: 3
NCAA Tournament Record: 1-2
Last NCAA appearance: 1999, lost to Connecticut, 86-84, second round

RANKINGS
Final The Associated Press poll ranking: No. 24.
Final Ratings Percentage Index ranking: No. 23.

NO. PLAYER              POS    HT    CLASS
 3  Amy Waugh            G     5-6     FR
 4  Reetta Piipari       G     5-7     FR
 5  Taru Tuukkanen      C-F    6-3     JR
12  Hilary Kulik         G     5-6     SO
13  Katie Griggs        G-F    5-11    SO
15  Jennifer Parr        G     5-8     JR
20  Jennifer Phillips   C-F    6-3     JR
21  Kim Hotz             F     6-0     SR
22  Elina Pasola         G     5-8     SO
30  Erin Senser          F     6-1     SO
33  Amy Hughes           G     5-9     SR
40  Nicole LeVandusky   G-F    5-9     JR
45  Kristen Lowry       F-C    6-2     FR


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