Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Maggie Dixon Classic lineup released

NEW YORK -- Pat Summitt, C. Vivian Stringer, and a 6-foot-7 freshman phenom highlight the fourth annual Maggie Dixon Classic.

The women's doubleheader will be played Dec. 13 at Madison Square Garden.

The two Hall of Fame coaches will meet for the seventh straight year when Tennessee and Rutgers will play in one game. Baylor and freshman star Brittney Griner will face Boston College in the other contest.

The last two meetings between the Lady Vols and Scarlet Knights were thrillers. Tennessee beat Rutgers on a controversial finish two years ago in Knoxville and last season, the Scarlet Knights built a 20-point halftime lead only to see it evaporate as the Lady Vols completed the biggest comeback in school history to win 55-51.

The two teams played once before at Madison Square Garden. Tennessee won 68-54 in 1999.

Baylor will be making its first appearance at MSG. The Lady Bears finished fifth in the final Top 25 poll before losing in the regional semifinals to Louisville. Griner made a name for herself in high school with her highlight-reel dunks and blocked shots.

Boston College is in its second year under coach Sylvia Crawley. She led them to the semifinals of the WNIT last season.

It's the third straight season that the Scarlet Knights will play in the Classic named for the former Army women's coach. Last season Rutgers routed Army and Connecticut beat Penn State in front of nearly 9,500 fans.

Maggie Dixon died April 6, 2006, of arrhythmia, probably caused by an enlarged heart. Her death came three weeks after her first season as a head coach, a performance that won the admiration of the academy and all of college basketball.

The inaugural Maggie Dixon Classic was held at Army in 2006 -- a men's and women's doubleheader. Pitt's men's team -- coached by Maggie's brother Jamie, beat Western Michigan and Ohio State routed Army.

No comments: