WASHINGTON -- When womens basketball players at George Washington learned this past offseason that the school had named a new coach for their program, they quickly turned to their cell phones and a team group chat to disseminate any information they could dig up on the hire.It didnt take long before a string of impressive YouTube highlights of a quick and crafty 5-foot-6 guard from UConn began to circulate. The team sentiment quickly swung from curiosity to shock and excitement.In the team group message we talked like, Are you kidding me, this stud is going to be our coach? senior guard Hannah Schaible said.The stud was 1996 Wade Trophy winner Jennifer Rizzotti, who in April signed on as coach at George Washington after 17 seasons at Hartford, where she won 316 games en route to becoming the winningest coach in America East Conference history. Rizzotti is George Washingtons 10th coach and first female coach since Jennifer Bednarek in the 1988-89 season.For many, Rizzottis departure from Hartford -- which she led to five conference championships and six NCAA tournament appearances -- was received with the same level of shock as that of her newly inherited roster. Rizzotti, 41, had said that few schools could get her to uproot her family, which includes two sons and husband Bill Sullivan, who joins her on the bench in Foggy Bottom as an associate head coach.George Washington, however, was on that selective list, especially after coach Jonathan Tsipis had rebuilt the Colonials in his four seasons there before leaving to coach Wisconsin in March.I wanted to go to a program that was successful, rather than a program that I had to rebuild, so that initially made the job attractive to me -- because the coach was leaving for a bigger job and not leaving because he was fired, Rizzotti said. Theres already an established winning culture here and a foundation of doing things the right way.Geno Auriemma, Rizzottis longtime mentor after playing for him at UConn and then serving as an assistant coach on his gold-medal winning team in the Rio Olympics, has complete confidence in her ability to succeed in her new role. And unlike others, Auriemma said he was not surprised by Rizzottis decision to leave for George Washington.I think there has been opportunities for Jen to move in the past, but for whatever reasons, she didnt think that the time was right, said Auriemma, who added that he and Rizzotti had spoken briefly about the challenges that come with transitioning to another program. There was never a feeling of, I never want to move or Im afraid to move; the timing was never right.I knew that people werent going to stop pursuing Jen, so the fact that she left doesnt surprise me one bit.Rizzotti inherited a George Washington program that has impressed in recent years as it works toward regaining its once consistent NCAA tournament presence under former coach Joe McKeown. Between 1999-2008, George Washington made nine straight NCAA tournament appearances, including consecutive trips to the Sweet 16 in 2007-08. In the past two seasons, George Washington won back-to-back A-10 championships but lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament both times.Rizzotti wont have to rebuild the program, but she will have to retool the roster now that Jonquel Jones, the face of the program the past two seasons, was selected No. 6 overall in the WNBA draft. Helped by Jones 14.6 rebounds per game in an abbreviated season due to injury, George Washington led the nation in rebounding (48.6 per game) in 2015-16. Point guard Lauren Chase, who ranked 15th in the country in assists last season, has also graduated.The Colonials were picked fourth in the A-10 preseason coaches poll. If you ask Rizzotti, however, thats exactly where she wants to be to start her first season in her new home.I kind of had a feeling that we wouldnt be a favorite to win the conference, but we certainly wouldnt be picked 14th, either, Rizzotti said. Thats a pretty good situation to be in your first year.Without Jones, Rizzotti will rely heavily on senior forward Caira Washington, an A-10 preseason first-team selection, in the frontcourt. Along with junior forward Kellie Prange as well as graduate transfer forward Lexi Martins, who led the nation in total rebounds a year ago while at Lehigh, Rizzotti believes the team can remain dominant on the boards.In addition to Washington, the team will also turn to junior guard Brianna Cummings for a breakout season on the wing. A former five-star recruit, the 5-foot-10 Cummings emerged last season as a formidable scorer for the Colonials, demonstrating an ability to both get to the rim and consistently connect from midrange.The big question for the Colonials is at the tip of the backcourt, where Rizzotti will juggle between two inexperienced point guards in sophomore Mei-Lyn Bautista and junior Camila Tapias to run the floor.George Washington is off to a 1-1 start, delivering the first win of the Rizzotti era on Sunday with a 56-45 victory over Princeton. Players like Washington are optimistic about the teams potential.Weve been lucky enough to have a great coaching staff that has come in and changed the program for the better, Washington said. Not every change is bad.Rizzotti admits that she has first-season nerves, a feeling she hasnt had to deal with in almost two decades. And more than anything, Rizzotti has no interest in a new coachs grace period.I want to make it a quick adjustment and a quick transition so what theyre used to -- which is winning -- doesnt go away, she said. I dont want to lose that sensation and that feeling. Yeah, I feel the pressure. Adidas Superstar Australia Sale . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Cheap Adidas Superstar . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. http://www.wholesalesuperstaraustralia.com/ . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Cheap Superstar Australia . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adidas Superstar Australia Cheap . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. A full Olympic Digest has been sent. All times EDT:- RIO DE JANEIRO -- Katie Ledecky looks for another gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, and fellow American Nathan Adrian tries to defend his title in the 100 free on Day 5 of swimming. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Finals start 9 p.m.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- Japanese gymnast Kohei Uchimura goes for a second straight Olympic title in the mens all-around. Uchimura helped Japan to team gold on Monday. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Event starts 4 p.m.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- Maybe a real game awaits. After two lopsided victories, the U.S. mens basketball team could get its first test of the Olympics when it faces Australia, which has plenty of experienced NBA players. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Starts 7 p.m.- ESPN sportscaster John Saunders, who has hosted The Sports Reporters for the last 15 years, has died, the network announced. He was 61. SENT: 150 words. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos.- CHARLOTTE, S.C. -- Panthers coach Ron Rivera believes enough is enough when it comes to technology and its impact on the NFL game. Hes not a fan of tablets on the sideline where coaches can view videos from previous plays -- and then make adjustments. He says too much technology takes away from game-planning. UPCOMING. 800 words, photos.- A preview of Thursdays NFL preseason games. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 1 p.m.- RRIO DE JANEIRO -- This could get embarrassing.dddddddddddd Another soccer elimination at home would not sit well with home fans. Struggling to the point where even Neymar is booed, Brazil needs to beat Denmark to assure a spot in the quarterfinals. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Starts 10 p.m.- ARLINGTON, Texas -- Prince Fielder was once among the most durable players in the majors, playing in 809 of 810 games in five seasons before joining the Rangers. But the 32-year-old slugger wont play again, unable to come back after his second neck surgery. UPCOMING. 650 words, photos developing from 5 p.m. news conference.- NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguezs unique New York experience comes to an end Friday when he plays his last game for the Yankees. He makes his exit without the usual adulation lavished on hometown stars. Fans, even those who cheered his 351 home runs in pinstripes, say A-Rods big contracts and off-field issues made him a less-than-beloved character, even before his admission of drug use. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 4 p.m.- CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant and the major league-leading Cubs wrap up a two-game series against Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Starts 8:05 p.m.- Mississippi quarterback Chad Kelly is among the players who could play their way into the Heisman Trophy conversation. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. ' ' '