When the UConn women take the floor next season they will play four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves.
The NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee, which initially recommended the rule change, believes the four-quarter format will enhance the flow of the game. The change also was endorsed by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Board of Directors.
Huskies coach Geno Auriemma fully embraces the change. Here's what he said last month when the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee proposed and recommended the move to four quarters.
“What a great step forward for our game,” he said in a statement. “As the game becomes more global each year, it’s important that we start the process toward standardizing the rules. This is just the beginning of what I hope are many other changes to improve this great game.”
And here's what Michael Shafer, chair of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee and women’s basketball coach at the University of Richmond, said at the time about how the change would improve the game.
“The rules committee is very excited about the change to the four-quarter format for the 2015-16 season,”Shafer said, via SNY.com's Carl Adamec. “We believe this change, along with the associated changes to the timeout and foul rules, will address flow of the game and physicality. The overall format will strengthen the connection of college basketball with women’s basketball globally.”
Other changes in the women's game:
* Teams will reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul in each quarter. Previously, team's shot one-and-ones after the seventh team foul and two free throws after the 10th team foul in each half.
* Now "bands or amplified music" can be played during dead-ball situations "in an effort to improve the overall fan experience."
