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SportsMarch 3, 2005

ST. LOUIS -- Jill Pizzotti, St. Louis University's coach for the past 10 years, was fired Wednesday after a 4-23 season. Pizzotti, 38, who played at Southeast Missouri State, was 113-167 for her career at Saint Louis. Her best season was 2002-03, when the Billikens earned a bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament. But St. Louis was just 12-42 over the past two seasons...

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Jill Pizzotti, St. Louis University's coach for the past 10 years, was fired Wednesday after a 4-23 season.

Pizzotti, 38, who played at Southeast Missouri State, was 113-167 for her career at Saint Louis. Her best season was 2002-03, when the Billikens earned a bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament. But St. Louis was just 12-42 over the past two seasons.

None of her teams made the NCAA tournament.

"St. Louis University appreciates the effort and commitment that coach Pizzotti dedicated to this program during her tenure," athletic director Cheryl Levick said. "However, after a thorough review of all aspects of our women's program, we have decided to move in a new direction."

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Pizzotti said she hopes to return to coaching.

"I certainly love basketball and love working with people," Pizzotti said. "I think that's what the future holds for me."

While Pizzotti's teams struggled at times on the court, they were successful in the classroom, twice being named to the Academic Top 25 team. St. Louis also won the Conference USA women's basketball academic award for the highest team grade-point average each of the past two seasons and four times overall.

"You work to try to have your kids reach their potential, both in the classroom and on the court," Pizzotti said. "Based upon how our program has grown and how competitive we have been, the program has made a lot of strides in the last 10 years."

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