College Basketball | President Obama hands UConn women first defeat

President Obama receiving a autographed UConn ball and a personalised jersey

Renee Montgomery puts up a shot in a game of P-I-G with President Obama

United States President Barack Obama has added a new dimension to the visits of championship-winning teams to the White House.Obama, a basketball player and a huge fan of the game, now takes teams outside to shoot hoops on the make-shift court he’s had constructed at his residence on Pennyslvania Avenue.

And home-court advantage, the all-conquering University of Connecticut women’s team discovered, means that Obama is tough to beat. UConn went undefeated this season in the women’s game on their way to a sixth national title under Auriemma.

But Obama started and won a light-hearted game of PIG, using his silky-smooth left-handed set shot, during the UCONN visit. During their visit, Obama spoke to every member off the UConn contingent – including coach Geno Auriemma - who was recently named as the new boss of the USA women’s national team.

“I want to just say it is a thrill,” Obama said. “This is one of my favorite things about the job". “I am a big fan".

“I want to congratulate everybody who runs the UCONN program - from the assistants to the trainers, to the students to the ticket-takers, and of course, the UCONN fans everywhere - you should all be extraordinarily proud.”

Obama praised the UConn women for their academic excellence. They were recently recognized by the NCAA for top academic performance as a team. Over the course of 24 seasons, Auriemma's teams have a phenomenal 100% graduation rate. Obama also remarked on their charity work.

“They also spend time off the court in service to others,” Obama said.

"Geno's Cancer Team" - and I'm wearing a bracelet that I just got, right here, I want to show it off - raises money to fight cancer. “And these young women visit pediatric patients, mentor at-risk youth to show they can make something of themselves, and give their time to folks in the communities who need it most.”

Two days after winning their Sixth NCAA College Championship, Renee Montgomery (L) was the 2009 WNBA Draft fourth overall pick by the Minnesota Lynx. She joins the team for the 2009-2010 Season.

Info Courtesy: FIBA/ NBA
Photos: alsaINTERACTIVE

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