Today UConn So. G was named to the 2011-12 WBCA/State Farm D1 Coaches' All-America Team at a ceremony during the 2012 Final 4 in Denver, CO. Hartley becomes the 14th Husky to be honored on the WBCA/State Farm (formerly Kodak) All-America squad and Connecticut now has 26 selections all-time. Hartley is only the fourth UConn sophomore to be named to the team along with Svetlana Abrosimova (1998-99), Diana Taurasi (2001-02) and Maya Moore (2008-09). She averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists during her sophomore campaign. She was tabbed an All-Big East First Team selection a year after being named the Big East Rookie of the Year. She has also earned a spot on the Big East All-Tournament squad in each of the last two seasons.

2011-12 WBCA/State Farm D1 Coaches' All-America Team:
Jr. F Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
Jr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
Jr. C Brittney Griner, Baylor 
So. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut
Sr. F Glory Johnson, Tennessee
Sr. G Shenise Johnson, Miami
So. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Sr. F Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
So. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
So. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

UCONN = EXCELLENCE

There's really no other way to describe it especially since today USA Basketball named the first 11 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team and five of them (not to mention the team's head coach Geno Auriemma) are UConn Huskies alumni at a press conference live from the 2012 Women's Final 4 in Denver, CO. The five former Huskies named to the final roster are Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, and Diana Taurasi.

The well-balanced and talented core of the U.S. squad features a trio of two-time Olympic gold medalists, four athletes who have each earned one Olympic gold medal and four newcomers to the Olympic stage. They along with the final athlete to be named at a later date will compete for the USA’s fifth-consecutive Olympic gold medal in London this summer. The athletes were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors and are pending final approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Named to their third Olympic team were Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), and Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), all of whom won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. Competing in her second Olympics after winning gold in Athens in 2004 is Cash (Chicago Sky); while Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) captured their Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. Playing on the Olympic stage for the first time will be Charles (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx). Those still in the running for the 12th and final Olympic roster spot include former Huskies Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun) and Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun).

Denver, here we come...

Time to party "Mile High" style at the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four!!!

National Semifinals: Sunday, April 1, 2012
Game 1: 1 Notre Dame vs. 1 Connecticut, 6:30pm ET, ESPN
Game 2: 1 Bayor vs. 1 Stanford, 9:00pm ET, ESPN

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (33-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 80, Kentucky 65
Player of the Game: Sr. G Tiffany Hayes (22p, 8r, 2a, 3s, 37m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (3dr, 3b, 38m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (18p, 7r, 2a, 1s, 30m)
Stat of the Game: Free Throws: UConn 30-35, Kentucky 21-22

Summary: Today UConn Sr. G Tiffany Hayes was named to the 2011-12 AP All-American (3rd) Team and she played every bit the All-American leading the Huskies to their 5th-straight Final 4 finishing with 22p/8r/2a/3s as UConn pulled away halfway through the 2nd half against and defeated Kentucky 80-65. With UConn only leading 48-47 early in the second half, the Huskies turned up its defense bigtime. The Huskies used a 21-4 spurt to take command. Hayes, the lone senior on the team, was the catalyst, scoring seven points during the run. Then the Huskies started a parade to the free throw line, with whistle after whistle. The Huskies converted 12 free throws during the game-changing run. She was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Kingston Regional. UConn So. C Stefanie Dolson was also named to the Kingston All-Regional Team. UConn All-American HM Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis caught fire in the 2nd half scoring 12 of her 18pts. after being cold in the 1st half (only 6pts. on 2-10 shooting) and added 7rebs. while UConn All-American HM So. G Bria Hartley shoke off 1st half foul trouble to score 11 of her 13pts. in the 2nd half as well. UConn will now face Big East rival Notre Dame for the 4th time this season in the first semifinal game of the 2012 Final 4 in Denver, CO at 6:30pm ET on ESPN.

And awards season has officially begun...

Today UConn Sr. G Tiffany Hayes was named as a member of the 2011-12 AP All-American Third Team. She becomes the 13th UConn player to make one of the 3 AP All-Americans in the history of the honor. UConn So. G Bria Hartley and Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were named AP All-American Honorable Mentions.

2011-12 AP All-American Teams:
First Team:
Jr. F Elena Delle Donne, Delaward
Jr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
Jr. C Brittney Griner, Baylor*
Sr. F Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
So. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

Second Team:
Sr. G Shenise Johnson, Miami
So. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Sr. G Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State
So. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Sr. F Julie Wotja, Wisconsin-Green Bay

Third Team:
Sr. G Tifffany Hayes, Connecticut
Jr. G A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
Sr. W Shekinna Strickland, Tennessee
Fr. C Elizabeth Williams, Duke
Sr. G Riquana Williams, Miami

* - unanimous selection

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Elite 8 game vs. 2-seed (12/11) Kentucky Wildcats (28-6).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Ryan Center (Kingston, RI)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (32-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 77, Penn State 59
Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (15p, 7r, 5s, 3s, 1b, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (5dr, 3s, 1b, 25m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (12p, 11r, 31m)
Stat of the Game: Rebounds: UConn 44, Penn State 30

Summary: UConn used a little bit of offense and a lot of defense to pull away for good late in the 1st half and early in the 2nd half to get past Penn State, 77-59. Led by UConn All-American candidate So. G Bria Hartley's 20pts. and 4asts. and So. G Kelly Faris' 15pts., 7rebs., 5sts., and 3stls. (as well as one monster block on PSU's Maggie Lucas' 3-pt shot attempt late), the Huskies played one of its most complete games (according to UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma). UConn All-American candidate Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis registered her 1st career double-double, finishing with 12pts. and a career-high 11rebs. off the bench to help lead her team into an Elite 8 match-up vs. 2-seed Kentucky on Tuesday night (3/27) at 7pm ET on ESPN.

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Sweet 16 game vs. 4-seed (11/12) Penn State Nittany Lions (26-6).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Ryan Center (Kingston, RI)
Time: 4:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (31-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 72, Kansas State 26
Player of the Game: Fr. C Kiah Stokes (13p, 9r, 1s, 3b, 18m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (3dr, 3s, 3b, 28m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. C Kiah Stokes (13p, 9r, 1s, 3b, 18m)
Stat of the Game: Bench Pts.: UConn 32, Kansas State 4

Summary: To say UConn played as close to a perfect defensive game as possible would maybe be an understatement. The Huskies played such amazing defense against an opponent worthy of an 8-seed and from the Big 12, that the same team said after the game that it was like there were 7 them out there against their 5. UConn not only held Kansas State to 10 first half points (and it was a buzzer-beating shot in the 1st half which allowed KSU to not tie for the record for fewest points (8) in the 1st half of a NCAA Tournament game), but they held also held them to 16 second half points for a total of 26 points for the game which is now the all-time record for fewest points in a NCAA Tournament game (previous was 27).

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA 2nd-Rd game vs. 8-seed Kansas State Wildcats (20-13).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, CT)
Time: 7:05pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2 (Locked into CT only - Wrap-around rest of country)
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (30-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 83, Prairie View A&M 47
Player of the Game: So. G Bria Hartley (18p, 5r, 3a, 36m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (3dr, 3s, 31m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (19p, 8r, 1s, 30m)
Stat of the Game: Bench Pts.: UConn 37, PV A&M 12

Summary: Still to come...

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA 1st-Rd game vs. 16-seed Prairie View A&M Panthers (17-15).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, CT)
Time: 1:45pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2 (Locked into CT only - Wrap-around rest of country)
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Today UConn All-American candidates Sr. G Tiffany Hayes and So. G Bria Hartley were honored as 2011-12 WBCA All-Region I Team selections as announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. On, Monday, March 19, the selection committee will review these 52 candidates and trim the list to 40 finalists, all of whom will be in the running for selection to the 10-member 2011-12 WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team. UConn women’s basketball has now had a total of 44 WBCA All-Region selections since 1986 and this season marks the 14th time UConn has had multiple All-Region picks.

We are getting another "special" one, folks!!!

On Tuesday, UConn signee 6'4 F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY) won the HS girls' 2012 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award as announced by the McDonald's All-American Games committee. Stewart is the top-rated player in the 2012 class according to the ESPNU 100 list. In 2011, Stewart led her team to its first state championships in school history and is looking to repeat in 2012. Off the court, she routinely volunteers at a local YMCA and youth basketball program and is a member of the honor role. She won the honor over finalists and fellow UConn signees 5'7 G Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, TX) and 6'2 F Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, IL) and becomes the 4th UConn player to win the award (Nicole Wolff, 2002; Tina Charles, 2006; and Maya Moore, 2007). The Morgan Wootten Award is given to the best male and female McDonald’s All American players who exemplify outstanding character, exhibit leadership and embody the values of being a student-athlete in the classroom and the community. McDonald’s established the award in Wootten’s honor to pay tribute to his unprecedented achievements as a teacher and coach. The official award presentation will take place at the McDonald’s All American Games awards banquet on March 27 in Chicago, IL.

Today Stewart became the consensus HS Girls' National POTY after being named the 2011-12 Gatorade National Girls' Basketball Player of the Year. She was given the award during a press conference at her Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Indiana Fever forward and two-time United States gold medalist Tamika Catchings provided Stewart with the news during a surprise visit to Cicero-North Syracuse High. Stewart, who has also been named the Naismith, WBCA and McDonald’s Player of the Year, is an `A’ student and volunteers locally on behalf of numerous charities and a youth basketball organization. She becomes the sixth UConn player to receive Gatorade’s top honor, joining Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2010-11), Maya Moore (2006-07), Tina Charles (2005-06), Ann Strother (2001-02) and Tamika Williams (1997-98).

The 2012 Women's NCAA Tournament #1 Seeds:

1a. Baylor Lady Bears (Des Moines)

1b. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Raleigh)

1c. Connecticut Huskies (Kingston)

1d. Stanford Cardinal (Fresno)

The 1-seed Connecticut Huskies will face 16-seed Prairie View A&M on Sat., March 17th at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT at 1:50pm ET on ESPN2.

Today ESPNHS announced the winners of the 2011-12 Gatorade State Girls' Basketball Players of the Year for each of the 50 states as well as Washington, DC. UConn signees 6'4 F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY) and 6'2 F Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, IL) were named Gatorade POYs for each of their respective states.  They are both now eligible for the 2011-12 Gatorade National Girls' Basketball Player of the Year award along with the 49 other winners. All the winners have also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.

Today UConn Sr. G Tiffany Hayes was named the 15 finalists for the 2011-12 John R. Wooden Award as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The National Ballot, consisting of these top 15 players, will be mailed to Wooden Award voters this week, and voting begins March 12th. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the ballot is made up of 15 student-athletes who are the final contenders for women’s college basketball’s most prestigious honor. Hayes was unanimously selected to the All-Big East First Team after leading the Huskies in scoring (15.1 ppg) and steals (2.6 spg) as she is second in rebounding with 5.7 grabs per game. Hayes and Green Bay’s Julie Wojta were the only players who were not on the midseason Wooden Award list, but who made the final ballot.

4/4 Connecticut Huskies (29-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 63, Notre Dame 54
Co-Player of the Game: So. G Bria Hartley (18p, 7r, 2a, 4s, 36m)
Co-Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (19p, 8r, 1s, 30m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. G Bria Hartley (6dr, 4s, 36m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (19p, 8r, 1s, 30m)
Stat of the Game: Rebounds: UConn 44, Notre Dame 33

2012 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament Champions!!!

2012 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player:
Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut

2012 Big East All-Tournament Team:
So. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
So. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut
Sr. F Devereaux Peters, Notre Dame
So. G Kayla McBride, Notre Dame
Jr. W Shennika Smith, St. John's

Summary: Win #800 might not have been the hardest of any of the 800, but according to Geno it might have been the sweetest or most satisfying. This group of Huskies has tried all season long to find themselves and their team's identity and there in the 2nd half of one of the biggest game of their short career's...the found IT!!! Led by the UConn All-American candidate duo of So. G Bria Hartley (18p/7r/2a/4s) and Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (19p/8r/1s), the Huskies punched, got punched, and finally counterpunched back a very physical and experienced Notre Dame squad into a 63-54 victory as well as a 5th-consecutive and 18th overall Big East Championship. UConn has now gone 19 straight seasons with at least a Big East Regular Season or Tournament Championship title. Sr. G Tiffany Hayes chipped in a very hard earned 14pts., 8rebs. (including 4 offensive), 1ast., and 1stl. in 37mins. while Jr. G Kelly Faris scored the 8 biggest points (including 2 of the biggest 3's) of her basketball career in the final 8 mins. of the game.

Game notes (pdf) for today's BET Championship game vs. 1-seed (3/3) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (30-2, 17-1 BE).

Event: 2012 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: BET Live Stats

4/4 Connecticut Huskies (28-4, 15-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 74, St. John's 43
Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (23p, 6r, 2s, 2b, 26m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (4dr, 2s, 2b, 26m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (22p, 5r, 1a, 2s, 30m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TOs: UConn 27, St. John's 11

Summary: Still to come...

Today UConn signee 6'4 F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY) was named the 2011-12 Naismith High School Girl's Player of the Year, as announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The #1 Senior in the 2012 HS Class is averaging 25.5ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.9apg, 2.7spg & 2.9bpg and leads her Cicero-North Syracuse High team into the New York Class AA quarterfinals on Friday against Colonie High at Hudson Valley Community College.

Future UConn teammates 5'7 PG Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, TX) and 6'2 F Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, IL) were also among 5 finalist for the award. Stewart is the seventh UConn signee to win the award, joining Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2011), Elena Delle Donne (2008), Maya Moore (2006, 2007), Ann Strother (2002), Diana Taurasi (2000) and Tamika Williams (1998). Delle Donne ultimately transferred to Delaware.

Game notes (pdf) for today's BET Semifinal game vs. 2-seed (18/21) St. John's Red Storm (22-8, 14-3 BE).

Event: 2012 Big East  Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 8:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPNU
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: BET Live Stats

4/4 Connecticut Huskies (27-4, 14-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 49, Rutgers 34
Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (17p, 6r, 1s, 2b, 33m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (6dr, 1s, 4b, 35m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (17p, 6r, 1s, 2b, 33m)
Stat of the Game: Bench Pts.: UConn 18, Rutgers 0

Summary: Still to come...

Game notes (pdf) for today's BET Quarterfinal game vs. 6-seed (23/19) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (22-8, 11-6 BE).

Event: 2012 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 8:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPNU
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: BET Live Stats

The second half of the 2011-12 Big East Awards (aka the major awards) were announced today at a news conference. UConn Fr. All-American candidate W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis was named the 2010-11 Big East Freshman of the Year. Notre Dame's Jr. All-American G Skylar Diggins was named the 2011-12 Big East Player of the Year. St. John's Sr. F Da'Shena Stevens was named the 2011-12 Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Head Coach Kim Barnes-Arico was named the 2011-12 Big East Coach of the Year.

2011-12 Big East Player of the Year:
Jr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame

2011-12 Big East Freshman of the Year:
Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut

2011-12 Big East Coach of the Year:
Kim Barnes Arico, St. John's

2011-12 Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
Sr. F Da'Shena Stevens, St. John's

The first half of the 2011-12 Big East Awards were announced today through press release (the major awards will be announced tomorrow at a 5pm news conference at the Big East Tournament).

2011-12 Big East Defensive Player of the Year:
Sr. F Devereaux Peters, Notre Dame

2011-12 Big East Most Improved Player Award:
Sr. G Jasmine Wynne, South Florida

2011-12 Big East Sixth Man Award:
Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut

2011-12 Big East Sportsmanship Award:
Sr. G Deanna Ortiz, DePaul
Sr. F Da'Shena Stevens, St. John's

2011-12 All-Big East Teams:
First Team:
So. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut
Jr. G Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut*
Jr. G Anna Martin, DePaul*
So. G Ta'Shauna "Sugar" Rodgers, Georgetown*
So. G Shoni Schimmel, Louisville
So. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame*
Jr. G Natalie Novosel, Notre Dame
Sr. F Devereaux Peters, Notre Dame
Sr. G Khadijah Rushdan, Rutgers
Jr. W Shenneika Smith, St. John’s
Jr. C Asya Bussie, West Virginia

Second Team:
RSo. G Dayeesha Hollins, Cincinnati
Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Sr. W April Sykes, Rutgers
Jr. G Nadirah McKenith, St. John’s
Sr. F Da’Shena Stevens, St. John’s
Sr. G Jasmine Crew, Seton Hall
Sr. G Jasmine Wynne, USF
So. C Kayla Alexander, Syracuse
Sr. FIasia Hemingway, Syracuse
Jr. F Laura Sweeney, Villanova

Honorable Mention:
So. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Jr. F Katherine Harry, DePaul
Sr. F Tia Magee, Georgetown
So. F Katherine Plouffe, Marquette
Jr. C Monique Oliver, Rutgers
RSo. G Christal Caldwell, West Virginia

Freshmen Team:
Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut*
Fr. C Kiah Stokes, Connecticut
Fr. G Brittany Hrynko, DePaul*
Fr. G Bria Smith, Louisville*
Fr. G Arlesia Morse, Marquette
Fr. G Brianna Kiesel, Pittsburgh*
Fr. W Betnijah Laney, Rutgers
Fr. F Amber Thompson, St. John’s
RFr. F Lauren Burford, Villanova
Fr. G Linda Stepney, West Virginia

* - unanimous selection