Injury Update

UConn So. F Morgan Tuck underwent successful microfracture right knee surgery yesterday and will miss the remainder of the 2013-14 basketball season. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Arciero at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Tuck is expected to be ready for the start of the 2014-15 season and will apply for a medical redshirt following the 2013-14 season. Tuck, a native of Bolingbrook, Ill., last appeared for the Huskies on January 7, 2014 against Houston where she scored a career-high 19 points in only 13-minutes of action against the Cougars. She averaged 7.5ppg and 2.4rpg this season in 8 games played.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Temple Owls (10-9, 4-4 AAC).

Location: McGonigle Hall (Philadelphia, PA)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: none

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs South Florida Bulls (10-8, 5-2 AAC).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 12:00pm (ET)
TV: CBSSN
Internet: none
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs Memphis Tigers (10-8, 3-3 AAC).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at 21/ARV Rutgers Scarlett Knights (13-3, 4-1 AAC).

Location: Rutgers Athletic Center (Piscataway, NJ)
Time: 3:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (18-0, 5-0 AAC)

Results: Connecticut 66, Baylor 55
Player of the Game: So. G Moriah Jefferson (13p, 6r, 5a, 4s, 1b, 38m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. G Moriah Jefferson (5dr, 4s, 1b, 38m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Nina Davis, Baylor (11p, 17r, 3a, 2s, 38m)
Stat of the Game: Blocks: UConn 8, Baylor 0

Summary: Still to come...

USA Basketball Women's National Team Pool

Three current UConn Stars as well as 4 former Husky Greats were among the 33 players named to the 2014-16 USA Basketball Women's National Team Pool as announced today by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee. They will be coached by their current UConn and USAB Women's National Team Head Coach Geno Auriemma, who led USAB to Gold in London in 2012 and UConn to 8 National Titles in WCBB. The USA Basketball Women’s National Team over the next three years will compete in the 2014 FIBA World Championship (Sept. 27 - Oct. 5 in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey), and if the USA qualifies, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games (Aug. 5 - 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), as well as additional USA training camps and exhibition games.

Highlighting the returning veterans are three-time Olympic gold medalists Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury); two-time Olympic gold medalists Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks); 2012 Olympic gold medalists Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx); and Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun) and Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty), who were members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Further, Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars) and Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), members of the 2010 USA World Championship Team that won gold, have been named to the pool.

Also named to the 2013-16 USA National Team roster were: DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix Mercury), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins (Tulsa Shock), Stefanie Dolson (University of Connecticut), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Lindsey Harding (Los Angeles Sparks), Briann January (Indiana Fever), Glory Johnson (Tulsa Shock), Jantel Lavender (Los Angeles Sparks), Kayla McBride (University of Notre Dame), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (University of Connecticut), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Silver Stars), Odyssey Sims (Baylor University), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut), Alyssa Thomas (University of Maryland), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky), Monica Wright (Minnesota Lynx) and Sophia Young (San Antonio Silver Stars).

Four prior USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year honorees are listed on the roster, highlighted by three-time honoree UConn's Taurasi (2006, 2010, 2012), as well as LSU's Augustus (2003), UConn's Charles (2009) and UConn's Stewart (2011, 2013).

Player of the Week

UConn So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart was named the American Player of the Week for the second time this season after she averaged 18.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.5bpg and 3.5apg in a 2-0 week for the top-ranked Huskies.  The sophomore also shot 53.8 percent from the field in wins over Houston and Temple. Stewart started the week with a 24-point, nine-rebound performance in the Huskies' win over Houston on Tuesday. She also blocked six shots and was 8-14 from the floor in only 21-minutes of action.  She followed that up with 12 points, four steals and three assists in 20 minutes of action vs. Temple.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at 7/7 Baylor Lady Bears (14-1).

Location: Ferrell Center (Waco, TX)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (17-0, 5-0 AAC)

Results: Connecticut 80, Temple 36
Player of the Game: So. G Moriah Jefferson (13p, 2r, 6a, 4s, 1b, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. C Kiah Stokes (11dr, 3b, 28m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (3p, 2a, 2s, 21m)
Stat of the Game: Steals: UConn 21, Temple 8

Summary: A sold-out crowd of more than 9,200 watched the team's first regular-season "home" game played outside of Storrs or Hartford. Playing without injured Morgan Tuck and Stefanie Dolson and Breanna Stewart on the bench early with foul trouble, UConn Jr. C Kiah Stokes responded by hauling down a career-high 18 rebounds, scoring six points and blocking three shots to help UConn pull away early in the 2nd half to rout Temple, 80-36. UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley led the Huskies with 19ts. and 4stls. While UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson added 13pts., 2rebs., 6asts., 4stls. and 1 monster block and All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart chipped in 12pts., 3rebs., 3asts., 4stls., and 3blks. in only 20mins. due to foul trouble. UConn All-American C Stefanie Dolson had a career-high 7blks.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs Temple Owls (8-6, 2-2 AAC).

Location: Webster Bank Arena (Bridgeport, CT)
Time: 12:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (16-0, 4-0 AAC)

Results: Connecticut 90, Houston 40
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (24p, 9r, 4a, 2s, 6b, 21m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (7dr, 2s, 7b, 22m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (6p, 1r, 2a, 1s, 1b, 22m)
Stat of the Game: Blocks: UConn 17, Houston 2

Summary: On a day when she was honored for the second time as USA basketball's female athlete of the year, UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart showed why it's a good bet she will get that chance in a couple of years. Stewart finished with 24pts., 9rebs., 4asts., 2stls., and 6blks. in just 21mins. to lead top-ranked and undefeated UConn roll over Houston, 90-40 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. She said her Olympic dream is a big part of what motivates her to play well.

"Obviously there's great players in this country and in other countries," Stewart said. "I just have to really keep working hard and getting better, and hopefully, I will be given the opportunity."

Morgan Tuck added a career-high 19 points and Stefanie Dolson had eight points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots. The Huskies tied a team record with 17 blocks, two blocks shy of an NCAA record.

2013 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year

Today rising UConn star and All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY) was named the 2013 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. This past summer, Stewart won her fifth gold medal with USA Basketball at the FIBA U19 World Championship and participated in the USA Basketball Women’s National Team mini-camp in October. In leading the USA to a 9-0 record and gold medal at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship from July 18-28 in Lithuania, Stewart was named MVP of the 16-team tournament after starting in all nine games and averaging team-bests of 16.9 points and 24.7 minutes per game while adding 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 assists per game. She shot 50.9 percent from the field (56-110 FGs), 58.3 percent from 3-point (14-24 3-pt FGs) and 89.7 percent from the free throw line (26-29 FTs).

Having also won a gold medal at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship, Stewart became one of just three U.S. female athletes to have played on two USA U19 World Championship Teams. Stewart also earned the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year honor in 2011 and she joins a prestigious group of athletes who have earned the honor more than once, including Teresa Edwards (2000, 1996, 1990, 1987), Lisa Leslie (2002, 1998, 1993), Cheryl Miller (1984, 1986), Dawn Staley (2004, 1994), and former UConn great Diana Taurasi (2006, 2010, 2012). For the 5th straight year and 6 of the last 8 years, the award has gone to a future, current, or former UConn Husky with Taurasi winning in 2006, 2010, and 2012, former UConn star Tina Charles winning in 2009, and Stewart also winning in 2011.

 “USA Basketball is very proud to honor Breanna as our 2013 Female Athlete of the Year,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director. “She not only is an incredible basketball talent, as evidenced by her U19 world championship MVP selection, but she also is a tremendous team leader, and we are very grateful for her dedication and commitment.”

“It’s a great honor,” said Stewart, “I love competing with USA Basketball and have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to do that for the last several years. I’m so happy and thankful that USA Basketball has given me all the opportunities it has to travel abroad and learn a lot.”

"Breanna is an amazing talent who is respectful of her opportunities, and at the same time, she will take over every big-time ball game she is a part of,” said Katie Meier, USA U19 and University of Miami head coach.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs Houston Cougars (4-10, 0-3 AAC).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (15-0, 3-0 AAC)

Results: Connecticut 90, Memphis 49
Player of the Game: Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (21p, 6r, 4a, 30m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (8dr, 1s, 2b, 30m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (6p, 2r, 1a, 1b, 16m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TOs: UConn 34, Memphis 6

Summary: UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis snapped out of her 3-game slump and tied her season-high scoring 21 points and led the Huskies to an easy route of Memphis, 90-49. KML was 5 of 10 on 3-point attempts and added six rebounds and four assists. With the 8-time national champions coming to town, Memphis scheduled this game as part of a doubleheader with the Tigers men's team in the FedExForum, home to the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Fans paying for that morning tipoff got to stick around and watch the women play for free. And just under 7,000 of those 17,000 fans did just that. UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart added 17pts., 8rebs., and 3asts. for UConn and UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley had 13pts. including 9 during UConn's 32-7 to take a 50-23 lead at halftime. UConn All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson finished with another double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies have been beating opponents by an average of 37.4 points per game, best in the nation. They pushed their lead to as big as 41 with the final bucket.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Memphis Tigers (7-6, 0-1 AAC).

Location: FedExForum (Memphis, TN)
Time: 3:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/96.5 TIC FM
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (14-0, 2-0 AAC)

Results: Connecticut 77, Central Florida 49
Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (25p, 12r, 1a, 3b, 33m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (12dr, 3b, 33m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (7p, 2r, 2s, 10m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 48, UCF 12

Summary: The most exciting part of the game was that it was close enough (2.5hrs away from Palm Beach County) to where I live in Florida to go to the game. UConn All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson had 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead top-ranked and undefeated UConn to a blowout win over Central Florida, 77-49. Dolson made her first six shots and was 11 for 14 for the game. The 6-foot-5 senior had scored 15 points in her previous two outings, including a disappointing seven-point night in a 67-34 victory against Cincinnati on Sunday. UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart struggled shooting the ball but still finished with a nice all-around game with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Huskies. This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

"The easy answer is we threw her the ball," UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma said of Dolson's third 20-point game of the year. "We made a concerted effort after last Sunday to make sure we had post players touch the ball more than we did before." Auriemma also praised Dolson's ability in transition. "Some of our players jog - Stefanie runs the floor hard," Auriemma said. "She ends up with layups in transition. The guards do a great job of finding her in half court. Put those together, and you have a night like tonight." 

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Central Florida Knights (8-4, 1-0 AAC).

Location: CFE Arena (Orlando, FL)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker