With the season less than one week away, the 2012-13 Preseason AP Poll was released today and the UConn Huskies are ranked #2. The defending champion Baylor Lady Bears were the unanimous choice as #1. Led by 6-foot-8 senior center and reigning national Player of the Year Brittney Griner and junior All-American point guard Odyssey Sims, the Lady Bears return all five starters from last season’s 40-0 team. They also return 90.4 percent of their scoring and 86.8 percent of their rebounding. UConn coach Geno Auriemma has a lot of optimism about his team this season that has lost in the Final Four the last two years. He's telling anyone who will listen that his team is "really, really, really good," and he believes they can win it all. The Huskies return four starters, including junior All-American Bria Hartley, junior Stefanie Dolson and sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and usher in talented freshmen Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. The Lady Bears and Huskies will play in Hartford at the XL Center on Feb. 18, 2013. The Lady Bears’ winning streak could stand at 65 at the time of the meeting. Duke, Stanford and Maryland round out the top five.

Today the Big East WBB Coaches picked the UConn Huskies as their favorite to win 2012-13 Big East Conference Regular Season Title at Big East Media Day in NYC. It was the 19th time since the 1992-93 season the Huskies were selected as the favorite in the Big East. Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins was chosen as the 2012-13 Preseason Big East POTY (2nd straight season), while Connecticut's Breanna Stewart was unanimously selected as the 2012-13 Preseason Big East FOTY. The trio of UConn's Bria Hartley, Stefanie Dolson, and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were all selected to the 2012-13 Preseason All Big East Team.

2012-13 Preseason BIG EAST Coaches’ Poll:
1. Connecticut (12) 194
2. Notre Dame (3) 182
3. Louisville 167
4. St. John’s 144
5. Rutgers 143
6. DePaul 138
7. Syracuse 105
8. Georgetown 104
9. South Florida 97
10. Villanova 78
11. Marquette 75
12. Cincinnati 61
t-13. Pittsburgh 31
t-13. Seton Hall 31
15. Providence 25

( ) - First-place votes

2012-13 Preseason Big East Player of the Year:
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame

2012-13 Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year:
Fr. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut*

2012-13 Preseason All-Big East Team:
Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Jr. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut*
So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Sr. G Anna Martin, DePaul*
Sr. G Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown*
Jr. G Shoni Schimmel, Louisville*
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame*
Sr. C Monique Oliver, Rutgers
Sr. G Nadirah McKenith, St. John's
Sr. W Shenneika Smith, St. John’s
Sr. C Kayla Alexander, Syracuse

* - unanimous selection

2012-13 Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention:
Sr. W Monique Reid, Louisville
Sr. F Laura Sweeney, Villanova

Finally!!!

Today UConn finally received its first verbal commitment from the Class of 2013. During her official visit to UConn this weekend, 5'9 G Saniya Chong (Ossining, NY) chose UConn over Louisville and Ohio State. As a H.S. prospect, she is ranked 75th overall by ESPN HoopGurlz, 72nd overall by Blue Star, and 20th overall by All Star Girls Report. Chong has been a starter since she was a freshman and topped the 2,000-point plateau this season, leading Ossining to its second straight Section 1 Class AA title. As a junior, she averaged 33.3 points, 9.7 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. In 70 career varsity games, Chong has led Ossining to a 61-9 record and averaged 29.4 points, 6.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.2 steals per game. Ossining reached the state semifinal, losing to eventual champ Cicero-North Syracuse and star Breanna Stewart, who's now a freshman at UConn. Welcome to Storrs, Saniya!!!

Congrats to former UConn Star, Tffany Hayes!!!

Today the 14th overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream was voted onto the 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team (voting done by the coaches). Hayes received 9 of the 11 possible votes for the team. I'm guessing a lot of coaches especially the ones who are also GMs were pissed at themselves when writing down Tiff's name on the ballot, thinking about how they passed over her in the draft for some young, unproven "big" who might help them down the road when they have to face the new WNBA MVP Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, or incoming rookie, Brittney Griner. Oh well, Atlanta knew what they were doing and kudos to them for realizing her talent and potential. The #1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Los Angeles F Nneka Ogwumike (Stanford) was named the 2012 WNBA Rookie of the Year, as expected. It's the 5th consecutive year the #1 pick was named ROY (former UConn All-American's Maya Moore and Tina Charles accomplished the same feat in 2011 and 2010, respectively).

2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team:
G Samantha Prahalis, Phoenix
G Riquna Williams, Tulsa
G/F Tiffany Hayes, Atlanta
F Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Los Angeles
C/F Glory Johnson, Tulsa

SNY, the official television home of the UConn Huskies Women's basketball program, today announced its on-air talent roster and its exclusive game schedule for the 2012-13 season. The network named former UConn Women basketball greats Meghan Culmo and Kara Wolters as analysts. Meghan will serve as the network's game analyst and Kara as the studio analyst for pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. Joining the veteran UConn voices will be play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon - who recently served as a play-by-play announcer at the London Olympics for NBC - and SNY reporter/anchor Kerith Burke as the sideline reporter. Gary Apple, who hosts SNY's Big East basketball studio shows, will anchor the network's studio coverage alongside Kara Wolters. SNY also announced its UConn Women's 2012-13 game schedule - which will feature 20 live games. All Big East Conference basketball games will be wrapped with comprehensive pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. The network's game schedule will tip-off on November 11th at 1:30pm when the Huskies - eyeing their 17th straight season-opening win - host the College of Charleston Cougars. Prior to the game, SNY will air a special pre-game show featuring in-depth analysis of the upcoming season, including interviews with players and coaches, and highlight key players to watch. As previously stated, SNY will also offer an online streaming package for games airing on SNY. Details regarding the streaming service will be announced shortly.

The University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball programs will tip-off the 2012-13 season with 2012 UConn First Night sponsored by Webster Bank on Friday, October 12. Admission is FREE and open to the public. Gampel Pavilion doors will open at 4 p.m. as the UConn volleyball team takes on Cincinnati in a BIG EAST showdown. Meet the 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball teams as they sign autographs for Husky fans from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. First Night will feature performances from the band, cheer and dance squads, introductions of the players and coaches, a dunk contest featuring the 2011 winner Ryan Boatright and ultimate prize giveaways (more details to come). The show will end at approximately 8 p.m.

3:00 p.m. – FanFest on Fairfield Way
4:00 p.m. – Doors Open and UConn Volleyball vs. Cincinnati
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. - Autographs
7:00 p.m. – Show Begins

For up-to-date information on First Night follow @UConnHuskies and like on Facebook.com/UConnHuskies.

Happy 30th Birthday to ME!!!

What a great present it was to me to find out today that former UConn All-American and NPOTY and current Connecticut Sun All-Star Tina Charles was named the 2012 WNBA MVP. Charles, who has led the Sun to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 25-9, led the league at 10.5 rebounds per game and was fifth at 18.0 points per contest. Her and her #1 seeded Sun will take on the New York Liberty tonight in the first round of the 2012 WNBA Playoffs at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Earlier this summer, Charles helped lead the USA Basketball National Team to the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. That team was led by five other former Huskies and head coach Geno Auriemma. Charles becomes the second UConn alum to be named WNBA MVP. Diana Taurasi earned the honor in 2009. Charles finished fourth in the MVP voting in 2011 and earned mention as an All-WNBA First Team selection in 2011 as well. Congrats Tina, on an honor that is hard-earned and well deserved!!!

Today the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the 2012-13 preseason Wade Watch list of candidates for the prestigious award. Connecticut leads all schools with three players on the 25-member preseason list. The Huskies trio includes 2012 State Farm All-American Jr. G Bria Hartley, Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, and So. W Kaleena M. Lewis. Five schools - defending national champion Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Nebraska and Penn State - are represented by two players each including Baylor Sr. C Brittney Griner, the 2012 State Farm® Wade Trophy winner. The preseason list is composed of top NCAA Division I women's basketball players who best embody Wade's spirit from 18 institutions and eight conferences. A committee of coaches, administrators, and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team has finalized its 2012-13 schedule as announced by the team today. The 30-game slate includes 15 games against teams that qualified for the 2012 NCAA Tournament, and eight games against opponents that finished in the top-10 of the RPI (ratings percentage index). In addition to the 30-game schedule, the Huskies will also play a pair of exhibition contests. Highlights include matchups against all 3 fellow 2012 Final Four participants including a much anticipated showdown at the XL Center on Monday, February 18 against the defending national champions, Baylor, who went undefeated and won all 40 of its games last year en route to its second national championship. UConn will play conference rival Notre Dame twice (home and away) as part of its Big East schedule. Non-conference opponents include home games against Duke, Maryland, and Penn State and away games against Stanford, Texas A&M, Orgeon, and Hartford. The Huskies will also compete in the 2012 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands against Wake Forest, Marist, and Purdue from November 22-24, 2012. Nine UConn games will appear on National TV (CBS & ESPN Networks) and all the remaining games are scheduled to appear on SNY (the Huskies' new broadcast partner).

Season tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 1-877-AT-UCONN or visit UConnHuskies.com.

Today current UConn All-American Bria Hartley, former UConn standout Ann Strother and the 2012 USA Women's 3x3 World Championship Team (9-0) went undefeated in capturing the inaugural FIBA 3x3 World Championship for Women Gold Medal in Athens, Greece. Defeating Australia (8-1) 19-18 in the semifinals, the U.S. came from behind to capture gold with a 17-16 victory over France (8-1) in the gold medal game. Australia edged Ukraine (6-3) 18-17 in the bronze medal game. Teaming up with Strother and Hartley were Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike.

Today incoming UConn women’s basketball freshmen Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck each posted double-doubles to lead the USA Basketball U18 National Team to a 71-47 victory over Brazil on Sunday evening in the gold medal game of the 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Championship. Tuck netted a team-high 15 points and snared a game-high 11 rebounds while Stewart scored 13 points and corralled 10 boards to go along with four assists en route to being named Tournament MVP. Fellow incoming UConn freshman Moriah Jefferson capped a solid tournament with a four-point, four assist effort for the U.S.

Golden Girls!!!

1-seed United States of America (8-0)

Results: United States 86, France 50
Player of the Game: F Candace Parker (21p, 11r, 2a, 1b, 21m)
Def. Player of the Game: G Diana Taurasi (3dr, 29m)
Stat of the Game: A/TO Ratio: USA 22/11, France 12/21

Summary: Owning a comfortable 12-point lead at halftime over previously unbeaten France (7-1), the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team (8-0) blew the game wide open with a 19-0 run in the third quarter that propelled the USA to a 86-50 win and 5th-straight Olympic Gold Medal on Saturday evening at North Greenwich Arena in London, England. In capturing its unprecedented fifth-straight Olympic Gold (dating back to 1996), a feat never before accomplished in any women’s traditional team sport, the USA women have compiled a 41-game Olympic winning streak that began with the 1992 Bronze Medal game. Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) led the way for the US, shooting 10-of-14 from the field on her way to 21 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds, and Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) added 11 points. In the bronze medal game earlier today, Australia (6-2) beat Russia (4-4) 83-74.

All 12 U.S. players scored in a balanced attack that featured 22 assists on 34 made field goals. The gold medal is a third for Bird, Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), who added nine points and six assists, and Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), who finished with four points and five rebounds. While Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) and Parker also earned gold in 2008, Swin Cash (Chicago Sky) picked up her first gold medal in 2004. Earning Olympic gold for their first time were: Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx). With her Olympic gold, Moore becomes the seventh U.S. woman to have earned NCAA and WNBA titles, a FIBA World Championship gold medal and an Olympic gold medal. The previous six include Bird, Cash, Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Taurasi and Kara Wolters.

“You know, you go into every game thinking that there’s going to be some things that you have to do, and if you do those things you’re going to have a chance you can win it,” said Geno Auriemma, USA and University of Connecticut head coach who was assisted by DePaul University’s Doug Bruno, Jennifer Gillom of the Washington Mystics and Marynell Meadors of the Atlanta Dream. “France was probably playing as well as anytime I’ve ever seen them, since I’ve been the coach anyway. And when you’re going into it the way they’re playing, they got a lot of confidence. And we tried to really disrupt them and get them into the kind of game they weren’t comfortable playing, and I think we did that right from the beginning. When Candace Parker came in the game, the game changed completely. I thought she was the biggest difference in the game tonight. We all just kind of took that and ran with it. We beat a really good team, but we’re a great team.”

“I think our depth is by far the biggest key for us,” Bird said. “We are able to wear teams down. Not very many teams go 12 deep and with that over a two-week tournament, these teams have to play a lot of minutes ... seven, eight players play a lot of minutes, and I think none of us have to. So we are just able to wear teams down and by the end for the most part you can see teams get tired, and that’s where we really capitalize.”

Game notes (pdf) for today's Gold Medal Game vs. France (7-0).

Event: 2012 Summer Olympics
Location: North Greenwich Arena (London, England)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: NBC
Internet: NBC Live Extra
Live Stats: London 2012

Today UConn Asst. Coach Shea Ralph confirmed (via ASGR's Brett McCormick) that Jr. G Lauren Engeln will be transferring prior to the start of the Fall 2012 semester. Engeln cited a desire for more playing time, but has yet to pick the school she will be transferring to. She becomes the third player from UConn's Class of 2014 to transfer (Samarie Walker, Kentucky & Michala Johnson, Wisconsin). Best of Luck, Lauren!! We will miss you!!

Today former UConn NPOTY & All-American and current Univ. of Hartford Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti was named as one of six members of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013, which was announced on Monday evening on ESPN2 during the USA vs. Brazil game at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The six members of the Class of 2013 are: Gary Blair (coach), Jim Foster (coach), Peggie Gillom-Granderson (player), Jen Rizzotti (player), Annette Smith-Knight (player), and Sue Wicks (player). The Class of 2013 will be formally introduced at the 2012 State Farm Tip-Off Classic between Baylor and Kentucky on November 13th in Waco, TX, and inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on June 8, 2013 in Knoxville, TN.

Rizzotti is the second former UConn Women's Basketball Student-Athlete to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as she joins Rebecca Lobo who is a member of the Class of 2010. UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was previously inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2006. Rizzotti (UConn `96) led the Huskies to their first national championship in 1995 with a perfect 35-0 record. She finished her collegiate career with 1,540 points, 637 assists, and 349 steals. The New Fairfield, Conn. native was a two-time Kodak All-American and NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player (1995, 1996). Rizzotti was named the 1996 Wade Trophy winner, Associated Press Player of the Year, and BIG EAST Player of the Year. Rizzotti currently ranks second in career assists (637), second in career steals (349) and is first in steals by a senior (112) in UConn's record book.

Follow along here for all the latest news, schedules, results, and updates from the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremony is July 27th even though the games officially get under way on July 25th. Below is a quick rundown of the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team's schedule (TV schedule released, but all games will be on one of the NBC networks). A special good luck to the entire team especially all of the former UConn athletes competing and Geno!! And good luck to ALL the USA Olympic athletes. Play hard, be safe, stay healthy, and BRING HOME GOLD!!!!

2012 Summer Olympic Games - USA Women's Basketball (London, England)
7/26 9-11 am Practice Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
7/27 TBD Practice UEL Docklands
7/28 4:45 pm USA - Croatia Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
7/29 10:30 am Practice UEL Docklands
7/30 10:15 pm USA - Angola Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
7/31 11 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/1 10:15 pm USA - Turkey Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/2 11 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/3 10:15 pm USA - Czech Republic Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/4 11 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/5 4:45 pm USA - China Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/6 10:30 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/7 TBD Quarterfinals* Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/8 TBD Practice UEL Docklands
8/9 Semifinals^ North Greenwich Arena
8/10 TBD Practice UEL Docklands
8/11 TBD Finals^ North Greenwich Arena

*team must qualify to advance to qtrs.
^team must win to advance to semis/finals

Note: All times listed are EST. Local time in England is +5 hours.

Today Fr. F Breanna Stewart was named the 2012 Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year in Los Angeles, Calif. at a dinner emceed by ESPN’s Stuart Scott. Joining Tina Charles (2005-06) and Maya Moore (2006-07), Stewart becomes the third Husky to be honored as the Gatorade High School Female Athlete of the Year. Established in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. In 2003, the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards were established to identify and honor the nation's top overall male and female high school athletes from among the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year honored during the high school athletic season. All Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees will walk the ESPY red carpet and be featured as special guests during The ESPY Awards Show. The show will take place Wednesday evening and air live on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Today UConn All-American Jr. G Bria Hartley was named to the 4-player team that will be representing the U.S. at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup. She will be teaming up with Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins, Maryland's Alyssa Thomas, and Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike to form the quartet of All-Americans set to take on the world in the 2012 FIBA 3x3 World Cup which is scheduled for Aug. 23-26 in Athens, Greece.

Today the Big East Conference just announced its schedule grid for the upcoming 2012-13 Big East regular season. UConn will play a home and home series with Notre Dame for the fourth straight season. With West Virginia leaving for the Big 12, each team will now play two teams twice. In a little bit of a surprise, Marquette was the team chosen to play the Huskies twice in the 2012-13 season. UConn will host DePaul, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Villanova and will play on the road against Cincinnati, Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's and South Florida. Unlike past seasons when the Big East announced grids for multiple years, with the expected departures and arrivals of teams this schedule formula is good for only the upcoming season.

Here is a look at who the teams will play twice during the 2012-13 season:
(The dates and times of the game are expected to be announced around Labor Day.)

Cincinnati: Marquette, Rutgers
Connecticut: Marquette, Notre Dame
DePaul: Louisville, Pittsburgh
Georgetown: Pittsburgh, Syracuse
Louisville: DePaul, South Florida
Marquette: Cincinnati, Connecticut
Notre Dame: Connecticut, Providence
Pittsburgh: DePaul, Georgetown
Providence: Notre Dame, Villanova
Rutgers: Cincinnati, St. John's
St. John's: Rutgers, St. John's
Seton Hall: St. John's, South Florida
South Florida: Louisville, Seton Hall
Syracuse: Georgetown, Villanova
Villanova: Providence, Syracuse

Today UConn received its first oral commitment from  HS player in over a year, but it was from a top player in the Class of 2014, not Class of 2013 which the Huskies still have no commits from. Courtney Ekmark, a 6'0 G/F from the nation's #1 Girls HS Basketbal Team, undefeated (30-0) St. Mary's HS (Phoenix, AZ), verbally committed to UConn over Arizona State, Duke, North Carolina, and Stanford. Ekmark, who played a big role in St. Mary's finishing as the No. 1-ranked high school girls team in the country last season, is ranked 13th overall and 3rd at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz and 9th overall by All-Star Girls Report. Welcome to the UConn family, Courtney (see you in a few years...lol!!!)

Today UConn's entire #1-ranked recruiting class was named to the 2012 U18 FIBA Americas National Team. Incoming Freshmen Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, and Morgan Tuck all made the 12-player squad which is set to regroup at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., for its first training camp from May 28-June 1, 2012. The USA squad will then return to the USOTC for its final training camp Aug. 4-12, 2012, prior to traveling to Puerto Rico for the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. The U18 Championship, held in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, Aug. 15-19, 2012, will see the three medal-winning teams secure a berth in the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women. The 2013 U19 Worlds will be hosted by Lithuania, July 18-28, 2012. The FIBA Americas U18 Championship will feature eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. Players eligible for this competition must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1994.

Who says 13 is the luckiest number? 12 is looking pretty good to former UConn Star Asjha Jones. Today the USA Women's Basketball Selection Committee named her the 12th and final member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team roster. The 6-3 forward from the WNBA's Connecticut Sun was a member of the 2010 USA World Championship Team. A 10-year WNBA veteran, Jones is a two-time WNBA All-Star and was named to the 2008 All-WNBA second team. She competes professionally in Europe and after helping propel her Rivas Ecopolis (Spain) squad to the 2012 EuroLeague championship game, Jones was named the 2012 EuroLeague Final Eight MVP. She closed out the season averaging a EuroLeague career-high 17.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for Rivas in EuroLeague games. Jones becomes the 6th member from the University of Connecticut named to this year's squad (record for one school on one U.S. Olympic Team roster, men's or women's basketball). In her four-year (1999-2002) collegiate career Jones, who played for USA Head Coach Geno Auriemma at the University of Connecticut, aided the Huskies to a 136-9 record (.938), won a pair of NCAA crowns (2000, 2002) while advancing to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2001 Final Four, and earned four Big East regular season and tournament titles.

Jones is joined on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team roster by LSU's Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), UConn's Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), UConn's Swin Cash(Chicago Sky), Tennessee's Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), UConn's Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), LSU's Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Louisville's Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), UConn's Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Tennessee's Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), UConn's Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), and Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx). The well-balanced and talented U.S. squad will compete for the USA’s fifth-consecutive Olympic gold medal in London this summer. Auriemma will be assisted by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and Washington Mystics assistant coach Jennifer Gillom and Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors.

And with the 14th pick in 2012 WNBA Draft the Atlanta Dream select...

Tiffany Hayes from the University of Connecticut

Today UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma announced So. F Michala Johnson will be transferring to the University of Wisconsin after the completion of the Spring 2012 semester. Johnson cited a desire to play closer to her home (Bellwood, IL) and a chance to play with her young sister Malayna, who has verbally committed to playing for the Badgers in the Fall of 2013. Best of Luck and continued good health, Michala!! We will miss you!!

Good Luck and good-bye Tiff, we will miss you!!!

Sr. G Tiffany Hayes graduates this season having proved a lot of critics wrong along the way. Was she perfect? No. Was she the best every night? No. Did she play her butt off for her team every second she was on the court? Yes. But she leaves us as one of the best all-around, do a little-bit-of-everything players.

During her 4-year career, she helped UConn win two NCAA Championships while playing in 154 games in a Husky uniform (with a final record of 147-7) and finishes in the Top 10 in scoring (1,801). She also finishes her career in the Top 10 of the UConn record books in a host of other catergories: Free Throws Made (431, 2nd), Games Played (154, t-2nd), 3-pt. FGs Made (186, 8th), and Assists (483, 9th). She is also 12th all-time with 223 steals. In her senior season, Hayes established career-highs in scoring (14.7), rebounding (5.8), steals (2.3), FG shooting (50.3%) and 3-pt. FG shooting (40.7%) on her way to being named an AP All-American (3rd team), the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 NCAA Kingston Regional, and selected as an unianimous All-Big East First Team member. She is also averaged 3.3 assists and 30.2 minutes. Hayes ranked second on the team is scoring, rebounding, and minutes and first in steals. The highlight of her senior season was when she set the UConn 2-game scoring record with a combined 68 points at Syracuse Jan. 25 (career-high 35) and against South Florida Jan. 28 (33). Other honors for Hayes include being named to the All-Big East First Team (10-11), Second Team (09-10), All-Rookie Team (08-09), and was 2010-11 All-American Honorable Mention.

We will truly miss you Tiff! Most notably, we will miss your heart, your passion, your committment, your determination, your loyalty, and your teamwork!! You make us very proud to call you one of "Our Girls"!!! We all wish you the best of luck on your future, whereever it may take you (and I believe it will be on a WNBA roster)!!!! Stay healthy and take care of you mind, body, and spirit!!!!!

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (33-5, 16-3 BE)

Results: Notre Dame 83, Connecticut 75 OT
Player of the Game: Sr. G Natalie Novosel, ND (20p, 7r, 4a, 1s, 38m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Skylar Diggins (2dr, 3s, 2b, 44m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (13p, 7r, 1a, 1s, 1b, 36m)
Stat of the Game: Off. Rebs.: UConn 15, Notre Dame 20

Summary: One of the best games ever played, so if you didn't watch it, that sucks for you because I'm too exhausted to summarize it. Suffice it to say, our UConn girls played their butts off and deserved to win. It just was not meant to be this year. Next year, women's college basketball --- WATCH OUT --- UConn will be back and back with avengence!!!!!!!

Lost in the disappointment of losing in the Final 4 was newly crowned UConn So. All-American G Bria Hartley scoring her 1,000th career point (making her only the 3rd UConn to ever accomplish the feat - Maya Moore and Svetlana Abrosimova). Congratulations, Bria...you make us proud to call you one of "Our Girls"!!!

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Final 4 game vs. 1-seed (4/4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (34-3).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Pepsi Center (Denver, CO)
Time: 6:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

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

UConn freshman W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the 8th time in her career after helping UConn to a 2-1 week while averaging 20 ppg. In a game at Pittsburgh, she had 23 points, going 9-of-12 from the floor. At Marquette, Mosqueda-Lewis had 27 points and seven rebounds. In the regular-season finale, she had 10 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor against No. 3/3 Notre Dame. She is now all alone in 2nd for most Freshman of the Week honors all-time. Former Huskies Maya Moore holds the record with 10 honors.

4/4 Connecticut Huskies (26-4, 13-3 BE)

Results: Notre Dame 72, Connecticut 59
Player of the Game: Sr. F Devereaux Peters, ND (9p, 15r, 3a, 3s, 2b, 35m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. F Devereaux Peters, ND (9dr, 3s, 2b, 35m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (10p, 20m)
Stat of the Game: 2nd Chance Pts.: ND 25, UConn 8

Summary: Notre Dame won its first-ever outright Big East Regular Season title as they wore down the Huskies in front of 15,132 fans in Hartford and defeated UConn for the 3rd-straight time, 72-59. In what was a hard-fought, back and forth game for the first 30mins. turned into a mini-blowout in the end as UConn ran out of steam going up againt a very experienced and posied senior-laddened Fighting Irish squad. Notre Dame was led by their All-American duo of Skylar Diggins (20) and Natalie Novosel (21), while UConn was led by their former All-American candidate duo of Tiffany Hayes (22) and Stefanie Dolson (18). UConn finished tied with St. John's for 2nd in the final 2011-12 Big East standings, but will be the 3-seed in the upcoming 2012 Big East Tournament due to its lose to St. John's in their head-to-head match-up. They will play on Sunday, March 4th at 8:30pm on ESPNU against the winner of the 6-seed Rutgers/11-seed Cincinnati/14-seed Marquette bracket.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs 3/3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (27-2, 14-1 BE).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 9:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

4/4 Connecticut Huskies (26-3, 13-2 BE)

Results: Connecticut 85, Marquette 45
Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis  (27p, 7r, 2a, 1s, 1b, 32m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (5r, 1b, 36m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (27p, 7r, 2a, 1s, 1b, 32m)
Stat of the Game: Bench Pts.: UConn 43, Marquette 21

Summary: UConn All-American candidate Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored a career-high 27pts. and Sr. G Tiffany Hayes added 20, including 18 in the second half, to lead the Huskies to an easy win over Marquette, 85-45.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Marquette Golden Eagles (13-14, 4-10 BE).

Location: Al McGuire Center (Milwaukee, WI)
Time: 5:00pm (ET)
TV: CPTV (Geno Show, 4pm)
Internet: CPTV Hoop Streams
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

4/4 Connecticut Huskies (25-3, 12-2 BE)

Results: Connecticut 86, Pittsburgh 37
Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (8p, 10r, 7a, 4s, 2b, 28m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (4r, 4s, 2b, 28m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (23p, 2r, 1a, 23m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 40, Pitt 8

Summary: Following its stunning home loss to St. John's, the Huskies were ready to move on and focus on getting back to winning. Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored a game-high 23pts. and Jr. G Kelly Faris added a game-high 10rebs. as UConn dominated Pittsburgh, 86-37. Sr. G Tiffany Hayes added 13 points for UConn. Opponents haven't fared well for nearly two decades when they've faced Connecticut following a loss. The Huskies haven't lost back-to-back games since losing to Providence and Louisville in March 1993. They've gone 683 games without consecutive losses and are 48-0 following a loss in that time.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Pittsburgh Panthers (8-18, 0-13 BE).

Location: Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh, PA)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: CPTV
Internet: CPTV Hoop Streams
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

2/2 Connecticut Huskies (24-3, 11-2 BE)

Results: St. John's 57, Connecticut 56
Player of the Game: Jr. G Nadirah McKenith (15p, 7r, 7a, 4s, 1b, 39m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Nadirah McKenith (4r, 4s, 1b, 39m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (12p, 6r, 4a, 1s, 3b, 35m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TO's: St. John's 20, UConn 8

Summary: After 99 consecutive home wins, win #100 in a row at home versus unranked St. John's on Senior Night was supposed to be emotional and tough, but at least supposed to happen. Well, St. John's had other plans. The Red Storm dictated tempo for the entire game following an 11-3 run to start the game by UConn and it was a battle the rest of the way for the Huskies who lost on a game-winning 3 from St. John's Jr. W Shenneika Smith (who by the way had only hit three 3's ALL season). Sr. G Tiffany Hayes, who was honored prior to the game as UConn's lone Senior), was held to 8pts. and committed 7 TO's in her 1st-ever home-court defeat. St. John's was led by Sr. F Da'Shena Stevens and Jr. G Nadirah McKenith's 15pts., who hadn't defeated the Huskies since 1993 while UConn was led by Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis's 12pts. and W C Kiah Stokes' 11pts., both off the bench.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. ARV/ARV St. John's Red Storm (17-8, 9-3 BE).

Event: 2012 Senior Night
Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: CPTV (Geno Show, 3:30pm)
Internet: CPTV Hoop Streams
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Today UConn So G. Bria Hartley was named a finalist for the 2011-12 Nancy Lieberman Award. The award is a national project of the Rotary Club of Detroit honoring the nation’s top collegiate point guard in women’s Division I basketball. The criteria for the award are the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Hall of Famer, Nancy Lieberman during her career. Sportswriters from across the country have determined this final nominee list. They will select three finalists from this list and one winner at the beginning of April 2012. The announcement of the three finalists and one winner will be made during the Final Four Weekend (April 1-3, 2012).

2/3 Connecticut Huskies (24-2, 11-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 73, Oklahoma 55
Player of the Game: Sr. G Tiffany Hayes (23p, 6r, 7a, 3s, 1b, 37m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Tiffany Hayes (6r, 3s, 1b, 37m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (10p, 4r, 2a, 3s, 22m)
Stat of the Game: Fast Break Pts.: UConn 12, Oklahoma 2

Summary: Still to come...

UConn freshman W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the 7th time in her career after helping UConn to a 2-0 week against rank opponents while averaging 14.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.5apg. In the win against 14/13 Georgetown, she had 23 points, two steals, four assists and six rebounds. She shot 10-of-16 from the floor and sank a trio of 3-pointers. In the win on the road against 20/17 Louisville, Mosqueda-Lewis was hampered by foul trouble, but scored five points and grabbed two rebounds. She is now tied at 2nd with former Huskies Rebecca Lobo for most Freshman of the Week honors. Former Huskies Maya Moore holds the record with 10 honors.

Today all three UConn commits were named as finalists for the 2012 Naismith Girls' High School Player of the Year. Moriah Jefferson (T.H.E.S.A., Glenn Heights, Texas), Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse High School, Syracuse, N.Y.) and Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook High School, Bolingbrook, Ill.) all have been selected as three of the five finalists. They are looking to become the sixth future UConn player to win the award, joining Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2011), Maya Moore (2006, 2007) Ann Strother (2002), Diana Taurasi (2000) and Tamika Williams (1998). Elena Delle Donne (2008) also won the award before transferring to Delaware. The winner will be recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club at its season-ending Naismith Awards Banquet presented by AT&T and Newell Rubbermaid, March 22, 2012, at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in Atlanta.

Today 7 former Huskies were named 21 finalists for 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team roster which will be coached by UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma. Olymic Gold Medalists' Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and Diana Taurasi are joined by Tina Charles, Asjha Jones, Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore to comprise the seven Huskies that have been chosen as finalists. Connecticut leads all other universities with Tennessee having three former student-athletes. The final 12-member USA National Team roster will be announced in the early summer.

The 21 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team include: Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Bird (Seattle Storm), Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx), Cash (Chicago Sky), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Charles (Connecticut Sun), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Brittney Griner (Baylor University), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream), Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker(Los Angeles Sparks), Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty), Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Sophia Young (San Antonio Silver Stars).

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Oklahoma Sooners (16-7).

Event: Play 4 Kay
Location: Lloyd Noble Center (Norman, OK)
Time: 9:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/3 Connecticut Huskies (23-2, 11-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 80, Georgetown 38
Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (23p, 6r, 4a, 2s, 34m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Tiffany Hayes (2r, 3s, 1b, 32m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (23p, 6r, 4a, 2s, 34m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. off TO's: UConn 28, Georgetown 6

Summary: Still to come...

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. 14/13 Georgetown Hoyas (19-5, 8-3 BE).

Event: Play 4 Kay (Fans encouraged to wear pink to game)
Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: CPTV (Geno Show, 3pm)
Internet: CPTV Hoop Streams
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

The UConn trio of recruits are now the UConn trio of HS All-Americans. Led by the newly crowned 2012 State Farm/WBCA National HS Player of the Year 6'3 F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY), the trio which also includes 5'7 G Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, TX) and 6'2 F Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, IL) was selected to play in the 2012 McDonald's HS All-American Game today and yesterday were all select to play in the 2012 WBCA HS All-American Game presented by Nike.

Stewart is currently ranked No. 1 among high school girls basketball players in the U.S. by ESPN HoopGurlz.com. She also was honored by USA Basketball in January as the 2011 Female Athlete of the Year. As Cicero-North Syracuse's leading scorer, Stewart averages 24 points per game and has scored in double figures in every game of the season. She has scored 25 or more points in six games, including a season-high 44 against Hill School on Jan. 17 and two performances of more than 30 points each. She becomes the 7th WBCA National High School Player of the Year to sign with the Huskies. Previous players of the year on UConn's roster include Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2011), Maya Moore (2007), Tina Charles (2006), Ann Strother (2002) and Tamika (Williams) Raymond (1998). Elena Delle Donne (2008) initially signed with UConn, but enrolled at the University of Delaware before playing for the Huskies. Her Cicero-North Syracuse team (14-2) sits atop its conference standings with an unblemished mark of 10-0. As of Jan. 30 the Northstars are ranked eighth nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz.com after debuting at No. 26 in the 2011-12 preseason rankings. Stewart will be formally honored at halftime of the 2012 WBCA High School All-America Game presented by NIKE, which will be played at 4:30 p.m. MT Saturday, March 31, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The game is held annually as part of the WBCA National Convention and NCAA® Women's Final Four® "Super Saturday" festivities. The 2012 McDonald's All-American Game on March 28 in Chicago at the United Center where the 2012 McDonald's Girls' National HS Player of the Year award will be named and presented.

3/3 Connecticut Huskies (22-2, 10-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 56, Louisville 46
Player of the Game: RJr. G Caroline Doty (15p, 3r, 3a, 4s, 1b, 35m)
Def. Player of the Game: RJr. G Caroline Doty (2r, 4s, 1b, 35m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. C Kiah Stokes (4p, 6r, 12m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 24, Louisville 8

Summary: Still to come...

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at 20/17 Louisville Cardinals (17-6, 6-4 BE).

Location: KFC Yum Center (Louisville, KY)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: CBSSN
Internet: None
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/3 Connecticut Huskies (21-2, 9-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 66, Rutgers 34
Player of the Game: Sr. G Tiffany Hayes (14p, 5r, 7a, 3s, 34m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (4dr, 1s, 2b, 33m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. C Kiah Stokes (10p, 5r, 1a, 1s, 1b, 15m)
Stat of the Game: Assists: UConn 19, Rutgers 3

Summary: Still to come...

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. 13/14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (17-5, 6-3 BE).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: CPTV (Geno Show, 6pm)
Internet: CPTV Hoop Streams
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker