Naismith Award Watch List

Four standouts from the UConn women’s basketball team earned spots on the 2013-14 Naismith Award Early Season Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club today. UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Sr. G Bria Hartley, and Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis along with All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart all received recognition, making UConn the most represented school on the list along with Duke. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is awarded annually to the men’s and women’s college basketball players of the year. The voting academy bases its criteria on player performance throughout the season. The Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will narrow the 50 pre-season watch list down to a midseason team comprised of 30 candidates, which will be announced in February. From there, four finalists will be selected to the final ballot in March. The Naismith Award winner will be announced on April 7, 2014.

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (8-0)

Results: Connecticut 88, St. Bonaventure 39
Player of the Game: Jr. C Kiah Stokes (19p, 8r, 1a, 4b, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (11dr, 4b, 30m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (6p, 2r, 2a, 1s, 28m)
Stat of the Game: Fast Break Pts.: UConn 17, St. Bonaventure 2

Summary: UConn Jr. C Kiah Stokes is finally showing her coach and the world what she's capable of by taking advantage of the opportunity given to her during the stretch run for the Huskies without 2 of its stars. Stokes scored a career-high 19 points and added eight rebounds and four blocks and scored in double figures for a career-high fourth straight game (after never scoring in double figures in back to back games prior to this 4-game stint) as she led the Huskies in a blowout win over St. Bonaventure, 88-39, on the final day of the Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday. UConn scored 31 consecutive points in the first half and UConn All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson had another double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds for UConn (8-0), which won all three game of the round-robin tournament by an average of 54 points. The Huskies beat Boston University on Friday and Monmouth on Saturday. UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson had 14 points, a career-high seven assists, six rebounds, and a career-high five steals while All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley had nine points, nine assists and no turnovers.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (6-1).

Event: 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge
Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 5:30pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (7-0)

Results: Connecticut 100, Monmouth 46
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (24p, 8r, 6a, 4s, 2b, 28m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (6dr, 4s, 2b, 28m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (7p, 1r, 1a, 1s, 29m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TOs: UConn 32, Monmouth 8

Summary: UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart scored 24 points to lead five players in double figures as top-ranked UConn cruised to a 100-46 win over Monmouth in the second day of the Hall of Fame Challenge on Saturday. Stewart added eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks. It was the third straight game that she scored at least 20 points and fourth time she has eclipsed that total. She is averaging 20 points in seven games. The Huskies (7-0) shot 62 percent in the first half and led 64-24 at the break. It was the most points in a half by UConn this season, surpassing the previous mark of 62 in the first half against Oregon on Nov. 20. The Huskies opened the second half with a 21-0 run that stretched the lead to 61 points, the largest of the game before turning to its bench for the rest of the game. UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson tied her career-high with 17 points on 3 for 3 from 3pt. range. The Huskies shot 58. percent (35 of 60) and were 10 of 18 from the 3-point line. So. C Kiah Stokes added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley had 14 points.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. Monmouth Hawks (0-4).

Event: 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge
Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 4:30pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (6-0)

Results: Connecticut 96, Boston 38
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (25p, 7r, 6a, 4b, 33m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (5dr, 2s, 2b, 30m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (15p, 2r, 3a, 3s, 2b, 24m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 52, Boston 8

Summary: Injuries have left top-ranked Connecticut with just 3 frontcourt players for the next month or so. Fortunately for the Huskies, they are 3 pretty good ones. The frontcourt trio of UConn Sr. All-American C Stefanie Dolson, So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart and Jr. C Kiah Stokes combined for 58 points on Friday as the Huskies routed Boston University 96-38 in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Challenge tournament. Dolson followed up the first triple-double of her career with a double-double 23-pt & 10-reb. performance against the Terriers. Stewart avoided 1st half foul trouble for the first time since the Hartford game and led the Huskies with 25 points while adding 7rebs. and 6asts. and Stokes chipped in with 10pts. and 8rebs. UConn Fr. G Saniya Chong added 15pts. off the bench and was a lights out 4 of 6 from 3pt. range.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. Boston Terriers (1-3).

Event: 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge
Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 7:30pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (5-0)

Results: Connecticut 114, Oregon 68
Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (26p, 14r, 11a, 1s, 3b, 31m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. C Kiah Stokes (10dr, 1s, 6b, 21m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Chrishae Rowe, Oregon (27p, 4r, 3s, 32m)
Stat of the Game: Dolson's Triple-Double (26p, 14r, 11a) 1st in 24 years, 2nd ever in UConn history!

Summary:  The Greatest to Play At UConn, Diana Taurasi, never had one, neither did Ms. Do-It-All, Maya Moore, nor did Husky Great, Rebecca Lobo, or a myriad of other former UConn superstars. But UConn Sr. All-American CENTER Stefanie Dolson just did!!! Dolson recorded just the 2nd triple-double EVER (Laura Lishness, 1989) in Connecticut women's basketball history Wednesday night, with a career-high 26 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists as the top-ranked Huskies (literally) ran away from Oregon, 114-68. UConn So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart added 28 points and 8rebs while UConn Sr. All-American G Bria Hartley had 17pts., 6rebs., and 6asts. UConn again dressed just nine players due to injuries, however six Huskies scored in double figures. Oregon Fr. G Chrishae Rowe was nearly unstoppable and definitely unconscious when it came to taking shots finishing with 27pts. on 27 shots for the Ducks who came into the game leading the nation in scoring by averaging almost 110 points a game this season with Oregon Head Coach Paul Westhead's run-and-gun style of play. But the Huskies held the Ducks to 31 percent shooting, blocked 12 shots and outscored Oregon in the paint 64-28. Many UConn fans may remember this is the same Paul Westhead who used his style of run-and-gun play while coaching former UConn Great Diana Taurasi in Phoenix and helped guide them to their first-ever WNBA Championship back in 2007.

UConn Inks 4

The nation's #1 team in America, the UConn women's basketball team, announced today that they had received National Letters of Intent from four student-athletes in the early signing period, as announced by Head Coach Geno Auriemma. The Class of 2018 includes 5'10 G Sadie Edwards (Meriden, CT), 6'0 G Courtney Ekmark (Phoenix, AZ), 6'0 G Kia Nurse (Ontario, Canada) and Gabby Williams (Sparks, NV) will all join the Huskies for the start of the 2014-15 season. Currently, the UConn Class ranks #1 according to All-Star Girls Report, #2 by BlueStar Media, and #3 according to Prospects Nation and HoopGurlz, however, UConn is still in the running for the #1 player in the class 6'5 F A'ja Wilson (Hopkins, SC).

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. Oregon Ducks (2-1).

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

Player of the Week

UConn Sr. All-American G Bria Hartley was named the first EVER American Player of the Week after she averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in three wins for UConn over ranked opponents last week. Hartley's 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists led UConn against No. 3/3 Stanford last Monday, followed by a 10-point, six-assist performance against No. 8/7 Maryland on Friday. She matched her career-high with 29 points against No. 13/15 Penn State on Sunday, which included five three-pointers, and added six rebounds and four steals.

In multiple match-up of All-Americans, Connecticut's Bria Hartley held both Maryland's do-it-all Alyssa Thomas and Penn State's sharpshooter Maggie Lucas well below their season average. Hartley's stellar defense along with her 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in three wins for UConn over ranked opponents last week helped the Sr. All-American Husky earn the first espnW National Player of the Week honor for the 2013-14 season.

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (4-0)

Results: Connecticut 71, Penn State 52
Player of the Game: Sr. G Bria Hartley (29p, 6r, 4a, 4s, 39m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Bria Hartley (3dr, 4s, 39m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (16p, 6r, 2a, 1s, 27m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TOs: UConn 19, Penn State 6

Summary: Make it 3 for 3 against the Top 15 for UConn, even short-handed. The #1-ranked Huskies breezed through ranked teams this week like they were lightweights on the schedule, leaving no doubt they are the best team in the land at the moment. UConn Sr. All-American G Bria Hartley tied a career-high with 29pts. on 5-10 shooting from 3pt. range (after going 0-11 against Maryland on Friday) and Fr. G Saniya Chong came out like gang-busters in the first half off the bench scoring 13 of her career-high 16pts. to help the undermanned Connecticut beat scrappy #13/15 Penn State, 72-51, snapping the Lady Lions' 22 game home-court winning streak.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at 13/15 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0).

Location: Bryce Jordan Center (University Park, PA)
Time: 12:00pm (ET)
TV: Big 10 Network
Internet: n/a
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (3-0)

Results: Connecticut 72, Maryland 55
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (26p, 7r, 2a, 1s, 2b, 34m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Bria Hartley (3dr, 2s, 40m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Lexie Brown, Maryland (7p, 2r, 3a, 1s, 1b, 26m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 48, Maryland 10

Summary: Even down to only 7 scholarship players and playing on the road against a Top-10 opponent with a 1st team All-American Senior on its roster, UConn got contributions from everyone save their freshman as they pulled away midway through the second half despite foul trouble as they rolled to their first road victory of the season at #8/7 Maryland, 72-55. UConn So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart was on fire in the first half scoring 19pts. on 7-9 shooting (3-3 from 3pt. range) in 14mins. before heading to the bench with 2 fouls. Stewie finished with a season-high 26pts. and 7rebs. while UConn Sr. All-American C Stefanie Dolson also battled foul trouble to finish with a double-double on 10pts. and 12rebs. while adding 5blks. Defensively, UConn Sr. All-American G Bria Hartley held Maryland Sr. All-American Alyssa Thomas to 6pts. in the 2nd half after she had 14pts. in the 1st. and So. G Moriah Jefferson played back-court thief throughout the 2nd half finishing off all 3 of her steals with lay-ups.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at 8/7 Maryland Terrapins (2-0).

Location: Comcast Center (College Park, MD)
Time: 6:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Tuck out 4-6 weeks; KML out indefinitely

Today UConn announced that So. F Morgan Tuck would be out for 4-6 weeks after undergoing successful arthroscopic knee surgery and Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis would be out indefinitely with a nerve contusion of the right elbow. Mosqueda-Lewis will be re-evaluated next week when it is likely a time frame for her return will be more clear.

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (2-0)

Results: Connecticut 76, Stanford 57
Player of the Game: Jr. C Kiah Stokes (10p, 13r, 1a, 1s, 6b, 24m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. C Kiah Stokes (8dr, 1s, 6b, 24m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (6p, 3a, 2s, 17m)
Stat of the Game: Blocks: UConn 9, Stanford 1

Summary: UConn Jr. C Kiah Stokes had what her Head Coach Geno Auriemma called "her best game in a UConn uniform" as she came off the bench midway through the first half of what was then an 8-6 contest where no one could hit a shot and helped change the complex of the game. Stokes would end up with 8pts, 8rebs, and 5blks. alone in the first half as UConn opened up the game to 39-26 by halftime. She would finish with a double-double on 10pts. and career-highs of 13rebs. and 6blks. as UConn pulled away to easily defeat #3 Stanford, 76-57. UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley led the way with 20pts., 8rebs., 6asts., and 2stls., but at the beginning of the 2nd half lost fellow All-American teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis to a right elbow injury. The team reports there will be an update provided tomorrow after they run more tests.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. 3/3 Stanford Cardinal (1-0).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (1-0)

Results: Connecticut 89, Hartford 34
Player of the Game: So. G Moriah Jefferson (17p, 5a, 3s, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (3dr, 1s, 5b, 19m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (8p, 4r, 2a, 23m)
Stat of the Game: A/TO: UConn 22/8, Hartford 5/22

Summary: This one was over after the 1st timeout. I know, I was in the building. UConn used an 18-0 run to go from up 9-7 to 27-7 and won easily going away against Jen Rizzotti's Hartford Hawks, 89-34. UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson scored a career-high 17pts. and All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson added 16pts.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. Hartford Hawks (0-0).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

2013-14 ESPN Women's College Basketball

Season Preview

2013-14 ESPN WCBB Preseason Player of the Year:
So. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut

2013-14 ESPN WCBB Preseason All-American Teams:
First Team:
Sr. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Sr. G Chelsea Gray, Duke
Sr. F Alyssa Thomas, Mayland
Sr. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
Sr. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford

Second Team:
Sr. G Kayla McBride, Notre Dame
Sr. G Maggie Lucas, Penn State
Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Sr. C Elizabeth Williams, Duke

2013-14 ESPN Top 5 Players Per Position:
Point Guard:
#1: Sr. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor

Shooting Guard:
#1: Sr. G Kayla McBride, Notre Dame

Small Forward:
#1: Sr. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

Power Forward:
#1: So. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut

Center:
#1: Jr. C Elizabeth Williams, Duke

Preseason AP All-America

UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and  So. F Breanna Stewart were selected to the five-member 2013-14 Associated Press Preseason All-America Team, as announced by the AP on Tuesday. The last time UConn had multiple Preseason AP All-America Team selections was when Tina Charles and Maya Moore were each selected to the team prior to the 2009-10 season. Along with Stewart and Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson and Sr. G Bria Hartley received votes for Honorable Mention honors; marking the first time a team has four players earn All-America honors. Tennessee has had three players twice and UConn did it in 2008.

2013-14 AP Preseason All-America Team:
Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Sr. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Sr. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
So. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
Sr. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

Preseason #1

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team will open the season as the nation's No. 1 team for the ninth time in the program's history, as announced by the Associated Press in its 2013-14 Preseason Poll, which was released Friday. Duke is ranked second while Stanford, Tennessee and Louisville round out the top-five. The other years in which UConn opened the season as the AP’s No. 1 team were 1995-96, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. UConn has gone on to capture the NCAA National Championship in five of the previous eight seasons in which it opened the season ranked No. 1, most recently in 2009 and 2010. The Huskies have gone on to qualify for the NCAA Final Four in each of the previous eight seasons they have begun as the nation's top-ranked squad. This year marks the 15th time UConn has been included in the top-five of the Preseason Poll. Connecticut, which is also ranked No. 1 in the 2013-14 Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll after receiving 31 of the 32 possible 1st-place votes (Tennessee received the lone other), posted 35-4 mark in 2012-13 en route to winning the program's eighth NCAA National Title. UConn has been ranked No. 1 for a total of 159 weeks in the program's history, the most of any team nationally. It's the sixth time out of a possible eight that UConn has been voted No. 1 in the preseason following its winning the national championship.

Senior CLASS Award

UConn All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson has been selected as one of 30 student-athletes to be considered for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Award in women’s college basketball, as announced on Tuesday. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Of the 60 candidates, 20 have grade point averages of 3.5 or higher. There are eight CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-Americans® and seven returning All-Americans. Twenty-four of the 32 NCAA Division I basketball-playing conferences are represented as well. Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four® and NCAA Women’s Final Four®.

Dolson, a 2012-13 WBCA/State Farm All-America selection, enters her senior year with 1,299 career points and is fourth on UConn's all-time field goal percentage list at 59.8 percent. A 2013 First Team All-Big East selection, Dolson has been selected to the All-Big East Tournament team in each of her three years in Storrs and was an NCAA Tournament All-Region Team pick in each of the last two seasons. Dolson also was honored as an All-American by the United States Basketball Writers and earned All-America Third Team honors from the Associated Press last year. Two former Husky greats, Sue Bird in 2002 and Maya Moore in 2011, have been honored as the Senior CLASS Award winner. Sr. G Shabazz Napier of the UConn men's basketball team was selected as a candidate for the men's basketball Senior CLASS Award.

Wooden Award Preseason Top 30

UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Sr. G Bria Hartley, and Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis as well as So. F Breanna Stewart have each been selected to the Wooden Award Preseason Top-30 List as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club today. The list is chosen by a preseason poll of national college women’s basketball media members. UConn led all programs with 4 selections to the 30-member list. Players not chosen to the preseason team are eligible for both the midseason team and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation’s top five players, will be announced the week of the Final Four.

Preason AAC Player Honors

Four Huskies earned American Athletic Conference Preseason Accolades as announced by the league during Media Day, which was held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart was honored as the 2013-14 Preseason AAC Player of the Year while UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson and Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis joined Stewart on the Preseason All-Conference First Team. Stewart, Dolson, and Louisville Sr. G Shoni Schimmel were unanimous selections. For some unbeknownst reason, Mosqueda-Lewis was not picked by every coach even though she was unanimously selected as a 2012-13 All-Big East First Team member last season after leading the COUNTRY in 3pt FG percentage (a UConn single-season record 118 3pt. FG's made on 50%). Now I can't wait for the AAC season!!! Because you know KML is goin "lights out" on those dumb coaches' ass-ets. UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley earned Honorable Mention status.

2013-14 Preseason AAC Player of the Year:
So. F Breanna Stewart, UConn

2013-14 Preseason AAC Freshman of the Year:
Fr. G Tyler Scaife, Rutgers

2013-14 Preseason All-AAC First Team:
So. G Briahanna Jackson, Central Florida
RSr. G Dayeesha Hollins, Cincinnati
Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, UConn*
Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn
So. F Breanna Stewart, UConn*
Sr. G Keena Mays, Southern Methodist
Jr. F Sara Hammond, Louisville
Sr. G Shoni Schimmel, Louisville*
Sr. W Antonita Slaughter, Louisville
Sr. W Inga Orekhova, South Florida

2013-14 Preseason All-AAC Honorable Mention:
Jr. W Betnijah Laney, Rutgers
Sr. G Bria Hartley, UConn

* - unanimous selection

Preseason AAC Team Honors

The defending 2013 National Champions, UConn Huskies, were chosen as the unanimous favorite to win the 2013-14 American Athletic Conference inaugural regular season title. Louisville, the national runner-up, was chosen to finish second. The selection was made by the league's 10 head coaches, who were not permitted to select their own teams. The 2014 AAC Women's Basketball Championship will be hosted at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., March 7-10, 2014.

2013-14 Preseason AAC Coaches Poll   Points 
1.      Connecticut (9)                                   81
2.      Louisville (1)                                      73
3.      USF                                                   59
4.      Rutgers                                              57
5.      SMU                                                  50
6.      Memphis                                            32
7.      Cincinnati                                           30
8.      UCF                                                   28
9.      Temple                                              25
10.     Houston                                            15

(  ) - first place votes

First Night Teams Announced

Pick the starting five for #TeamGeno and #TeamKevin! The men's and women's players receiving the most votes will be named the starters during the first-ever inter-squad scrimmage between players from the men's and women's basketball teams, led by head coaches Geno Auriemma and Kevin Ollie. Gampel Pavilion doors will open at 6:00pm. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive either a #TeamGeno or #TeamKevin t-shirt and 2,500 fans will also receive Husky glow sticks.

#TeamGeno
Omar Calhoun
Saniya Chong
DeAndre Daniels
Niels Giffey
Bria Hartley
Pat Lenehan
Shabazz Napier
Phillip Nolan
Briana Pulido
Terrence Samuel
Breanna Stewart
Kiah Stokes
Tor Watts

#TeamKevin
Brianna Banks
Ryan Boatright
Amida Brimah
Stefanie Dolson
Kentan Facey
Moriah Jefferson
Lasan Kromah
Tierney Lawlor
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
Tyler Olander
Rodney Purvis
Leon Tolksdorf
Morgan Tuck

Vote for the starting line-up here. Doors open at 6:00pm and it's SHOWTIME at 7!

The University of Connecticut has been selected as one of the 16 1st and 2nd round sites for the 2014 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship, which, along with the NCAA Regional sites, were announced today by the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee. The selection will mark the 19th time that UConn has hosted NCAA Tournament games at Gampel Pavilion, with the most recent coming in 2013. The Huskies boast an all-time record of 32-2 in NCAA Tournament games played at Gampel.

Weekly Spotlight #9

UConn All-American Candidate So. F Breanna Stewart Primed For Another Big Season.

Wade Watch

UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Sr. G Bria Hartley, and Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis as well as So. F Breanna Stewart have each been selected to the 2013-14 Wade Watch list as announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Tuesday. The Huskies led all teams with 4 players on the 25-member list. No other team had more than two selections. All four players were recently invited to attend the United States Women's National Team Training Camp in Las Vegas from October 3-6, 2013. Hartley was unable to attend due to a minor ankle injury as a precaution.

Today the UConn Athletic Dept. announced that the UConn men's and women's basketball teams will each play a regular-season game at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., this season for the first time ever. It will be the first home game for the UConn men played outside of Storrs or Hartford since a 1987 game against Syracuse at the New Haven Coliseum. The UConn men's team will host Eastern Washington on Sat., Dec. 28, at 1 p.m. while the defending 2013 NCAA champion UConn women's team will host the Temple Owls in an American Athletic Conference game on Sat., Jan. 11, at noon.

UConn First Night

The University of Connecticut men's and women's basketball programs will tip-off the 2013-14 season with "First Night" presented by Webster Bank and Connecticut Army National Guard on Friday, October 18, 2013. For the first time ever, First Night will highlight an inter-squad scrimmage between players from the men's and women's basketball teams, led by Head Coaches Geno Auriemma and Kevin Ollie. Meet the 2013-14 men's and women's basketball teams as they sign autographs for Husky fans from 6 - 6:45 p.m. in the AD's lobby (located between the East and South entrances).

Admission is free and open to the public. Gampel Pavilion doors will open at 6 p.m.

Elite Company

Current UConn women’s basketballs standouts Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Sr. G Bria Hartley, Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and So. F Breanna Stewart have received and accepted an invitation from USA Basketball to attend the 2013 Women’s National Team mini-camp from October 4-6 at the Cox Pavilion practice gym on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas. The Husky Quartet comprise 4 of the 7 collegiate players who accepted invites to this camp. They are joined by their UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma who decided to return as USAB's Women's National Team Head Coach this month as well as former UConn Greats and Olympic Gold Medalists Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) who are among the 33 invitees. The camp will be used to identify players for the USA National Team pool, from which the 2014 USA World Championship Team will be selected. Invitations to attend the training camp were issued by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee.

Weekly Spotlight #8

UConn So. F Morgan Tuck Poised For Breakout Season.

Weekly Spotlight #7

UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson Embracing Her Role.

Weekly Spotlight #6

UConn Fr. G Saniya Chong Looks To Make Her Mark In Storrs.

Going for a (2nd) Gold

University of Connecticut's Naismith Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Head Coach Geno Auriemma, who guided the USA Basketball Women's National Team to gold medals at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Olympic Games, will return to coach the USA National Team through 2016, USA Basketball today announced. Auriemma's selection was made by the USA Basketball Women's National Team Steering Committee and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. With 28-year coaching veteran Auriemma at the helm, the USA Basketball Women's National Team 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.

Home Game Locations announced.

The defending national champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team will play 9 of its 18 home games at Gampel Pavilion, 8 at the XL Center and 1 at a location (reports indicate Mohegan Sun Arena and the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport are the two finalists) to be announced shortly. The Huskies are 285-19 (.936) all-time at Gampel Pavilion and 136-14 (.907) at the XL Center.

He's Back...

While it won't become "official" until tomorrow, sources have already leaked what has long been speculated. That UConn Women's Basketball Head Coach Geno Auriemma will, in fact, return for a 2nd 4-year stint as Head Coach of the USA Women's Basketball Senior National Team. More to come tomorrow after the press conference which is scheduled to be held at UConn (if that doesn't give it away, I don't know what would) at 1pm ET.

Weekly Spotlight #5

UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis On Record Pace.

Weekly Spotlight #4

UConn Jr. C Kiah Stokes Emerging As Dual Threat.

The defending NCAA WCBB champions will begin their title defense on Sat., Nov. 9th as they take on former UConn Great Jen Rizzotti and the Hartford Hawks. The team will play 31 regular-season games, including a home-and-home series with all nine American Athletic Conference teams. Following a rigorous non-conference slate that includes six games against teams in the top-10 of last year's RPI and five games against teams that won their conference championship, the Huskies will partake in their first American Athletic Conference contest on Sun., Dec. 29th against Cincinnati. UConn will play games on a WCBB record 13 nationally-televised contests, 10 on the ESPN family of networks and three on CBS Sports Network

Weekly Spotlight #3

UConn All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson Poised to End UConn Career on High Note.

Weekly Spotlight #2

UConn Jr. G Brianna Banks On Her Way Back To The Court.

Weekly Spotlight #1

UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley Is Back On Her Game.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team put the finishing touches on its 2012-13 season with a trip to the White House for the third time since 2009 as President Barack Obama welcomed the team to the executive mansion to commemorate the Huskies 2013 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. UConn finished the season with a 35-4 record and claimed its record-tying eighth national championship with a 93-60 victory over Louisville on April 9. The Huskies have now won seven national titles since 2000 and have made 14 trips, including a record six-straight, to the Final Four.

USA U19 Gold

Behind a stifling defensive effort, as well as 16 pts., 9 rebs. 3 blks from UConn So. F Breanna Stewart (U19 Tournament MVP), the 2013 USA U19 World Championship Team (9-0) held France (7-2) to just 8 total points in the second half en route to a 61-28 victory and the USA's fifth-straight FIBA U19 World Championship gold medal on Sunday night in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The U.S. has claimed six of the last seven U19 gold medals and boasts a 54-4 record over that span, while owning an all-time 66-12 record in U19 play. Stewart's 152 points lists as the all-time USA U19 scoring record, surpassing the 147 points scored by Maya Moore in 2007. She also has the highest 3-point percentage of any USA U19 team member in history after shooting a sizzling 58.3 percent (14-24 3ptFGs), eclipsing the 57.1 percent shot beyond the arc by Cappie Pondexter in 2001. Fellow UConn So. F Morgan Tuck who averaged a USA second-best 13.1 points a game during the tournament, scored all of her six points in an 8-4 spurt to open the second half and with 14:45 remaining in the contest the USA led 37-24 while UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson was credited with game-highs of five assists and four steals. Stewart now has 6 gold medals for USA to her name while Tuck now has 4 and Jefferson has 2.

USA WUG Gold

UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley scored a game-high 17 points and was 6-7 from the floor while UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis added 15 points to lead Team USA to gold at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia with a 90-71 win over Russia on Monday night. USA now has won three-consecutive gold medals, and nine overall, at the World University Games. USA limited Russia to just 41.6 percent shooting (27-65 FGs) and 31.4 percent in the first half (11-35 FGs), and forced 20 turnovers, which led to 27 U.S. points. Hartley led USA in scoring for the WUG tournament with 13.5ppg and finished 2nd on the team in assists with 3.3ppg while Mosqueda-Lewis led the team in rebounding with 6.8rpg and finished 2nd on the team in scoring with 13.0ppg. Both Huskies now have 4 gold medals for the USA to their name.

(Via Rich Elliott's CT Post blog)

UConn incoming freshman Saniya Chong has been named the National High School Senior Athlete of the Year in girl’s basketball by the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA). She was one of 20 athletes honored nationwide. Chong, who was also named the Parade All-American Team’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year and a WBCA All-American, will be honored in the National High School Sports Hall of Fame Museum that will be built in Easton, Pa. She averaged 34.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 4.8 steals and 2.0 blocks last season in leading Ossining (N.Y.) High to the state Class AA championship.

“The 20 young men and women we are honoring today represent the thousands of success stories produced in high school athletics,’’ NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro Jr. said in a statement. “They have worked extremely hard to develop their skills and have become not just great athletes, but outstanding role models as well, and we are proud to be honoring them.’’ 

American Athletic Conference begins...

The Big East as we once knew it has officially gone. The dawn of the American Athletic Conference took place at midnight. The Catholic 7 (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova) have broken off to form another version of the Big East along with Butler, Creighton, and Xavier. Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have joined the ACC. Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, SMU and Temple have come aboard in all sports. Louisville (ACC) and Rutgers (Big Ten) will stick around one more year before leaving for their new home.

2013 ESPYs

UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma, who guided the Huskies to an NCAA record-tying eighth national championship this past season, is one of five nominees for the Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award. He is joined by Indianapolis Colts/Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, Duke lacrosse coach John Danowski, Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. The ESPYs will be held July 17 at 9 p.m. That is when the voting process will end.

Fans can cast their vote by clicking here.

And with the 11th pick in 2013 WNBA Draft the Connecticut Sun select...

 

Kelly Faris from the University of Connecticut

 

 

Victory Parade

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team partook in the Victory Parade around Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford Sunday afternoon. The parade was hosted by the Hartford Business Improvement District in an effort to congratulate the Huskies on winning the 2013 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship. The team tossed beads from the upper level of a double-decker bus to add a little New Orleans flavor to the even. Approximately 10,000 people turned out for the parade.

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (35-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 93, Louisville 60
Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (23p, 9r, 3a, 3s, 3b, 30m)
Defensive Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (8dr, 2s, 1b, 33m)
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (23p, 9r, 3a, 3s, 3b, 30m)
Stat of the Game: 3pt. Shooting: UConn 13-26 (50%), Louisville 5-23 (21.7%)

Summary:  UConn is back on top. Led by Fr. Breanna Stewart, it might be a while before they relinquish that spot. Stewart scored 18 of her 23 points in a superb first half and Connecticut won its 8th NCAA WBB National Championship with a 93-60 rout of Louisville. It was the most lopsided victory in a title game (men's or women's). The title tied Auriemma and the Huskies with Pat Summitt and Tennessee for the most in women's basketball history. It might not take long for Auriemma to pass Summitt the way Stewart and the rest of his Huskies played. His star freshman was unstoppable, hitting shots from everywhere on the court to earn Most Outstanding Player honors for the Final Four (the first Fr. to win since 1987) after scoring a career-high 29pts. (most in Final 4 game by a Fr.) against Notre Dame in the National Semifinals on Sunday.

"The fact that I tied Pat Summitt's record puts you in the category of the greatest women's basketball coach that ever lived," Auriemma said. "I'm just thrilled for our seniors. This team accomplished an amazing feat this last month."

Senior Kelly Faris and 5th-year Seniors Caroline Doty/Heather Buck conclude their careers with their 2nd and 3rd NCAA titles, respectively. Faris was simply amazing in the Final 4 shutting down whomever she was in charge of guarding. Her defensive abilties and her heart/hustle is a thing of beauty. She will be missed by many (and by me especially). That girl is SPECIAL!!! I am so happy the world got to see just how special and that she got to go out on top. She is going to make some WNBA team very, very happy with their selection in this Monday's upcoming 2013 WNBA Draft.

The loss ended an unprecedented tournament run by Louisville. The Cardinals became the first No. 5 seed to make the championship game, pulling off the greatest upset in tournament history when they beat Brittney Griner and the defending champion Baylor Lady Bears in the regional semifinals. Jeff Walz's team then beat Tennessee in the regional final before topping Cal in the Final Four. The Cardinals just didn't have enough to beat their Big East foe. Louisville was trying to become just the second school to win both the men's and women's championship in the same season and the first since UConn in 2004.

2012-13 NCAA Women's Basketball National Champions!!!

2013 Final Four All-Tournament Team:
Sr. G Kelly Faris, Connecticut
Jr. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut 
So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Fr. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut (Most Outstanding Player)
Jr. W Antonita Slaughter, Louisville

2013 WBCA All-Americans

Today UConn All-Americans Jr. C Stefanie Dolson and So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were named to the 2013 WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team, which the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today in a ceremony held at the New Orleans Arena during the 2013 NCAA® Women's Final Four® Super Saturday festivities. Baylor, Connecticut and Notre Dame each placed two players on the 10-member team which was decided from a group of 52 finalists by the selection committee at an in-person meeting held during the 2013 WBCA National Convention.

2013 WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team:
Sr. F Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Jr. G Chelsea Grey, Duke
Sr. C Brittney Griner, Baylor
Jr. G Kayla McBride, Notre Dame
So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Jr. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Jr. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Jr. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

The 2013 Women's NCAA Tournament #1 Seeds:

1a. Baylor Lady Bears (Oklahoma City)

1b. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Norfolk)

1c. Connecticut Huskies (Bridgeport)

1d. Stanford Cardinal (Spokane)


The 1-seed Connecticut Huskies will face 16-seed WAC Champion Idaho (17-15) at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT on Saturday, March 23 at 1:30pm (ET) on ESPN2.

2012-13 Big East Awards part 1

The UConn women's basketball team had six Huskies earn postseason Big East honors as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. Sr. G Kelly Faris was selected the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and shared the Most Improved Player of the Year award with DePaul's So. G Brittany Hrynko, while also earning a seat on the All-Big East 2nd Team. UConn So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis was a unanimous All-Big East 1st Team Selection and was joined on the 1st Team by Jr. C Stefanie Dolson. Additionally, Jr. G Bria Hartley and Fr. F Breanna Stewart were named All-Big East Honorable Mention. Stewart and Fr. G Moriah Jefferson were selected to the Big East All-Freshman Team.

2012-13 Big East Women's Basketball Postseason Honors:

Big East Defensive Player of the Year:
Sr. G Kelly Faris, Connecticut

Big East Sixth Man Award:
Sr. G Carmen Tyson-Thomas, Syracuse

Big East Most Improved Player:
Sr. G Kelly Faris, Connecticut
So. G Brittany Hrynko, DePaul

Big East Sportsmanship Award:
Sr. G Anna Martin, DePaul

All-Big East First Team^:
Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut*
So. G Brittany Hrynko, DePaul
Sr. G Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown
Jr. G Shoni Schimmel, Louisville
Jr. F Natalie Achonwa, Notre Dame
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame*
Jr. G Kayla McBride, Notre Dame
Sr. G Nadirah McKenith, St. John’s
Sr. W Shenneika Smith, St. John’s
Sr. G Andrea Smith, South Florida*
Sr. C Kayla Alexander, Syracuse

All-Big East Second Team
RJr. G Dayeesha Hollins, Cincinnati
Sr. G Kelly Faris, Connecticut
Sr. F Katherine Harry, DePaul
Sr. G Anna Martin, DePaul
Jr. G Antonita Slaughter, Louisville
Jr. F Katherine Plouffe, Marquette
Sr. G Symone Roberts, Providence
Sr. G Brittany Morris, Seton Hall
Sr. G Andrell Smith, South Florida
Sr. F Laura Sweeney, Villanova

All-Big East Honorable Mention:
Jr. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut
Fr. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
Fr. G Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame
So. G Brianna Kiesel, Pittsburgh
Sr. G Erica Wheeler, Rutgers

Big East All-Freshman Team:
Fr. G Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
Fr. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut*
RFr. G Chanise Jenkins, DePaul
Fr. G Brooklyn Pumroy, Marquette
Fr. G Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame*
Fr. G Aliyyah Handford, St. John’s*
Fr. G Kahleah Copper, Rutgers
Fr. G Brianna Butler, Syracuse
Fr. G Brittney Sykes, Syracuse*
Fr. F Alisia Jenkins, South Florida

* - unanimous selection
^ - extra members added due to voting ties

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Providence Friars (7-16, 2-8 BE).

Location: Alumni Hall (Providence, RI)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: SNY.tv
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (22-1, 9-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 91, DePaul 44
Player of the Game: Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (23p, 5r, 6a, 24m)
Def. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (6dr, 1s, 1b, 21m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (9p, 9r, 1a, 1s, 1b, 21m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 44, DePaul 12

Summary: Missing two days of practice because of heavy snow, the Huskies made sure not to get cold on the court by getting cold outside it - with a snowball fight. UConn All-American candidate Jr. C Stefanie Dolson scored 23pts. to lead the Huskies' to a 91-44 rout of DePaul. The game drew 8,861 fans, despite 30 inches of snow that fell in the area Friday and Saturday. Weather-related travel delays kept DePaul in Chicago until Sunday morning, and the team didn't reach the arena until about 1 hour, 15 minutes before the 3:30 p.m. start.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. DePaul Blue Demons (17-6, 6-3 BE).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 3:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPNU
Internet: ESPN3 (subject to blackout)
Mobile: WatchESPN
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (21-1, 8-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 94, Marquette 37
Player of the Game: So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (22p, 6r, 5a, 2s, 23m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (5dr, 5s, 1b, 27m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (10p, 7r, 2a, 2s, 3b, 24m)
Stat of the Game: Fast Break Pts.: UConn 33, Marquette 2 

Summary: When it rains, it pours. And not only did poor Marquette get to face UConn twice, but also got to face the nation's top 3pt. shooter twice. UConn All-American candidate So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis light up the first half on 7-7 shooting and 5-5 from deep while outscoring Marquette all by herself 19 to 17 to led UConn to a blowout win over the Golden Eagles, 94-37. UConn All-American Jr. G Bria Hartley had her best game of the season finishing with 20pts. while tying her career-high with 5 3pt. FGs made. UConn played without backup So. G Brianna Banks, who will miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right leg. Banks suffered the injury during the first half of the Huskies' 71-65 victory over St. John's on Saturday. The school released the diagnosis on Monday and said surgery would be scheduled in the coming weeks. Banks (Newnan, GA) had been averaging 7.3 points and 1.7 assists in just over 17 minutes per game. She was shooting 47.9 percent from the field. We wish you all the best and are praying for a full and healthy recovery.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (11-10, 3-5 BE).

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

Today UConn All-American candidate Sr. G Kelly Faris was named one of 8 additional student-athletes to the 2012-13 State Farm® Wade Trophy "Wade Watch" list announced by the WBCA. Joining the preseason list of 25 "Wade Watch" hopefuls are Kelsey Bone of Texas A&M, Gennifer Brandon and Layshia Clarendon of California, Faris, Tianna Hawkins of Maryland, Chelsea Hopkins of San Diego State, Niveen Rasheed of Princeton, and Meighan Simmons of Tennessee.The State Farm Wade Watch list will be trimmed to 12 finalists in mid-March. State Farm and the Wade Trophy Coalition will officially announce the State Farm Wade Trophy winner during the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in New Orleans. Faris joins fellow UConn teammates Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, Jr. G Bria Hartley, and So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis who were named to the "Wade Watch" list in the preseason. UConn leads all schools with 4 candidates.

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (20-1, 7-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 71, St. John's 65
Player of the Game: So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (19p, 10r, 2a, 1b, 38m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (9dr, 1b, 38m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Morgan Tuck (7p, 5r, 1a, 23m)
Stat of the Game: Free Throws: UConn 19-25, SJU 6-9

Summary: Playing without UConn All-American Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (illness), the Huskies got more than they could handle from St. John's for 36mins. However, in the last 4mins. of the game UConn All-Americans Sr. G Kelly Faris (17pts./5rebs.) and So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (19pts./10rebs.) made all the big plays on offense as UConn narrowly edged the Red Storm, 71-65. UConn So. C Kiah Stokes (7p/4r/1a/1s/2b/15m) got her 1st-career start in play of Dolson and came up big at the end of the game, grabbing some huge rebounds to help the Huskies escape Queens with a victory. UConn Fr. F Morgan Tuck also came up big for the Huskies and was UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma's choice to play the final mins. of the game when the game was on the line over fellow frosh Breanna Stewart (which says a lot). UConn So. G Brianna Banks left the game in the 1st half after injuring her right knee. The injury is being listed as a sprain at this point. She is schedule to have a MRI exam on Monday in order to find out the severity of the sprain.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at St. John's Red Storm (10-9, 4-3 BE).

Location: Lou Carneseca Arena (Queens, NY)
Time: 2:00pm (ET)
TV: Big East Network/SNY
Internet: SNY.tv
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (19-1, 6-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 76, Villanova 43
Player of the Game: So. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (19p, 4r, 5a, 1b, 24m)
Def. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (4dr, 2s, 3b, 21m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (14p, 6r, 3a, 2s, 3b, 21m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 30, Villanova 14

Summary: UConn went more than 7 1/2 minutes without a field goal against Villanova and still beat the Wildcats by 33 points. UConn All-American candidate Jr. C Stefanie Dolson led the way with 20pts. and 8rebs as the Huskies easily routed Villanova, 76-43. UConn All-American candidate So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis added 19pts., hitting five of her six 3-pointers. She now lead the nation in 3pt. FG percentage. UConn All-American candidate Fr. F Breanna Stewart chipped in 14pts. and 6rebs. off the bench for the Huskies.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. ARV/ARV Villanova Wildcats (16-3, 5-1 BE).

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

UConn All-American candidate Fr. F Breanna Stewart was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the third time in her career after averaging 11.5ppg and 6.0rpg in a 2-0 week for the Huskies, which included a win over No. 4/4 Duke and a league victory at Cincinnati. Stewart had 13 points, five rebounds and three blocks while shooting 71 percent against the Blue Devils. Against the Bearcats, she had 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (18-1, 5-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 67, Cincinnati 31
Player of the Game: Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (15p, 5r, 2a, 1s, 1b, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (4dr, 1s, 1b, 25m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (10p, 7r, 2a, 1b, 22m)
Stat of the Game: Rebounds: UConn 49, Cincy 28 

Summary: Third-ranked UConn knew this was a bad matchup for one of its former players and coaches. Then again, anytime one of Geno Auriemma's former assistants tests the Huskies, it's a predictable outcome. Connecticut always wins. Stefanie Dolson scored 15 points in limited time on Saturday night, and Connecticut's tough, physical defense allowed only a season-low 9pts. in the first half, setting up a very easy 67-31 victory over Cincinnati. UConn is 8-0 all-time against Cincinnati, winning by 21, 10, 37, 31, 31, 34, 43, and 36 points. Cincinnati Head Coach Jamelle Elliott, a former UConn player and assistant to Auriemma, fell to 0-4 against her former team. Auriemma has never lost to a former player or coach.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Cincinnati Bearcats (8-10, 0-5 BE).

Location: Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati, OH)
Time: 8:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: SNY.tv
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Today the U.S. Basketball Writers Association named UConn All-American candidate Jr. C Stefanie Dolsonas its Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 20. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 19 this season. As the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week, Dolson was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week. Dolson averaged 20.5ppg , 8.0rpg and 4.5apg while shooting 60 percent from the field in two games. She had 16 points and nine rebounds in a 72-58 win over then-No. 15 Louisville while shooting 8-11 from the field in the first of two wins by the No. 3 Huskies. Dolson followed up with a career-high 25 points, added seven rebounds and dealt six assists against Syracuse while also becoming the 36th UConn player to reach 1,000 career points in the 87-62 win.

Today the UConn trio of All-American candidates Sr. G Kelly Faris, Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, and So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were named to the 2012-13 John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 was announced today by The Los Angeles Athletic Club President Steve Hathaway. The #2/3 Connecticut Huskies were the only school to have three student-athletes placed on the list and the Big East Conference had the most candidates with six out of the 20 selections.

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (17-1, 4-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 79, Duke 49
Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (18p, 12r, 6a, 2s, 31m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (5dr, 2s, 31m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (13p, 5r, 3b, 22m)
Stat of the Game: 2nd-half Pts. Off TOs: UConn 17, Duke 0

Summary: The rest of the country finally got to see what UConn fans have known all along tonight. That despite her stats, UConn All-American candidate Sr. G Kelly Faris is, without question, UConn's heart & soul and the team's MVP. And despite UConn's lofty record, Geno Auriemma admitted something has been missing from his team. The Huskies may have finally found it. UConn turned a 2-pt. halftime lead over the previously unbeaten 4/4 Duke Blue Devils into a rout playing a nearly flawless second half. Faris was everywhere, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to lead UConn to a 79-49 victory over the Blue Devils. The senior guard seemed to get her hand on every loose ball and also shut down Duke All-American candidate Jr. PG Chelsea Gray. Auriemma gave Faris a giant hug when he took her out of the game with 1:36 left. Usually that show of emotion is saved for the end of the season. The Blue Devils were the last unbeaten team in men's or women's Division I basketball. The last time the Blue Devils came up to Connecticut two years ago they were also unbeaten and the Huskies had one loss. UConn won that game 87-51.

"The last 20 minutes of the game was as much fun as I've had in a long, long time," Auriemma said. A fiery halftime speech from the Hall of Fame coach seemed to have sparked his team. "Tonight the frustration came out of me in the locker room. Kelly (Faris) turned all that frustration into concentration and aggressiveness that helped us find a little bit of what was missing. ... Now the key is holding on to it and adding to it. There have been some legends wearing that Connecticut uniform," Auriemma said. "I don't know if anyone represented that uniform, herself, her family the way that kid did tonight. I know there are a lot of players out there that are really good. I know there are a lot of All-Americans who have played here. That was one for the ages right there."

UConn All-American candidate Jr. C Stefanie Dolson was named the Big East Player of the Week for the first time in her career after averaging 20.5ppg, 8.0rpg and 4.5apg while shooting 63 percent from the field, in a 2-0 week for the Huskies. Dolson had 16 points and nine rebounds in a win against No. 15/13 Louisville, connecting on 8-of-11 from the floor. She had a career-high 25 points, adding seven rebounds and dishing out six assists in a win against RV/23 Syracuse. She reached the 1,000-point plateau in the first half against the Orange.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. 4/4 Duke Blue Devils (16-0).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3 (subject to blackout)
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (16-1, 4-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 87, Syracuse 62
Player of the Game: Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (25p, 7r, 6a, 2s, 2b, 35m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (5dr, 2s, 2b, 35m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (20p, 6r, 22m)
Stat of the Game: Assists: UConn 22, Syracuse 13

Summary: UConn All-American candidate Jr. C Stefanie Dolson had a career-high 25pts. and scored her 1,000th career point as she led UConn to a 2nd half blowout of Syracuse, 87-62. Dolson, who hit nine of her 17 shots, became the 36th player in UConn history to reach 1,000 points for her career all while holding Syracuse's leading scorer Sr. C Kayla Alexander (20ppg) to a season-low 4pts. UConn All-American candidates So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Fr. F Breanna Stewart added 25pts./9rebs. and 20pts./6rebs., respectively for the Huskies. Stewart came off the bench after missing the past two games due to an ankle injury (sprain).

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. ARV/23 Syracuse Orange (15-1, 3-0 BE).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: SNY.tv
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (15-1, 3-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 72, Louisville 58
Player of the Game: Jr. G Bria Hartley (16p, 7r, 1a, 1s, 33m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (2dr, 2s, 2b, 36m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Moriah Jefferson (6p, 2r, 3a, 1s, 20m)
Stat of the Game: 3pt. FGM: UConn 9, Louisville 4

Summary: UConn All-American candidates Jr. C Stefanie Dolson and Jr. G Bria Hartley each scored 16 points to lead the Huskies to a hard-fought 72-58 win over Louisville. Fellow UConn All-American candidates Sr. G Kelly Faris added 13 points and seven assists while So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had 12 for the Huskies (15-1, 3-1 Big East). Hartley showed no ill effects of a sprained left ankle she suffered in the first half against Marquette on Saturday.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. 15/13 Louisville Cardinals (14-3, 2-1 BE).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 9:00pm (ET)
TV: CBS SportsNet
Internet: none
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

UConn All-American candidate Sr. G Kelly Faris made the Big East Weekly Honor Roll after she shot 71% in a 2-0 week for the Huskies. She had 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and five steals at Georgetown. At Marquette, she had 11 points, eight assists, five steals and five rebounds.

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (14-1, 2-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 85, Marquette 51
Player of the Game: Jr. C Stefanie Dolson (20p, 5r, 2a, 1s, 1b, 20m)
Def. Player of the Game: Fr. G Moriah Jefferson (1dr, 4s, 30m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Morgan Tuck (7p, 9r, 5a, 23m)
Stat of the Game: Steals: UConn 18, Marquette 9

Summary: UConn All-American candidates So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Jr. C Stefanie Dolson scored 24pts. and 20pts, respectively, to help the Huskies cruise to an 85-51 win over Marquette on Saturday. Mosqueda-Lewis scored nine points and Dolson six during a 21-3 run to open the game for the Huskies who improved to 8-0 all-time against Marquette. Coming into the game, all the victories, save one, were by an average of 29.7 points. UConn All-American candidate Sr. G Kelly Faris scored 11pts., had 8asts. and 5stls. and So. G Brianna Banks came off the bench and added 12pts. for the Huskies. UConn lost guard Bria Hartley after she rolled her ankle in the first half. She played five minutes and is questionable for Tuesday's game against Louisville. The Huskies also played without star freshman Breanna Stewart, who sprained her left ankle in practice Friday. Fr. F Morgan Tuck added 7pts. and grabbed a team-high and career-high 9rebs for UConn off the bench.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Marquette Golden Eagles (8-6, 0-1 BE).

Location: Al McGuire Center (Milwaukee, WI)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: SNY.tv
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Geno/Taurasi/Team USA honored

UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was selected as co-recipient of the 2012 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year award along Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) after each led the USA to a gold medal in the London Olympic Games and undefeated exhibition records in 2012. In the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, Auriemma led the USA women to an 8-0 record and piloted the USA Women’s National Team to a 5-0 record during exhibition play in 2012. Under Auriemma’s leadership, the USA topped teams by an average of 34.4 points per game during the Olympics and listed No. 1 in 15 of 19 major statistical categories among the 12-team field, including points averaged (90.6), field goal percentage (.484), rebounding margin (+17.2), blocked shots (41), assists (185), steals (84) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67). The team also recorded 2012 Olympic single-game highs for points scored (114), field goals made (52), field goals attempted (90), field goal percentage (.627), rebounds (62), assists (33), steals (15) and blocked shots (11), and set U.S. Olympic single-game records for points (tied), rebounds, field goals made, field goals attempted (tied), assists and blocked shots. The 2012 squad also set U.S. Olympic competition records for field goals attempted (597), rebounds (404) and blocked shots (41).

“Coach Auriemma led the way, and he was never satisfied,” said Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), three-time Olympic gold medalist and 2012 co-captain. “He always wanted more from us as individuals and as a unit. It was more than just winning a gold medal, it was about playing basketball the right way.”

Former UConn All-American and current WNBA Phoenix Mercury Star G Diana Taurasi was tabbed at the 2012 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. Taurasi is a three-time Olympic gold medalist who helped lead the USA women to a fifth-straight Olympic gold medal as well as an undefeated exhibition schedule in 2012. This is the fourth consecutive year the UConn women’s basketball program has been represented in the naming of this award (Tina Charles 2009, Taurasi 2010, and Breanna Stewart 2011). Taurasi, who was named a tri-captain of the U.S. Olympic squad, started in all eight Olympic wins and averaged a team-high 12.4 points per game to go with 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest in the 2012 London Olympics. She also shot 45.5 percent from the field and team-bests of 42.9 percent from 3-point and 96.0 percent from the free throw line.

“Twelve years ago I wore my first USA jersey, and the feeling of honor and excitement never diminishes,” said Taurasi, who also earned USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award in 2010 and 2006. “I had the opportunity to learn from the best, play with the best and be coached by the best. This honor is very special because it is in recognition of everyone who has played for our county.”

USA Basketball named its 2012 U.S. Men's and Women's Olympic National Teams as co-recipients of the 2012 USA Basketball Team of the Year Award. University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma and six former Huskies were all part of Team USA women's basketball which went on to win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Former UConn standouts Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Asjha Jones, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi were all part of the gold medal Team USA. While the USA men stood atop the podium for a second-consecutive Olympic Games, the USA women captured an unprecedented fifth-straight Olympic gold medal.

"Winning a gold medal during an Olympic year, as far as USA Basketball is concerned, is the culmination of four years of hard work," said USA women's head coach Geno Auriemma. "So, for our men's and women's teams to be the team of the year is a reflection on the work USA Basketball does with all our partners. Every day, there are people working to make sure those four years end with a gold medal. I want to pass along congratulations to Coach K and the men's team. They are just a bunch of super guys, and it was an honor and a thrill to be in London and watch them perform."

3/2 Connecticut Huskies (13-1, 1-1 BE)

Results: Connecticut 75, Georgetown 48
Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (15p, 4r, 4a, 5s, 2b, 30m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. G Kelly Faris (3dr, 5s, 2b, 30m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Moriah Jefferson (9p, 6r, 2a, 7s, 27m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TOs: UConn 30, Gtown 11

Summary: It was ugly; which means it was a game against Georgetown. Led by UConn All-American candidate Sr. G Kelly Faris and her hot shooting, UConn bounced back from their Big East opening loss to Notre Dame and overcame a sloppy first-half to easily defeat the Hoyas, 75-48. UConn Fr. G Moriah Jefferson easily had the best game of her career finishing with 9pts., a career-high 6rebs., 2asts., and a career-high 7stls., in a career-high 27mins. off the bench. UConn All-American candidate Fr. F Breanna Stewart overcame a very rough first-half all by herself to nab her 3rd career double-double finishing with 12pts. and 13rebs. off the bench. With the win, UConn has 707 straight games without consecutive losses. The Huskies have also beaten the Hoyas 28 consecutive times.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Georgetown Hoyas (10-4, 1-0 BE).

Location: McDonough Arena (Washington, DC)
Time: 7:30pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: SNY.tv
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (12-1, 0-1 BE)

Results: Notre Dame 73, Connecticut 72
Player of the Game: Jr. G Kayla McBride, Notre Dame (21p, 3r, 3a, 37m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. F Ariel Baker, Notre Dame (4dr, 2b, 19m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Michaela Mabrey, Notre Dame (11p, 21m)
Stat of the Game: Free Throws: UConn 11-14, Notre Dame 17-24

Summary: Different scenary, different actresses, same story, and same result. Notre Dame keeps it close, hits a big bucket late, UConn misses a big bucket late, Notre Dame wins by 1 (f**king) point. Nuff said.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. 5/5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1, 0-0 BE).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: CBS
Internet: None
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker