American Post-season Honors

The UConn women’s basketball team placed seven players on American Athletic Conference regular season teams in awards announced Thursday afternoon by the league. Stefanie Dolson headlined the group, earning Defensive Player of the Year, the American Sportsmanshp Award and a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Joining Dolson as First Team selections were Bria Hartley, Moriah Jefferson and Breanna Stewart. Juniors Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Kiah Stokes landed on the All-Conference Second Team while rookie Saniya Chong received was an All-Freshman team choice.

2013-14 American Defensive Player of the Year:
Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut

2013-14 American Most Improved Player of the Year:
RSr. F Asia Taylor, Louisville

2013-14 American Sportsmanship Award:
Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
RSr. G Tia Gibbs, Louisville

2013-14 American Sixth Player of the Year:
Jr. G Rateska Brown, Temple

2013-14 All-AAC First Team:
Sr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut*
Sr. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut*
So. G Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
So. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut*
Jr. F Sara Hammond, Louisville
RSr. F Asia Taylor, Louisville
Sr. G Shoni Schimmel, Louisville*
So. G Ariel Hearn, Memphis
So. G Kahleah Copper, Rutgers
So. G Courtney Williams, South Florida
Sr. G Keena Mays, Southern Methodist*

2013-14 All-AAC Second Team: 
Jeanise Randolph, Cincinnati, Sr., F
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn, Jr., F
Kiah Stokes, UConn, Jr., C
Bria Smith, Louisville, Jr., G
Betnijah Laney, Rutgers, Jr., G/F
Tyler Scaife, Rutgers, Fr., G
Alisia Jenkins, USF, So., F
Inga Orekhova, USF, Sr., G
Akil Simpson, SMU, Sr., F
Feyonda Fitzgerald, Temple, Fr., G
Natasha Thames, Temple, R-Sr., F

2013-14 AAC All-Freshman Team:
*Zykira Lewis, UCF, Fr., G
Bianca Quisenberry, Cincinnati, Fr., G
Saniya Chong, UConn, Fr., G
Emmonnie Henderson, Louisville, Fr., F
Breigha Wilder-Cochran, Memphis, Fr., G
Mooriah Rowser, Memphis, R-Fr., G
*Tyler Scaife, Rutgers, Fr., G
Ariadna Pujol, USF, Fr., G
*Kiara Perry, SMU, Fr., G
*Feyonda Fitzgerald, Temple, Fr., G
Taylor Robinson, Temple, Fr., C

* denotes unanimous pick 

2014 John R. Wooden Award final list

UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson and Sr. G Bria Hartley as well as All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart have each been selected to the final ballot for the 2014 John R. Wooden Award, as announced today by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  Maya Moore (2009, 2011) and Tina Charles (2010) are former Huskies to earn the prestigious award. UConn was one of only two schools to place multiple student-athletes on the 15-member ballot as Notre Dame placed two.

Player of the Week

UConn So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart was named the American Player of the Week for the fourth time this season after she combined for 65 points (21.6 per game) in a 3-0 stretch for the Huskies that included conference wins over SMU, No. 24 Rutgers and No. 3 Louisville.

2013-14 Women's Naismith Trophy semifinalists

A trio of Huskies have been identified as national semifinalists for the 2013-14 Women's Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday. UConn All-Americans Sr. C Stefanie Dolson and Sr. G Bria Hartley as well as All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart were three of ten players to be named semifinalists. UConn leads all schools with three players in the running and the American Athletic Conference leads all leagues with four representatives including Louisville's Shoni Schimmel. Notre Dame is the only other institution to have multiple players selected in Jewell Loyd and Kayla McBride. 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 top 10 semifinalists down to four finalists, which will be announced on March 21. The Naismith Award winner will be announced on April 7.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs Southern Methodist Mustangs (14-7, 5-5 AAC).

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

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Cincinnati Bearscats (9-11, 2-7 AAC).

Location: Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati, OH)
Time: 2:00pm (ET)
TV: SNY
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn IMG Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Injury Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summary: Still to come...

USA Basketball Women's National Team Pool

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

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

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

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

Player of the Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2013 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (13-0, 1-0 AAC)

Results: Connecticut 67, Cincinnati 34
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (12p, 12r, 1a, 4s, 2b, 28m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (10dr, 4s, 2b, 28m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (9p, 3r, 20m)
Stat of the Game: Steals: UConn 14, Cincinnati 2

Summary: It wasn't pretty. Nough said. UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart had her fourth straight double-double with 12pts. and 12rebs. and the Huskies held Cincinnati scoreless for the game's first six minutes and led 16-0 before pulling away again in the 2nd half to blowout Cincinnati, 67-34. UConn So. G Moriah Jefferson and All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley each added 12 points for the Huskies which won its first ever American Athletic Conference game despite being held 19 points below its season average. Prior to the start of the game, UConn honored their national championship teams from 2003 and 2004, unveiling banners on the arena's wall of honor. Several former players attended the ceremony, but star Diana Taurasi was not among them. She is playing basketball overseas.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs Cincinnati Bearcats (7-4, 0-0 AAC).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 5:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Player of the Week

UConn So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart was named the American Player of the Week after she averaged 26.5ppg and 10.5rpg while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor and helped the #1 ranked and undefeated Huskies go 2-0 for the week with wins at No. 2/2 Duke and over No. 21/20 California. Stewart opened the week with a 24-point, 11-rebound performance against the Blue Devils in the Jimmy V Classic in Durham. Stewart followed that with a career-high tying 29 points versus Cal in the Maggie Dixon Classic. She shot 12-for-18 from the field in only 27 minutes of action and added 10 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected UConn So. All-American candidate F Breanna Stewart as its Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 22. As the AAC Player of the Week, Stewart 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. Stewart, a 6-4 sophomore from Syracuse, N.Y., who was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Final Four in April, averaged 26.5ppg, 10.5rpg and shot 54.1 percent from the field and had two double-doubles for the #1 ranked and undefeated Huskies in wins over then-No. 2 Duke and then-No. 21 California as the defending NCAA champions stayed unbeaten at 12-0.

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (12-0)

Results: Connecticut 80, California 47
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (29p, 10r, 2a, 2s, 1b, 27m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (9dr, 2s, 1b, 27m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (2p, 2r, 1a, 19m)
Stat of the Game: 1st Half Score: Breanna Stewart 21, California 20

Summary: UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma says he has coached some of women's basketball's best players at UConn and none had the God-given gifts like So. F Breanna Stewart. The UConn All-American candidate matched her career high with 29 points to lift undefeated Connecticut easily over California, 80-47 in the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden. Stewart also had 10 rebounds for the Huskies, who were coming off a rout of No. 2 Duke on Tuesday night. Just as in that game, Stewart made her presence felt early and often. She had 13 of the Huskies' first 16 points and finished the half with 21 - one more than Cal had at that point. UConn led by 20 at halftime. Stewart left the game for good with over 12 minutes left and her team up 30 points. So. F Morgan Tuck bounced back from a rough game against Duke to score a season-high 12pts. off the bench in only her 2nd game since returning from knee surgery while UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis chipped in 10pts. This was UConn's third appearance in the Maggie Dixon Classic. The Huskies met Ohio State in 2010 Classic and beat the Buckeyes to match UCLA's vaunted 88-game winning streak.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs 21/20 California Golden Bears (7-2).

Event: 2013 Maggie Dixon Classic
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York City, NY)
Time: 1:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: N/A

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (11-0)

Results: Connecticut 83, Duke 61
Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stewart (24p, 11r, 3a, 1s, 3b, 36m)
Def. Player of the Game: Sr. C Stefanie Dolson (7dr, 2s, 2b, 38m)
Fr. Player of the Game: none (first time ever - in 6 yrs)
Stat of the Game: 3Pt Shooting: UConn 12/24 (50%), Duke 4/18 (22%)

Summary: For only the 3rd game this season, UConn had it's full roster available and just in time for the big showdown of undefeated 1 vs. 2. For the 11th game this season (out of 11), UConn made its opponent look like they didn't belong. UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made her first appearance back on the court after injurying her shooting elbow against Stanford almost 5 weeks ago, coming off the bench to hit a career-high 7 3s and score 21pts. in 27mins. as the Huskies annihilated Duke (once again), 83-61 tonight in the 2013 Women's Jimmy V Classic. UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart led the charge with a double-double of 24pts. and 11rebs. while adding 3asts., and 3blks. as UConn led by as many as 27pts. in the 2nd half after leading by as many as 23pts. in the first. By the 2nd media timeout in the 1st half, Stewart had more pts. (12) than Duke did as a team (11). UConn All-American Sr. C Stefanie Dolson was her usual brilliant self finishing 14pts., 9rebs., 6asts., 2stls., 2blks. while playing 38mins. and So. G Moriah Jefferson showed once again that she is the point guard of the future for the Huskies chipping in 9pts., 3rebs., 7asts., and 3stls. in what UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma described as "her best game in a UConn uniform".

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at 2/2 Duke Blue Devils (10-0).

Event: 2013 Women's Jimmy V Classic
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: N/A

Injury Update (Good News...finally!!)

UConn All-American Jr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis has not played in a game since suffering a nerve contusion of her right elbow during a fall with 18:08 left in the second half against Stanford Nov. 11. UConn So. F Morgan Tuck has not played in a game since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Nov. 12. They have each missed the last eight games for No. 1 UConn. However, this streak is expected to end Tuesday at No. 2 Duke in the Jimmy V Classic. Huskies’ coach Geno Auriemma said today that they are listed as probable for the nationally televised showdown. And both players said they expect to play against the Blue Devils as well as UConn Jr. C Kiah Stokes who missed the UC Davis game on Dec. 5th after turning her left ankle in practice Dec 4th and being held out for a week as a precaution.

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (10-0)

Results: Connecticut 97, UC Davis 37
Player of the Game: Sr. G Bria Hartley (25p, 4r, 5a, 3s, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stweart (8dr, 1s, 3b, 32m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (10p, 6r, 4a, 1s, 1b, 28m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. Off TOs: UConn 40, UC Davis 10

Summary: Top-ranked  and undefeated UConn has been banged up, but barely challenged while playing 10 games in the first month of the season. UConn All-American Sr. G Bria Hartley scored 20 of her 25 points before halftime as the undefeated Huskies finished that stretch by routing UC Davis, 97-37. She outscored UC Davis 20-17 by herself in the first half and finished the game 8 of 9 from the floor during the game, including all five she attempted from 3-point range. UConn All-American candidate So. F Breanna Stewart added 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists which was playing with just six scholarship players because of injuries due to Jr. C Kiah Stokes being out after turning an ankle in practice Wednesday. It was the Huskies' final tuneup before a showdown on Dec. 17 with No. 2 Duke. The Huskies used an early 22-0 run to break this game open and led by 43 points at halftime. Hartley became the 19th player at UConn to reach 1,500 points in her career.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. UC Davis Aggies (2-4).

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

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (9-0)

Results: Connecticut 70, Ohio State 49
Player of the Game: Sr. G Bria Hartley (17p, 3r, 4a, 4s, 37m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. F Breanna Stweart (8dr, 6b, 32m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. G Saniya Chong (6p, 1r, 1a, 21m)
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 40, Ohio State 16

Summary: It's been 21 years and counting since the UConn Huskies lost a regular-season tournament. The undefeated Huskies have won 52 consecutive in-season tournament games with the last loss coming in 1992 to Vanderbilt. UConn Sr. All-Americans G Bria Hartley and C Stefanie Dolson led the way with 17pts./4asts./4stls. and 15pts./13rebs., respecticely as the Huskies pulled away in the 2nd half to beat Ohio State, 70-49, to win the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge. UConn was a bit rusty at the start against Ohio State. It's no surprise with the Huskies coming off a much-needed seven-day break, having played four games in five days. But Jr. G Brianna Banks sparked the Huskies and finished with a season-high 12pts. and 7rebs.

Game notes (pdf) for today's game vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2).

Event: 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge
Location: MassMutual Center (Springfield, MA)
Time: 5:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: MAAC Live Stats

Player of the Week

UConn Sr. All-American C Stefanie Dolson was named the American Player of the Week after she averaged 18.5ppg, 12rpg and 5.8apg and helped lead UConn to a 4-0 week. On Nov. 20, she recorded only the second triple-double in UConn history with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a win against Oregon. Dolson followed that performance with two double-doubles in three games for the Huskies in the Hall of Fame Classic.

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