UConn women's basketball

Here’s a look back at Thursday’s UConn-Vermont game:
UConn 84, Vermont 42
TURNING POINT – The Huskies led 5-4 heading into the first media timeout with 15:58 left in the first half. They scored the next 11 points, making five straight shots, in a span of 1:41. The burst was part of a 45-14 run to close the half.
“Transition I think really just sparked us,’’ junior Maya Moore said. “Kalana (Greene) and I were up top. And whenever they were having trouble and people were collapsing and getting in the passing lanes, it was just really a momentum builder.’’
UNSUNG HERO – Freshman guard Kelly Faris continues to be a big factor in the success of the Huskies. She finished with seven points (3-of-5 FG), three rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. And she did not commit a turnover in 22 minutes.
“She’s going to be one of those players that as a freshman is going to do a little bit of everything well,’’ coach Geno Auriemma said. “And then as she gets older – sophomore, junior and senior year – she’ll start adding to that and she’s going to be a great player. She’s already a very good player. I’m thoroughly pleased and happy with everything Kelly’s done so far. She does things that aren’t easy for people to do, much less freshmen.’’
BEST ‘X’ AND/OR ‘O’ – The Huskies try to speed up the game as much as possible. Their speed was blinding Thursday as they scored 32 fast-break points, including 24 in the first half.
It’s bad enough for the opposition when Moore, Greene, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes and Faris are running the break. But add in Tina Charles and it’s just not fair.
It was the most fast-break points for UConn since it scored 41 against Seton Hall Jan. 9, 2007.
“I think that’s their strongest suit,’’ Vermont coach Sharon Dawley said. “They get down the floor so quickly it’s almost effortless. It’s almost like everyone’s frozen in time and UConn’s down the floor already scoring a layup.’’
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS –Vermont senior Courtnay Pilypaitis has now been on the floor on the same floor with the Huskies twice in nearly nine months. In her opinion, the current team is more talented than its predecessor finished 39-0.
“I think they’re better, and that’s kind of surprising,’’ Pilypaitis said. “Losing Renee Montgomery you’d think they wouldn’t be as strong. But I think Tiffany does a great job at the point for them. You can’t really pinpoint what it is, but they’re just all-around solid. They don’t make any mistakes. Anything you force them to do, they’re comfortable doing it. So they’re definitely better than last year I think.’’
Doty banged her head hard off the floor after trying to split a pair of defenders on a drive through the lane with 5:44 left in the first half. She came out of the game, but managed to play nine minutes in the second half.
LOOKING AHEAD – The Huskies will have a six-day window before they host Hartford and coach Jen Rizzotti Dec. 10 at the XL Center.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 – Turnovers by UConn in the first half
64.7 – UConn’s field goal percentage in the first half
1,059 – Rebounds for Tina Charles (2nd all-time at UConn)
1,268 – Rebounds for Rebecca Lobo (1st all-time at UConn)

Rich

It was another trying outing for sophomore guard Caroline Doty. After playing a career-low 10 minutes, including just 1:49 in the second half in Sunday’s win over Clemson for what coach Geno Auriemma said was primarily due to an illness, Doty spent some more unexpected time on the bench in the first half tonight against Vermont.
Doty was injured trying to split a pair of defenders on a drive through the lane with 5:44 left in the first half. She was fouled by Vermont’s Alissa Sheftic on the play and she landed hard on her head as she fell. Doty stayed on the ground for several minutes before walking off the floor under her own power.
She did not play for the rest of the half. Of course, knowing that Doty was OK, Geno Auriemma took some time to poke fun at the incident.
“They said she landed right on her head,’’ Auriemma said. “To me, that’s just God’s way of telling her, `What the (heck) are doing driving in there with five people standing in the lane.’ Maya (Moore) just threw you the ball in the middle of the floor. Maya’s running the wing on the right side. You’re in the middle of the floor. Maya just threw it to you. That’s two of our players. Where’s the other three? Well, one was running this lane. The other one was running that lane and then another one was trailing. So instead of catching the ball and going, `Ooh, I just got it from here, let me fire it over here and we’ll get a layup or a jump shot. No, I think I’ll go back this way and drive it through three people.’ And I think as God read the play he said, `I’ll knock you on your (butt).’’
Auriemma let Doty know about the play as the two walked to the UConn bench.
Doty returned to start the second half. She scored all of her five points and had one of her three assists in nine minutes.
“I knew she couldn’t get hurt because she doesn’t listen to anybody and she doesn’t hear a word you’re saying,’’ Auriemma said. “There’s no way you could hurt that head. It’s impossible.’’

The Huskies have won the first seven games by at least 25 points for the first time in team history. Five of the wins have come by at least 40 points.

Rich

When sophomore Caroline Doty was replaced by freshman Kelly Faris with 18:11 remaining in the second half of UConn’s victory over Clemson Sunday, never did Doty anticipate that she would not play again. But that’s exactly what happened as coach Geno Auriemma opted to leave Faris in the game for the duration.
Doty played a career-low 10 minutes against the Tigers, finishing with two points (1-of-2 FG), one rebound, one assist, one steal and one turnover. Faris logged a career-high 33 minutes and registered seven rebounds, five assists and one turnover in a scoreless performance (0-of-8 FG).
“I was a little caught off guard, but other than that I talked to the coaches after the game and they kind of cleared it up,’’ Doty said. “It was probably the best decision for the long run. I just didn’t understand why I was sitting out. (Auriemma) said I was coughing so he just wanted to make sure I stay healthy just so I’m healthy for this Vermont game. This is a big a game coming up. And just get better. I was a little frustrated, but I kind of had to take care of what you had to take care of and have people get exposure when they can. It was a decision Coach wanted to make. It’s only one game so we’ve got plenty left.’’
Cough or no cough Doty is one who wants to play under any circumstance. Tonight against Vermont at Gampel Pavilion, her focus will be to limit her turnovers.
“I know I had five (Saturday against Richmond),’’ Doty said. “I’ve just got to kind of work the ball more and keep my shot up as much as I can and try to get a good win.’’

There will be a Toy Drive during tonight’s game. Fans can donate unwrapped toys, which will then be given to The Cornerstone Foundation and The Village for Families and Children in Hartford.

One student at the game will also win free books for a semester. They will be donated by Auriemma.

A special shout-out to bruinbball … Thanks for carrying the live chat for the first 30 minutes today. Great job.

Rich

Here’s the link for my live chat, which will begin at noon.

Rich

Point guard Lorin Dixon will miss her seventh straight game tomorrow against Vermont. Coach Geno Auriemma said today that she is making progress, but she is still unable to practice.
Dixon, who sustained the injury Nov. 9 in an exhibition game against Vanguard, again took part in the drills with the Huskies prior to the start of practice today. She did some running and cutting on the side and got some shooting in once practice had been completed.
There is still no definitive timetable as to when Dixon might play in her first game. The Huskies do not play again after tomorrow night until they host Hartford Dec. 10.
“I think when it first happened what they said is it’s four to six weeks,’’ Auriemma said. “So you’re hoping for four, but you realistically know it could be six. It’s four right now so hopefully it’ll be five, but it could be six.
“She is (doing more). She’s out here shooting the ball every day now. She’s staying in shape. She’s doing all the exercises that (trainer) Rosemary (Ragle) has her doing. It’s just a matter of … Like you get somebody that doesn’t have as much muscle tone as she does or doesn’t have as little body fat as she does so her muscles are very tight. So with her it may take a little bit longer than one of us where we’ve got flabby muscles that you don’t feel it as much. And everybody heals differently.’’

There have been rumors of late stating that Ariel Massengale, a 5-foot-6 point guard from Bolingbrook, Ill., is on the verge of verbally committing to UConn. In talking to a recruiting source today, Massengale is very much on UConn’s list of priorities for the 2011 class. But she does not yet have a scholarship offer and she has not yet visited the campus. Visiting campus is one thing Auriemma considers to be a must before any commitment is made.
Auriemma has offered a scholarship to Betnijah Laney, a 6-foot junior wing from Smyrna High in Delaware. Laney made another unofficial visit to UConn Sunday to take in the game against Clemson. A source said the fact that her mother, Yolanda, played for Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer at Cheyney State will not be a factor in the recruiting process.
Laney averaged 29.6 points, 15.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocks last season.
Elizabeth Williams, a 6-3 post player from Virginia Beach, Va., and Bonnie Samuelson, a 6-2 forward from Huntington Beach, Calif., are also high priorities for the Huskies. They are likely to sign three or four players from the class.
Samuelson has also visited Duke and Maryland.

Just a reminder … I’ll be doing a live chat tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m.

Rich

The 1999-00 UConn national championship team will be inducted into the “Huskies of Honor’’ at halftime of the Huskies-Stanford game Dec. 23 at the XL Center in Hartford. The program pays tribute to the top individuals and team achievements in both men’s and women’s basketball history. It was launched in 2006.
The UConn women’s basketball inaugural class, which featured the team’s 10 first team All-Americans and Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma, was recognized in December of 2006.
The honoring of the 1999-00 team will mark the second induction of an entire team. The 1994-95 national championship team was inducted into the “Huskies of Honor’’ last season.
Following the official ceremony in Hartford, a four-by-five foot panel will be on permanent display at Gampel Pavilion. A large panel honoring the team will also be displayed adjacent to the scoreboard on the East end of the venue and the team will be displayed on a plaque located on the lobby level of Gampel Pavilion.
The plaque will include a group photo of the 13 players, including current assistant coach Shea Ralph, and four coaches who were members of the team that finished 36-1 and won the program’s second national championship.

Cassie Kerns will conduct a wine tasting/art exhibit – “Eyes Wide Open’’ – Saturday night in Hartford from 6 to 10 at the Muse Gallery in Suite 203 of the Hartford Design Center (1429 Park St.).
For more information or to arrange for a private audience, please contact Joseph Hewes at 860-920-9757 or musegallery@musegroup.us.

Rich

Full-session ticket packages for the Big East tournament will go on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets Tuesday at 10 a.m. The event will be held March 5-9 at the XL Center in Hartford.
The packages to all 15 games of the tournament are $99 each, which is discounted nearly 50 percent from face value. To charge tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.xlcenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com and they will be available for purchase at the XL Center box office starting Tuesday at noon.
For group sales (10 or more) information and discounts, call Cheri Lisko of the XL Center at 860-548-2000.

Rich

A look back at the WBCA Classic:
UConn 91, Hofstra 46
UConn 86, Richmond 37
UConn 87, Clemson 48
TURNING POINT – How about the opening tap? The Huskies were not tested. Although, they did trail for a total of 2:39 Sunday against Clemson. That was a first for the season. UConn, who has often looked as good as last season’s unbeaten team, won the three games by an average of 44.3 points. The Huskies shot 56.3 percent from the field, including 40.0 percent from 3-point range. They also had a plus-17.4 rebounding advantage and forced 26.3 turnovers.
UNSUNG HERO – Kalana Greene had a career-high 28 points (9-of-12 FG), eight rebounds and four steals against Clemson to lock up a spot on the all-tournament team. She averaged 15.3 points on 70.8 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 22.3 minutes in the three games.
BEST ‘X’ AND/OR ‘O’ – The Huskies showed tremendous versatility offensively over the final two games. With Richmond forcing them to shoot from the perimeter Saturday, they made 13 3-pointers, including a team record 10 in the first half. Against Clemson, UConn missed its first nine 3-point attempts and finished 2-for-15. Maya Moore and Tiffany Hayes were each 0-for-5. However, the Huskies pounded the ball inside against the Tigers to tune of scoring 62 points in the paint.
“(Saturday) we made 10 (3-pointers) in the first half,’’ Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said. “(Sunday) we showed our versatility by missing the first (nine) and then we decided we might as well just keep throwing it inside. So, yeah, we’re pretty versatile. When we’re making them we keep shooting them, and when we’re not we throw it to Tina. But that’s what’s going to happen. Shooting’s kind of funny. Some days they all go in and some days they don’t. And that’s why you’ve got to have a consistent style of play that gets you some transition buckets, gets you some free throws, gets you some post-ups. So you’re not just a throw it around the perimeter and shoot 3s kind of team. Some nights it’s good to be like that, but I don’t know that you would go anywhere just living on that exclusively.’’
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS – The tournament drew 25,756, which was not too bad considering it was Thanksgiving weekend and the student did not return to campus until Sunday. Former UConn All-American Sue Bird and UConn-bound recruit Bria Hartley were on hand Friday when Auriemma became the fastest coach to reach 700 wins. UConn recruit Betnijah Laney was in the house Sunday. So was Naugatuck resident Mike Carson, a 19 year old UConn student. He won $1,000 by making a layup, a foul shot, a 3-pointer and a half-court shot in 30 seconds.
LOOKING AHEAD – The Huskies have the day off today. They will host Vermont Thursday at Gampel Pavilion at 7:30. It’s a rematch of last season’s first-round NCAA tournament game, which UConn won 104-65 at the same venue March 22.
The Catamounts (4-0) are led by seniors Courtnay Pilypaitis (21.0 ppg) and May Kotsopoulos (20.3). They have not played since defeating Dartmouth last Wednesday.
“It’s good Thursday because we’re playing a really good team I think, better than most think,’’ Auriemma said. “People around the country will say, `Who’s Vermont?’ They beat BC. They beat NC State. When we saw them play last year, I was really impressed with them. We played them here. Now they’re all seniors. I am really looking forward to that game Thursday night. That should be a lot of fun.’’
BY THE NUMBERS
12 – Steals by Maya Moore in three games
13 – Consecutive in-season tournament championships for UConn
21 – Total rebounds for Kelly Faris, one less than Tina Charles
144 – Points in the paint scored by UConn

Rich