Sophomore guard Caroline Doty provided the Huskies with a big lift in the first half tonight by making three 3-pointers. Top-ranked UConn might have to compete in the Big East tournament final Tuesday night against No. 9 West Virginia without her.
Doty was inadvertently elbowed in the back of the head and neck by Notre Dame senior Ashley Barlow with 58 seconds remaining in UConn’s 59-44 victory. Irish freshman Skylar Diggins stole the ball on the play.
Doty fell to the ground immediately and was facedown on the court when play was finally stopped with 49.7 seconds left.
“She may have a concussion,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “And, obviously, if she has a concussion, she’s not playing tomorrow. But just by the looks of it, that might be the worst of it. We were worried it might have been worse, but that’s about the worst of it.’’
Doty was motionless for several minutes before she was helped up and led to the locker room by team trainer Rosemary Ragle and team doctor Tom Trojian. Auriemma said that Doty did not lose consciousness and that she did not need to go to a hospital.
The UConn medical staff was to evaluate her following the game. More information is expected to be made available tomorrow morning.
“She was better in the locker room,’’ Auriemma said. “She’s really hurt. Scared. All those things. You get hit in the back of the head that’s not a good thing. But she’s alert. She moving around. How are you going to hurt her, especially in the head.’’
For what it’s worth, Tiffany Hayes said via her Twitter account that Doty does not have a concussion. “No concussion everybody,” she said.
Rich
