UConn women's basketball

UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanted no part of accepting full credit for the impressive stretch that Tiffany Hayes currently finds herself extending by the game. Auriemma did not really take any credit at all, actually.

Yet, it was a conversation that Auriemma and Hayes shared several weeks ago that has since turned Hayes’ season around. It is arguably the best stretch of her career, one that saw her rip Syracuse for a career-high 35 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field (6-of-8 3-pointers) Wednesday. She also collected seven rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.

Hayes has scored in double figures in a career-high nine straight games and has matched her career-high by generating at least five rebounds in five straight games.

Here’s what Auriemma remembers from the conversation between two …

“I think when you’re going through a season as a coach you’re always trying to find the pulse of individuals and the pulse of your team,’’ Auriemma said. “And I sensed that there was a little bit of frustration on her part. She was almost resigning herself sometimes to, `This is what it is. This is who I am. This is what I’ve been.’ And almost a settling. And I really did talk to her about, `Is this what we can expect the rest of the year because if it is just tell me, and we’ll go from there. If you’re just going to settle with where it is right now and you’re happy with that, fine.’ And the challenge was, `Are you able to change? Are you able to start making changes little by little and become something that you probably thought you always wanted to be?’ And little by little, here we are. I don’t know that my words were the difference. I think her mindset, her attitude and her approach are the key to this. Not anything in particular that I said.’’

Hayes is averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals in 27.4 minutes over the last nine games. She is also shooting an astounding 63.6 percent (56-of-88) from the field during this stretch and 51.7 percent from 3-point range (15-of-29).

“I feel a little different,’’ Hayes said. “I honestly just… I had a talk with Coach and he said things are going to have to change with me, and I knew that personally. So I think it starts with practice and how my practices have been going and those translate into the games where I am doing well.’’

Syracuse was powerless to stop Hayes anywhere on the floor Wednesday. If she wanted to get to the rim, she got there. If she wanted an open look at a 3, she got it. She looked like an All-American.

And Hayes’ success came despite a subpar shooting performance at shootaround earlier in the day. The way she turned it around in the game and remained positive was impressive for Auriemma to see.

“She didn’t make a lot of shots at shootaround,’’ Auriemma said. “But unlike other times she didn’t just walk away from it and say, `Screw it.’ She got involved. Our shootarounds are not just come out here and throw up ball at the rim. So she got involved and she did other things and she was part of `this is what we’re going to do defensively. This is what we’re going to do offensively.’ And she was able to I think kind of capitalize on that. Sometimes you come to shootaround and you make everything and you come to the game and you don’t make anything. So I’m happy for her. There’s been a big difference in her. I’ve seen a change in her the last couple of weeks. And not just on the court either. I think everywhere. She has a pretty clear vision right now of what she wants to do and how she wants to do it. And I’m thrilled for her.’’

Hayes leads the Huskies in scoring (15.7). She is tied with Stefanie Dolson for the team-lead in rebounds (5.7) and is averaging 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals in 28.5 minutes.

Right now Hayes is playing like a senior should be playing at this stage of their career. She is being accountable. She is being consistent. She is being a leader. She is helping her team win games.

“Well, some seniors can do it and some can’t,’’ Auriemma said. “There’s this perception out there that once you become a senior you become a great player, and that’s not true all the time. I think seniors react a lot differently depending on their personality types and who they are. Some seniors are scared. They’re afraid their career’s coming to an end. It’s over and they let that consume them. And some seniors thrive on the fact this is my last go-around and I’m going to make it great. I don’t know that Tiffany’s had either one of those two things yet, but I do know she’s acting the part right now. And that’s what you want. I don’t need her to get 35 every night. I don’t think our team needs her to get 35 every night. But we do need her to play with that kind of mindset, and it’s all about mindset. That’s everything when you get to this point in the season.’’

Said freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis: “She’s a leader on this team. She’s a senior. She’s been here for four years and we expect nothing less from her. We expected her to be one of the main people that we go to every single time we come down the court.’’

Neither Mosqueda-Lewis nor Auriemma saw much difference in Mosqueda-Lewis’ role as a starter rather than as the sixth-man against the Orange.

There certainly was not much difference in the level of her production. Mosqueda-Lewis finished with 19 points, a game-high eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes.

“Just a little different not being able to be on the bench and see the mistakes we’re making and then go out there and make a change,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said. “You kind of just have to go on the fly.’’

Said Auriemma: “Actually (Tuesday) at practice and at shootaround (Wednesday) she looked really focused. She really looked locked in like, `I got it.’’’

Rich