UConn women's basketball

Freshman guard Brianna Banks has been fully cleared to play after suffering a head injury in practice Sunday. She returned to practice today and will be available to play Thursday against Cincinnati at Gampel Pavilion.

Banks was held out of Monday’s 86-35 victory over No. 24 North Carolina as a precautionary measure.

“It went really well today,’’ Banks said. “I felt totally normal and was glad to be back out there.’’

Banks said she was dribbling down the floor Sunday when she slipped and turned around and caught a knee to the head. She later rested and quickly began to feel better.

Banks is averaging 4.3 points in 13.7 minutes this season.

“I felt fine pretty shortly after and wasn’t ever really worried,’’ Banks said. “I had something similar happen during my sophomore year (in high school). But I was put through a lot more tests to make sure I was OK here.’’

The Huskies have forced a combined 49 turnovers over the last two games in wins over Villanova (23) and North Carolina (26). They have converted them into 51 points.

Bria Hartley has seven of UConn’s 29 steals in this span. Caroline Doty has five. Tiffany Hayes, Stefanie Dolson and Kelly Faris each have four. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis has three.

“Because we play with four guards we’re able to take those four and cover a lot of spots on the floor,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “Sometimes when you only have three of them there’s an empty spot on the floor where another big guy is and you can’t really cover as much of the floor as you want. But our four guards, they’re getting better at it and they’re starting to anticipate better. They’re starting to see things a little bit better. That’s two games in a row now where I think our defense and our fullcourt pressure and some of the things that we’ve done have really been a big factor in the game. We were able to speed the game up on Saturday against Villanova and force some turnovers. And we were able to speed up a team that wants to play fast. We were able to make them play ever faster and forced a lot of turnovers.’’

Rich

The U.S. women’s U-19 team that won the gold medal in Chile last July has been named the 2011 USA Basketball Team of the Year, it was announced today by USA Basketball. UConn sophomores Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson, freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn-bound recruits Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck and Class of 2013 Huskies’ recruiting target Diamond DeShields were all members of the team.

Former UConn All-American and current Hartford head coach Jennifer Rizzotti was the U-19 head coach.

“With limited opportunity to practice before the tournament, there is no guarantee that a national team will have time to come together and create enough chemistry to win at a world championship level,’’ said Rizzotti, who has also been named the 2011 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year. “This young group was unique because everyone had USA Basketball experience, but they had played at different age groups the year before. They were impressive because they found a way to come together, find different roles and become a determined, competitive basketball team. I think we all were willing to learn a lot from each other and trust each other so that we could accomplish our ultimate goal of winning a gold medal.’’

The team finished 8-1 and won by an average of 16.6 points. Among the 15 teams in the field, the U.S. was first in eight of the 15 major team statistical categories: scoring (76.8); scoring margin (plus-16.6); rebounding margin (plus-16.7); field goal percentage (.430); assists (16.9); blocked shots (3.9); offensive rebounds (17.1); and defensive rebounds (33.8).

Stewart and Tennessee freshman Ariel Massengale were among the five players named to the All-FIBA U19 World Championship Team.

“We had players that had competed in the 2009 U-16 and 2010 U-17 championships together, and then players that had played together on the U-18 team last year,’’ Stewart said. “So it was a mixture. We also had players that were going to be seniors in high school, like me, alongside players that were going to be college freshman and even sophomores. We put those differences aside, and we were all able to play well together. Even when we lost to Canada (in the second round), we didn’t let that stop us from going after the gold medal.’’

Rich

The first time UConn coached Geno Auriemma benched freshman post player Kiah Stokes for her continued lack of competitiveness in practice against Fairfield Dec. 29 it provided her with a wake-up call. When she was again benched at Villanova Saturday, Stokes found herself at a crossroads.

Stokes said she never missed game at Linn-Mar High in Iowa. She was the star. Things came easy for her during her All-American career. But she has learned quickly that very little is easy about playing at UConn. You need to work hard every day. And if you don’t you don’t play in games. It’s that simple.

“I understand it,’’ Stokes said referring to the latest benching. “He only does it because he knows that I can be so much better than how I’m showing him. So it’s a compliment kind of, but it’s also a step where he’s saying I need to get going. I really just mentally have to step it up. I love the game and I need to show Coach that every day.

“In high school I was never pushed to use my full ability I guess so-to-speak. But coming here you never know what to expect until you get here, and when I got here it was a huge wake-up call. They do everything so much harder, so much faster. And it took a while to get used to. And I’m still not fully adjusted, but I’m getting better every day. And I’ve got to keep showing the coaches that I’m here to play and I’m not going to sit on the bench for four years.’’

Stokes responded with a productive performance at practice Sunday. And she took it one step further Monday when she delivered her best game of the season against No. 24 North Carolina.

Stokes finished with season-highs of 11 points (5-of-7 FG) and 11 rebounds (three offensive) and also added two blocks and one steal in 14 minutes. It was her first career double-double.

“I think everything is a learning opportunity and hopefully you take advantage of those opportunities when they come along,’’ Auriemma said. “Kiah has certain skills that she can bring to the game and those skills are going to help our team. But those skills are never going to be on display unless you have a certain mental approach to the game. Then you’re just another kid that has some skills if you don’t know how to apply it. And (Sunday) in practice she had a really, really good day. So I’m glad that she followed it up with a good effort (Monday). That hasn’t always been the case. So for Kiah to put together two back-to-back days of really good basketball that’s a good sign. Hopefully, Wednesday (in practice) and Thursday (against Cincinnati) she can make it four days in a row. That would be great.’’

Said Stokes: “I’m pretty happy. It’s a step forward, which is what I wanted. And I’m glad the coaches were happy with my progression this week in practice. I’ve just got to build off it from here.’’

Stokes checked into game for the first time with 10:27 left in the first half. Seventeen seconds later she converted a pass from Bria Hartley into a layup.

Stokes had plenty of energy and she demonstrated good hands and footwork in the low post. She had six points (3-of-3 FG), two rebounds, two blocks and one steal in six minutes, nine seconds of action in the first half. She then had five points and nine rebounds in eight minutes, 18 seconds in the second half.

“I’ve been in that situation, and it’s not easy,’’ UConn junior Kelly Faris said. “It’s not easy to come back and bounce back after that. And for her to do that as a freshman, I’m extremely proud of her for doing that. I think it gives the rest of us a little bit more confidence in her. And it’s good for her to feel that as well. She did good (Monday), and I’m proud of her for that.’’

Rich

Freshman Brianna Banks did not play in tonight’s 86-35 rout of No. 24 North Carolina. UConn coach Geno Auriemma hopes that she will be able to return to practice Wednesday and play Thursday against Cincinnati.

“I didn’t even see it,’’ Auriemma said. “It wasn’t one of those things that was really evident. She got trapped at halfcourt. She slipped, fell down and as she was going down she banged into somebody’s knee. The next thing you know she’s in the training room. Nobody really saw it. There was just too much activity going around. She went in and Rosemary said they went through the whole routine. They asked her a bunch of questions and she really couldn’t give them any straight answers. And I thought, `Well, not much has changed. Why are we worried?’ But in today’s day and age you want to really be careful with those things. So I think it was good that we held her out and we’ll see how she does on Wednesday.’’

Rich

Freshman Brianna Banks will not play tonight against No. 24 North Carolina due to a head injury she suffered in practice Sunday. She is expected to return to practice Wednesday and play against Cincinnati Thursday.

Rich

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the fifth time in nine weeks this season Monday. She averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in wins over Providence and Villanova last week.

Entering tonight’s game against North Carolina at Gampel Pavilion, Mosqueda-Lewis ranks third on the team in scoring (14.4), rebounding (4.9), steals (1.8) and minutes (28.2). She leads the Huskies with 40 made 3-pointers.

Rich

Caroline Doty played the final game of her career at Villanova today, helping UConn to a 72-49 win. She finished with nine points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes. She did not commit a turnover

Doty, who grew up in nearby Collegeville, Pa., said that she had a “good amount’’ of family and friends among the crowd of 3,206. She was all smiles after the game.

“It’s always great to play in front of family and friends that you don’t see often,’’ Doty said. “It was good to be back, and I had a lot of fun playing. Coming in and having a great team win and having the team come out and do what Coach (Geno Auriemma) wanted, you can leave with a smile on your face. And seeing family and friends is just an extra bonus.’’

Doty shared a moment with Villanova junior Jesse Carey before the game. The two were high school teammates at Germantown Academy and again on the AAU circuit.

“She’s one of my best friends,’’ Carey said. “I’m glad that she’s able to be out there right now. She’s definitely been through a lot. And, of course, I wish her the best. I want her to be healthy and hopefully finish up these next two years on a good note.’’

Freshman Kiah Stokes seemed to get the hint that she needed to compete at a high level every time she steps on the floor. She had averaged 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 12.7 minutes over the last three games.

But just when it seems that Stokes is poised to become a regular fixture in UConn’s rotation, Auriemma sends her yet another reminder that she still has so much more work to do. Stokes was the only player not to play for the Huskies today.

“She’s frustrating,’’ Auriemma said. “She’s frustrating. She’s frustrating. She’s just frustrating. That’s the only thing I can tell you. She’s just frustrating. Because she’s really, really good, but I’m trying to instill in her what it takes to play at this level. And I don’t want to reward mediocre and even less kind of an effort or doing what I did in high school. `This is what I did in high school, Coach, and it worked.’ Well, it doesn’t work here. And you’re too good, you’re too talented and you have too much potential. And we’re going to find out how bad you want this. And I think she does.’’

Here is what Auriemma had to say about UConn and Baylor agreeing to a two-year extension through the 2013-14 season.

“When we left there (last month), there was discussion about `Do you guys want to do this again?’’’ Auriemma said. “I remember saying to (Senior Associate Director of Athletics) Neil (Eskin), `These are the kind of games you want to play in. And these are the kind of games TV wants to put on television. So what’s the downside?’ There really isn’t. As long as you’re not worried about your record. And every coach has a different perspective on that. I’m not worried about our record. We win or we lose, I don’t care. The bottom line is we’re going to play the games that I think are great to play in, great for people to watch, great for our fans to watch, ones that my players get all excited about. And win or lose, who cares? That game isn’t going to keep you out of the NCAA Tournament. So I don’t see any downside to it.’’

Rich

UConn coach Geno Auriemma took some time following Tuesday’s win over Providence to discuss the expectations that the Huskies face on a yearly basis. They are expected to win every game no matter who they might have lost to graduation from the previous year. And when they don’t win a game, even if the loss comes on the road to No. 1 Baylor or then-No. 3 Notre Dame they face a firestorm of questions from the media, fans and friends.

Auriemma, who does a superb job of shielding his players from what he believes to be undue criticism, feels that this gets tiresome. He said that these all-or-nothing expectations are unfair to the players, especially this season with two sophomores and three freshmen among UConn’s top nine players.

Yet, the players do not necessarily believe that these expectations are unfair. Freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis took some time this week to discuss what it is like being a member of the UConn women’s basketball team.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s unfair,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said. “I think that (because of) the teams before us it’s warranted. They kind of set the bar and it’s our job to play up to that. It’s our job to keep that consistent. And, you know, we’ve lost a couple this season so far. And it’s probably disappointing for the fans and it’s disappointing for ourselves. But we’re going to come back and we’re learning from it. So as long we do that I don’t think it’s that bad. We just try to go out there and play, play what we practice and do what Coach tells us.’’

Auriemma mentioned that under the heavy pressure to win players might become tentative and play not to lose rather than playing to win. They might be afraid to take a shot or make a pass at a critical point in a game because if they miss or commit a turnover it might cost the Huskies the game. They might be afraid of losing, period.

Mosqueda-Lewis, though, insists that is not the case with this team despite losses to Baylor and Notre Dame when they had a lead in the second half.

“I don’t see our team thinking that way at all,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said. “It’s just a matter of playing hard for 40 minutes with our team being consistent and making sure that we’re making smart decisions out there the whole time. We can’t let up at all and that’s what happened in the Baylor and the Notre Dame game. We got up and we let down. So that’s just something we’ve been working on in practice, something Coach has been telling us about. And we’re working on it.’’

As far as being expected to win every game, Mosqueda-Lewis would not have it any other way.

“I think any competitor, anybody on this team, is going to be expecting to win,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said. “And if things aren’t going the way we want them to we need to change something. We have so many different options, so many different people on this team that can score, that can rebound, that can do everything that we have to utilize every single person.’’

Here are Auriemma’s thoughts on his returning to the Philadelphia area and playing Villanova:

“The only problem is that you get there late,’’ Auriemma said. “The game’s at 2 o’clock (Saturday). So we’re going to get there at like 6 (Friday night), play at 2 and come home. So you’re not even there 24 hours. So you don’t really get a chance to do anything. But I’ll see a couple friends of mine. We’ll get together for a little bit. And there will be a whole bunch of people at the game. But if it was a different team that we were playing it would be a lot more fun. Like going down there and seeing all my family and friends and the kids I grew up with … and then you’ve got to play those guys. It’s awful. It’s like Christmas. You get a toy gun, but it only shoots backwards. So you fire it and it hits you in the eye. It’s fun to have, but you know it’s painful. That’s what it’s like playing at Villanova. It’s fun to go down there. I enjoy it, but it’s painful. Playing those guys is painful. It’s the worst experience ever of any coach in America, playing those guys. So I’m looking forward to it, though. It should be a lot of fun.’’

UConn and Baylor have reached a two-year extension that will see its series continue through the 2013-14 season. The teams will meet next season in Connecticut and in Waco, Texas the following season.

Rich