Tuesday's UConn/Baylor game drew a 10.9 overnight rating in the Hartford Region, the best for a UConn women's game since a Jan. 19, 2009 game against North Carolina.

The game could also go down as the turning point in the young careers of UConn freshmen Stefanie Dolson, Bria Hartley and Samarie Walker as well as sophomore Heather Buck for different reasons.

Dolson was clearly out of her element against the 6-8 Griner, hardly a shocking turn of events considering it was her second career collegiate game. She short armed some shots, traveled once because she was indecisive and picked up five fouls in 12 minutes. The way the game was called did not help Dolson but she has stated that she is very hard on herself when she makes a mistake and I expect her miscues from the Baylor game will only help her be more prepared the next time she squares off with Griner. It should be noted that Dolson had one more rebound in 12 minutes (eight) as Griner did in 40.

Walker had four points, seven rebounds and two steals in 25 minutes. But her true contribution can't be measured by any number in a box score. Walker played physical with Griner, a player seven inches taller. She also delivered the line of the night in the post-game press conference.

"I have never even seen a 6-8 female in person," Walker said. "I was like 'oh my goodness, she really is big.' When I was out there, I completely forgot about the height difference and I treated her as if she was the same height. I didn't think about that she was 6-8 and I am 6-1. It was a new experience, it was different but it was exciting to be given the opportunity to guard her."

Hartley frustrated UConn coach Geno Auriemma for the first 30 minutes she was on the court but she made up for it with a scintillating final four minutes. Hartley hit one 3-pointer to tie the game and had another to break a tie. She also had a steal and a crucial offensive rebound and putback off a Maya Moore miss. Former UConn All-American point guard Sue Bird was in the stands and one shot on the ESPN2 coverage showed Bird nodding her head in approval. It was actually when Lorin Dixon set up Walker for a layup but it could just as easily been a result of a late charge by Hartley which could be called Sue Birdesque.

Buck started the season opener against Holy Cross but had Dolson and Walker not fouled out, she might not have played a second against Baylor. When Dolson picked up two fouls, Auriemma didn't even glance Buck's way. Only when Dolson and Walker were whistled for their fifth fouls 2:09 apart in the second half did Auriemma call on Buck.

Playing the final 7:24, Buck had one rebound and committed one foul. But she held firm against Griner and even drew an offensive foul on Griner and forced a miss by Melissa Jones.

In a practice leading up to Tuesday's game, Auriemma told Buck it was put up or shut up time.

"I said 'Heather, as long as you are on the court, we are playing 5 on 4. You've been here three years and we are still playing 5 on 4," Auriemma said. "By the end of today, we are either playing 5 on 5 with you on the court, you are going to start paying us back for your scholarship or you are going to leave and never come back. I think it helped because when she went in, she actually had a little bit of umph to it. Maybe those were an important seven minutes for her because if those guys hadn't fouled out, I might not have put her in."