UConn signee Brianna Banks was named the female athlete of the week by one of her local papers.

Of all the games Banks will play - in the regular season at least - I don't think any will be more emotional than Tuesday's game at Northgate since that was the school attended and starred on the basketball court before transferring to Fayette County in Fayetteville, Ga.

Closer to home, Banks' future UConn teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will lead her Mater Dei High team into the HoopHall Classic in Springfield, Mass. a week from today. Mater Dei out of Santa Ana, Calif. will play New York powerhouse Murry Bergtraum at 6 p.m. at Springfield College.

Mosqueda-Lewis, considering by many recruiting insiders as the top player in the Class of 2011, is enjoying an outstanding start to her senior season. At the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions event in the Phoenix area, the 6-foot wing had 83 points in three games. Then she had 26 and 27 points in two games at the National Invitational Title IX Tournament in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 29 and 30. In her most recent game, Mosqueda-Lewis had 20 points, nine rebounds, six steals and five assists in a 72-33 win over Orange Lutheran on Thursday. Despite being on a team stocked with Division I prospects, Mosqueda-Lewis is averaging 22 points per game.

On Tuesday, UConn incoming freshman Kiah Stokes tasted defeat for the first time as a senior as she was held to 13 points in a 53-44 loss to Waterloo West snapping Linn-Mar of Marion, Iowa's 36-game winning streak. Stokes' squad also had a record-tying 39-game Mississippi Valley Conference winning streak ended.