Maya Moore's take on being named the women's basketball Academic All-American of the Year in the University Division for the second year in a row isn't too much different from her reaction to any other honors she has received during her remarkable run at UConn both on the off the court.

"It has been something that makes me think back to high school, taking AP (advanced placement) classes, always having a challenging schedule and having a positive educational experience so when I got to college, I wanted to be a good student and try to soak up as much of the academic environment as I could," Moore said.

Moore has a 3.70 grade point average in her individualized sports media and promotion major.

She joins Jen Rizzotti and Rebecca Lobo as UConn stars who were named the National Academic All-American of the Year and is the first UConn women's basketball player to be a three-time Academic All-American.

"I think it is just an extension of who Maya is," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "Maya is a lot like Jen Rizzotti in that respect, the same intensity level, the same passion, the same attention to detail and same focus that you see on the court every time you watch them play. Some kids get rewards because they are naturally gifted. That might be the case in Maya's career, she is naturally gifted but you don't get to where Maya is without taking those gifts and working really hard, harder than anybody."

At halftime of Monday's regular-season finale against Syracuse, Moore will be honored along with teammates Heather Buck, Caroline Doty and Kelly Faris as UConn student-athletes who attained 3.09 GPAs either during the spring or fall, 2010 semesters. She will also have her No. 23 jersey inducted into the Huskies of Honor program.

BUCK MISSES PART OF PRACTICE
Sophomore center Heather Buck hurt her left ankle in Thursday's practice and was seen on crutches and wearing a boot. However, Buck said the injury was not serious and the boot/crutches were for precautionary reasons.