In the last two games UConn has 37 steals which is the most in consecutive games in program history since finishing with 39 in wins over Holy Cross and Hartford during the 2009-10 season. What might be even more impressive is how every player seemingly has had a hand in wreaking havoc as eight of the 11 available players have recorded at least one game with multiple steals.

As most things which occur at UConn, this is not a coincidence. In recent weeks UConn coach Geno Auriemma has been pushing his players to be more aggressive when it comes to tipping and steals passes.

"These last three games it has been more of a defensive philosophy," Auriemma said. "We just made a couple of adjustments and changed some things defensively."

If UConn maintains its current pace and plays the maximum 39 games this season, it would finish with 477 steals which would tie the program record set 1997-98 season.

Here's the player by player breakdown over the last two games
Player                     UCF-SMU-Total
Moriah Jefferson        2      6        8
Kia Nurse                   5      2        7
Gabby Williams         3      4        7
Breanna Stewart         3      3        6
Saniya Chong             2      1        3
Napheesa Collier        0      2        2
Courtney Ekmark       2      0        2
Katie Lou Samuelson 2      0        2

NURSE A GOLDEN HORSHOE FINALISTS
Maybe the third time is the charm for Nurse as she is a finalist for the Golden Horseshoe Award for the third year in a row.

Nurse did not win the award in each of the last two seasons although there is a pretty good chance that somebody in her family will bring home the award given to the premier athlete in Hamilton, Ontario since her brother Darnell, a defenseman for the NHL's Edmonton Oilers, is a finalist along with rugby star Cindy Nelles.

The award will be presented on Feb. 25.