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Record-breaking day for UConn's veterans and newcomers
Breanna Stewart was the first member of the UConn team to enter her name into the record books - again.
Stewart's emphatic two-handed blocked shot on the final play of the first quarter was No. 397 in her career as she moved by Rebecca Lobo, the UConn record holder since 1995.
Stewart, true to her nature, said she thinks Lobo should be recognized as the record since she accomplished the feat in 126 games and it took Stewart 147.
She nearly had another record which has stood almost as long. She finished with eight steals, one shy of Nykesha Sales' team mark for steals in an NCAA tournament game. Sales set that mark in the first-round win over Lehigh in 1997. Stewart helped UConn set a NCAA tournament team mark with 21 steals resulting in 50 points off turnovers. UConn was on pace to break the NCAA mark for points in a half in a tournament game. If UConn coach Geno Auriemma had stayed with his starters, the mark of 66 set by Oklahoma in 2014 against DePaul would have been toast but still the Huskies finished with 64 points in the first half.
Wait, there's more.
There have been some high-scoring freshman tandems at UConn but no two rookies combined to score more points in their first NCAA tournament game than Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier.
Samuelson's 22 points are the most for any UConn freshman in their NCAA tournament opener topping the mark of 21 set by Jen Rizzotti against Louisville in 1993 and matched by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis against Prairie View in 2012. Add in Collier's 14 points and that gives them 36 which is two better than Rizzotti and Jamelle Elliott accounted for against Louisville back in 1993. Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson matched that mark against Idaho in 2013.
Here are top scoring freshmen making their NCAA debuts in UConn history
22 Katie Lou Samuelson vs. Robert Morris 2016
21 Jamelle Elliott vs. Louisville 1993
21 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis vs. Prairie View 2012
18 Svetlana Abrosimova vs. Fairfield 1998
18 Nykesha Sales vs. Maine 1995
18 Morgan Tuck vs. Idaho 2013
17 Maya Moore vs. Cornell 2008
17 Paige Sauer vs. Lehigh 1997
Top scoring freshman duos
36 Katie Lou Samuelson (22)/Napheesa Collier (14) vs. Robert Morris 2016
34 Jamelle Elliott (21)/Jen Rizzotti (13) vs. Louisville 1993
34 Morgan Tuck (18)/Moriah Jefferson (16) vs. Idaho 2013
31 Ann Strother (16)'Barbara Turner (15) vs. Boston University 2003
Stewart's emphatic two-handed blocked shot on the final play of the first quarter was No. 397 in her career as she moved by Rebecca Lobo, the UConn record holder since 1995.
Stewart, true to her nature, said she thinks Lobo should be recognized as the record since she accomplished the feat in 126 games and it took Stewart 147.
She nearly had another record which has stood almost as long. She finished with eight steals, one shy of Nykesha Sales' team mark for steals in an NCAA tournament game. Sales set that mark in the first-round win over Lehigh in 1997. Stewart helped UConn set a NCAA tournament team mark with 21 steals resulting in 50 points off turnovers. UConn was on pace to break the NCAA mark for points in a half in a tournament game. If UConn coach Geno Auriemma had stayed with his starters, the mark of 66 set by Oklahoma in 2014 against DePaul would have been toast but still the Huskies finished with 64 points in the first half.
Wait, there's more.
There have been some high-scoring freshman tandems at UConn but no two rookies combined to score more points in their first NCAA tournament game than Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier.
Samuelson's 22 points are the most for any UConn freshman in their NCAA tournament opener topping the mark of 21 set by Jen Rizzotti against Louisville in 1993 and matched by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis against Prairie View in 2012. Add in Collier's 14 points and that gives them 36 which is two better than Rizzotti and Jamelle Elliott accounted for against Louisville back in 1993. Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson matched that mark against Idaho in 2013.
Here are top scoring freshmen making their NCAA debuts in UConn history
22 Katie Lou Samuelson vs. Robert Morris 2016
21 Jamelle Elliott vs. Louisville 1993
21 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis vs. Prairie View 2012
18 Svetlana Abrosimova vs. Fairfield 1998
18 Nykesha Sales vs. Maine 1995
18 Morgan Tuck vs. Idaho 2013
17 Maya Moore vs. Cornell 2008
17 Paige Sauer vs. Lehigh 1997
Top scoring freshman duos
36 Katie Lou Samuelson (22)/Napheesa Collier (14) vs. Robert Morris 2016
34 Jamelle Elliott (21)/Jen Rizzotti (13) vs. Louisville 1993
34 Morgan Tuck (18)/Moriah Jefferson (16) vs. Idaho 2013
31 Ann Strother (16)'Barbara Turner (15) vs. Boston University 2003
posted by Jim Fuller at
6:45 PM
4 Comments:
Absolute clinic in the first quarter. Auriemma is thankfully compassionate. He could have let the starters set much higher records.
I find it interesting in games like today where announcers talk about UConn's coaching success and legendary practices. Shocked that announcers fail to mention how many WCBB National Championships were won by teams with transcendent players.
2 USC with Cheryl Miller
1 Texas Tech with Sheryl Swoopes
3 Tennessee with Chamique Holdsclaw
3 UConn with Diana Taurasi
2 Tennessee with Candace Parker
2 UConn with Maya Moore
1 Baylor with Brittney Griner
3 UConn with Breanna Stewart
As great as Auriemma and Summitt have been, most or all of their championship teams had the Player of the Year or multiple All Americans. Auriemma acknowledges this but announcers never seem to point out the continuing talent discrepancy in WCBB.
During the recent Team USA practices at Storrs, Auriemma commented that "8 of UConn's national championships could be explained by 3 players" on Team USA. Taurasi, Maya, and Stewart.
Auriemma was clearly pained watching Chong, Ekmark, and Butler. They practiced almost an entire season under the watchful eye of UConn coaches.
I would expect Auriemma to dial back on the amount of time they play together on Monday. UConn starters need to stay in today's first half groove.
I wonder if Gabby Williams was sick or slightly injured. She was very lethargic when compared to her normal all out effort. I would hate to see her on the outside of the tightened rotation.
I wouldn't worry about Gabby. She forced several turnovers that don't show up in the stat line. She played 22 minutes and half of those minutes were with the scrubs, Butler, Chong, Courtney, Collier. When the starters she Gabby cutting to the basket or they see her showing them her numbers, they get the ball to her. The scrubs don't.
Collier is Not a scrub. She is just as good as Gabby. Depending upon the opponent, either Collier or Gabby could play substantially more minutes than the other. It is always about the matchups and Auriemma’s view of how practices went.
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I hope that the UConn players do not succumb to non-stop media hype about UConn attempting to accomplish what never has done before and the Las Vegas ridiculous odds of UConn versus the field. I believe UConn has the coaching and talent to win their 11th national championship of April 5th. However, the fact is Referees have the ability to control how games will be played.
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If the Refs allow Duquesne or USF or any other team get too physical with UConn, it does affect the game flow. Or if the Refs call finger touch fouls on UConn, it affects the game. Morgan Tuck was whistled for 2 fouls in about 5 seconds against DePaul.
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No one thought Baylor with senior Briner and junior Sims would lose to Louisville. Baylor versus UConn was "supposed" to be that season’s national championship game. Refs allowed Louisville to be excessively physical with Baylor. Cardinals “got into the heads” of the Lady Bears. Even though a couple Louisville starters fouled out, it still affected the outcome of the game.
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Funny thing about one-and-done March Madness and the NFL. The best team for the entire season does Not always win the “Tournament Championship”. That is why they play the games. 18-0 Patriots lost to the Giants. Michigan State men lost to a #15 seed this weekend. Unbeaten or 1 loss UConn teams have lost in previous March Madness with Auriemma as head coach.
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Tennessee lost 11+ games this season and fell out of the Top 25 poll. Lady Vols are in the Sweet 16. Ohio State does not have a great defense, so I expect to see the Lady Vols in the Elite Eight. 10 loss Tennessee team won the National Championship in the 1990s. That is why they play the games in a one-and-done tournament.
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Like most UConn fans, I think it is absolutely ridiculous that ESPN once again has the Huskies tipping off after 9:00pm. There might only be 5000 fans or less at the game tonight. Young kids and retired elderly adults, who would normally attend Saturday afternoon or 6:00pm weekday games, might not be there tonight. 70 game win streak UConn team and their fans deserved better from ESPN.
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#GoHuskies #BleedBlue #UConnWomen #OneGameAtATime
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