UConn’s Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) and Breanna Stewart (30) are honored as WBCA All-Americans before the UConn Huskies open practice at the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL.
From the WBCA and UConn:
TAMPA, Fla. — After earning a spot on both the Associated Press and USWBA All-America teams earlier this week, University of Connecticut junior forward Breanna Stewart (Syracuse, N.Y.) has been selected as the 2015 Wade Trophy Award winner, as announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Saturday. Additionally, the WBCA announced the Stewart, senior forward Kaleena Mosuqeda-Lewis (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) and Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, Texas) earned spots on the 2015 Division I Coaches’ All-America team.
Moriah Jefferson will join her two teammates on the “Husky of Honor” wall at the end of her career after earning WBCA All-American status.
Stewart becomes the sixth-ever Husky player to earn the honor and first since Maya Moore in 2010-11. In total, the Connecticut program boasts eight total Wade Trophy selections.
The Wade Trophy, now in its 38th year, is named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women’s national player of the year award in college basketball.
The Husky forward was named as the Albany Regional’s Most Outstanding Player after averaging 27.0 points and 14.0 rebounds in a pair of UConn victories over Texas and Dayton. On Tuesday, she was one of three Huskies to earn an All-America nod from the USWBA. The 2014-15 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year has reached double-figure points in 15 of her 16 career NCAA Tournament games, all of which have been Husky victories.
At 1,927 career points, Stewart stands at No. 11 on the program’s all-time scoring list. Additionally, she ranks fifth in Husky history with 280 career blocks. Since Stewart joined the program in the 2012-13 campaign, Connecticut owns a 111-5 (.957) record and has won two-straight national championships.
“On behalf of the WBCA and SHAPE America, I am honored to present women’s basketball’s highest honor, the Wade Trophy, to Breanna,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Breanna had a remarkable season and with her efforts, the game of women’s basketball was elevated to an exciting new level. Each contest showcased her talent to better her teammates, represent the University of Connecticut with class, captivate fans, and inspire the next generation of student-athletes.”
Jefferson, who was tabbed as an All-American by the USWBA on Tuesday, became the first Husky since Kelly Faris in 2012-13 to earn the conference’s Most Improved Player accolade when she earned the distinction on March 6 . The guard has enjoyed a stellar junior campaign, averaging 12.3 points in 28.2 minutes per game. In total, she ranks first on the team in assists (181) and steals (91) and is one of six Huskies shooting over 50.0 percent from the floor (59.5). She provided a spark in UConn’s 87-62 victory over then-ranked No. 1 South Carolina on Feb. 9, notching 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with a game-high six assists.
Mosqueda-Lewis, who last earned WBCA All-America honors in the 2012-13 campaign, became the NCAA’s all-time leader in made three point field goals (395) after connecting on seven against the Flyers. The Husky senior was one of three UConn players named to the All-Regional squad. She became the eighth member of UConn’s 2,000-point club when she notched 21 points against Memphis on Senior Day (Feb. 28).
UConn now boasts a total of 34 WBCA All-America selections.
The Huskies are set to make their eighth-straight appearance in the NCAA Final Four when they take on Maryland on Sunday, April 5 at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
