Author Archives: ianbethune

Video: UConn Women Spank Duke, 79-49

The UConn Huskies women's basketball team has dominated the Duke Blue Devils as of late. However, the Blue Devils were the only undefeated team in women's basketball and figured to challenge the Huskies on a snowy evening in Storrs, CT.

University of Connecticut Huskies guard Kelly Faris shoots over Duke Blue Devils guard/forward Haley Peters during the first half. That challenge didn't happen though.

Behind a 27-7 run to start the second half, UConn went on to beat the Blue Devils 79-49 in front of 9,671 and a nationally televised audience at Gampel Pavilion on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The Huskies improve to 17-1 while Duke falls to 16-1.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis led the way for UConn with 21 points and had six rebounds. Kelly Faris had a monster game for the Huskies with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. She also added six assists and two steals.

After a slow start, Breanna Stewart finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Bria Hartley had a career-high nine assists along with six points.

Alexis Jones paced the Blue Devils with 14 points and had five rebounds and four assists. Elizabeth Williams and Haley Peters both added 11 points with Williams having a team-high five rebounds.

The game was everything we expected in the first half. A nice tight ball game.

The Huskies got out to a five point lead early on at 11-6 before Duke rallied to take the lead with an 8-2 run. The game stayed close the rest of the way during the first half as the teams traded baskets.

Part of the reason, the game was close because the Huskies had trouble with turnovers yet again. Head coach Geno Auriemma has been harping about that and you know he wasn't pleased with the 12 they had.

In a funny moment before the start of the second half, UConn assistant head coach Chris Dailey actually led a chant of "No More Turnovers" with the UConn crowd.

It was obvious whatever Auriemma said to his team about taking care of the ball worked. Either that or the Huskies listened to what the crowd was chanting.

UConn would enter the second half with a two point lead at 32-30. And after an exchange of baskets to start the second half, UConn went on a 20-5 run to seize control and never looked back from there.

Faris may not end up on any All-American teams at the end of the season. But one thing is for certain.

She is the glue of this team. She is what makes this team tick. And her strong play on Monday night is what helped the Huskies win this game and once again spank the Blue Devils.

Next up for the Huskies is a visit to Cincinnati, OH and old friend Jamelle Elliott's Cincinnati Bearcats squad on Saturday night. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m.

To continue reading, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

Duke Blue Devils @ UConn Huskies 1.21.13 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.

Here are UConn's postgame notes.

Here are Duke's postgame notes.

Video: Geno Auriemma Chest Bumps Kelly Faris

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photo credit:  richard messina – hartford courant (no. 8 in gallery)

2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Rankings – Week 12 (Jan. 21)

AP & USA Today Coaches Polls

The NCAA men's basketball rankings are out for the week and after being among the others receiving votes, the UConn Huskies have once again fallen out.

The Puke Blue Devils are back on top in both polls. They are followed by the Michigan Wolverines, Kansas Jayhawks, Syracuse Orange and Louisville Cardinals in the AP Poll. In the Coaches Poll, the top five is the same with the exception of Kansas being No. 2 and Michigan No. 3.

Joining Syracuse and Louisville from the Big East in the top 25 are the Cincinnati Bearcats (21/20) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (24/23).

The Marquette Golden Eagles, Pitt Panthers and Georgetown Hoyas are the only teams from the Big East amongst the others receiving votes in both polls.

For a full look at the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings – Week 12 (Jan. 21), please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

AP Top 25 USA Today Coaches Poll
RK TEAM REC PTS PVS RK TEAM REC PTS PVS
1 Duke (39) 16-1 1,578 3 1 Duke (20) 16-1 755 3
2 Michigan (11) 17-1 1,539 5 2 Kansas (8) 16-1 732 4
3 Kansas (7) 16-1 1,486 4 3 Michigan (1) 17-1 712 5
3 Syracuse (8) 17-1 1,486 6 4 Syracuse (2) 17-1 699 6
5 Louisville 16-2 1,348 1 5 Louisville 16-2 633 1
6 Arizona 16-1 1,270 7 6 Arizona 16-1 609 7
7 Indiana 16-2 1,211 2 7 Florida 14-2 588 9
8 Florida 14-2 1,181 10 8 Indiana 16-2 576 2
9 Butler 16-2 1,146 13 9 Butler 16-2 523 13
10 Gonzaga 17-2 994 8 10 Gonzaga 17-2 454 8
11 Kansas State 15-2 927 16 11 Michigan State 16-3 439 17
12 Minnesota 15-3 905 9 12 Creighton 17-2 376 10
13 Michigan State 16-3 831 18 13 Kansas State 15-2 372 18
14 Ohio State 13-4 701 11 14 Minnesota 15-3 343 12
15 New Mexico 16-2 659 19 15 Ohio State 13-4 342 11
16 Oregon 16-2 624 21 16 Virginia Commonwealth 16-3 305 19
17 Creighton 17-2 611 12 17 New Mexico 16-2 304 21
18 North Carolina State 15-3 587 14 18 North Carolina State 15-3 234 15
19 Virginia Commonwealth 16-3 433 22 19 Oregon 16-2 211 NR
20 Wichita State 17-2 363 NR 20 Cincinnati 16-3 179 24
21 Cincinnati 16-3 322 NR 21 Wichita State 17-2 145 NR
22 Missouri 13-4 234 17 22 Missouri 13-4 130 16
23 Ole Miss 15-2 172 NR 23 Notre Dame 15-3 84 20
24 Notre Dame 15-3 123 20 24 Ole Miss 15-2 69 NR
25 Miami (FL) 13-3 93 NR 25 San Diego State 14-4 60 14
Dropped from rankings: Dropped from rankings:
San Diego State 15, Illinois 23, UCLA 24, Marquette 25 Illinois 22, UNLV 23, UCLA 25
Others receiving votes: Others receiving votes:
Marquette 92, Wisconsin 55, UCLA 41, UNLV 32, Wyoming 28, San Diego State 26, Colorado State 7, Memphis 6, Georgetown 4, Iowa State 3, North Carolina 3, Louisiana Tech 2, Pittsburgh 1, Bucknell 1 Miami (FL) 49, Wisconsin 42, UNLV 23, Marquette 20, Wyoming 17, Colorado State 16, Oklahoma State 7, Pittsburgh 5, UCLA 5, Iowa State 5, Bucknell 3, Illinois 3, Georgetown 2, Stephen F. Austin 2, Saint Mary's 1, Middle Tennessee 1

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Stefanie Dolson Named Big East Player of the Week

Stefanie Dolson of UConn defends against Monique Reid during the first half of UConn's 72-58 win.

Here's the release from UConn about UConn Huskies women's basketball player Stefanie Dolson being named Big East Player of the Week.

STORRS, Conn. – Junior center Stefanie Dolson was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. This is Dolson’s first conference Player of the Week accolade.

Dolson averaged 20.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in UConn’s 2-0 week. She scored a team-best 16 points in the team’s win over Louisville as she went 8-for-11 from the floor and also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.   

Dolson registered her 11th career 20-plus performance against Syracuse as she notched a career-high 25 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists. She became the 36th Husky to join the 1,000-point club in the win against Syracuse.  

The No. 3 Huskies are back in action Monday, January 21 at Gampel Pavilion as thy welcome No. 4 Duke for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcasted on the UConn Radio Network.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: mark mirko – hartford courant