We know the UConn Huskies women's basketball team may have a special year this season. But you don't really start learning about your team until you have your first road game.

Sure it's only two games in but the Huskies made sure to make a statement in College Station, TX on Sunday afternoon.

Playing in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN2, Stefanie Dolson tied her career-high with 24 points as UConn went on to an easy 81-50 win over the Texas A&M Aggies in front of 7,681 at Reed Arena.

The Huskies improve to 2-0 and are off to the Virgin Islands to play in the 2012 Women's Paradise Jam starting on Friday against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Aggies fall to 0-3.

Dolson ended up with a nice all-around game adding six rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots to her 24 point effort. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists while Breanna Stewart had 11 points and six rebounds.

Kelly Faris rounded out the Huskies in double-digits with 10 points and a team-high six assists. Kiah Stokes led the team with seven rebounds.

Courtney Walker was the only member of the Aggies to hit double figures with 20 points and also led them with seven rebounds. One time UConn recruit Kelsey Bone added eight points and was dominated by Dolson down low. Courtney Williams chipped in with seven points.

UConn Huskies @ Texas A&M Aggies 11.18.12 box score

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photo credit: us presswire (no. 22 in gallery)

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

Busy day in UConn Huskies sports land as the men's soccer team as well as both basketball teams are in action.

The UConn Huskies soccer team starts the day at 1 p.m. as they'll host the Northeastern Huskies in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament. Sunday's match will have a free video broadcast at uconnhuskies.com. Fans can also listen live at WHUS.org or 91.7 FM.

It's also gameday for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team as they are in College Station, TX for a matchup with the Texas A&M Aggies at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and can also be seen online or your mobile device at WatchESPN. You can also listen on the IMG/UConn Radio Network.

It's gameday for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team as they are in the Virgin Islands for the 2012 Paradise Jam. They will take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats in the semifinals at 9 p.m. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. You can also listen on the IMG/UConn Radio Network.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn sees Texas-sized challenge in A&M [carl adamec – sny.com]

Caldwell, Turner have eyes on UConn [carl adamec – sny.com]

For Moriah Jefferson, Home Is Where The Game Is [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Stewart, Tuck, Jefferson Ready For First Road Test [rich elliott – ct post]

Hall of Famers Will Go Head-To-Head Sunday at Texas A&M [rich elliott – ct post]

Like Jefferson, Mosqueda-Lewis Dealt With Pressure To Stay Home [rich elliott – ct post]

On And Off The Court, Harris Extremely Impressed With Turner [rich elliott – ct post]

Caldwell Taking Her Time, But UConn Clearly In The Mix [rich elliott – ct post]

Jefferson eager to play in front of friends and family [jim fuller – new haven register]

Two top Texas phenoms high on UConn's recruiting wish list [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn's Jefferson proud of her decision to leave home [ct post]

Auriemma Expects Freshmen To Have Culture Shock In 1st Road Trip [hartford courant]

Huskies visit Texas A&M [new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

On Phil Nolan, Leon Tolksdorf and Other Notes From The Lobby [dom amore – hartford courant]

Tom Moore, Scott Burrell, Kevin Ollie, Others Talk UConn-Quinnipiac Matchup [david borges – new haven register]

Update from St. Thomas [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from the Marriott: “We didn’t really know what we were going to get from Enosch” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Ex-UConn assistant Moore has Quinnipiac moving forward [kevin duffy – ct post]

Men's Basketball To Face Quinnipiac In Jam Semifinals [uconnhuskies.com]

Facing his ex-coach, Ollie says UConn's his only worry [ct post]

Ollie Shrugs Off Emotional Distractions, Focuses On Team Identity [hartford courant]

Huskies look to continue dominance of in-state rivals [new haven register]

UConn vs Quinnipiac preview [cbssports.com]

UConn Football links

Reports: Conference realignment is back [john silver – sny.com]

Other UConn related links

W. Cross Country. Women's Cross Country Captures Eighth Place at NCAA Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Cross Country. Men's Cross Country Finishes Ninth at IC4A Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men's Hockey Falls at Bentley, 3-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Swimming. Huskies Complete Action At H2Okie Fall Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Swimming. Franz Enjoys Outstanding Day At Virginia Tech [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Connecticut Kids Living Their UConn Soccer Dream [hartford courant]

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

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Mixed results for UConn recruits [jim fuller – new haven register]

DeLeone Not Pleased About Job He Has Done With UConn's Offense [hartford courant]

UConn Women's Basketball links

First road trip takes Jefferson home [carl adamec – sny.com]

It Might Be An Early List, But Faris Deserves Mentioning [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn has had mixed results with small recruiting classes [jim fuller – new haven register]

Less Than 500 Tickets Remain for Women's Hoops' Game vs. Notre Dame on January 5 [uconnhuskies.com]

With Stewart And Tuck, Dolson Has Help Up Front [hartford courant]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Notes, Quotes, Thoughts From The Paradise Jam, Round One [dom amore – hartford courant]

Shabazz Napier, Enosch Wolf Step Up When UConn Needed Them Most [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from Wake Forest: “Today was just a weird day” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Quinnipiac knocks off Iona, faces UConn in semifinals [kevin duffy – ct post]

Paradise City [uconn huskies basketball]

UConn defeats Wake Forest in Paradise Jam [ct post]

Pretty strange stuff — Wolf, Napier are UConn's secret to success [ct post]

UConn Overcomes Some Issues To Beat Wake Forest [hartford courant]

Enosch Wolf Shines In Rare Playing Appearance [hartford courant]

Huskies beat Wake Forest at the Paradise Jam, now 3-0 [new haven register]

Bobcats beat Iona, will face UConn [new haven register]

Coaching legend Calhoun returns to Paradise [virgin islands daily news]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. UConn To Face Northeastern at 1 p.m. Sunday In NCAA Second Round [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Swimming. Women's Swimming And Diving Open Action At H2Okie Fall Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Swimming. Bowen Finishes Third In 200-Yard Freestyle [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Volleyball. Huskies Eliminated by Bearcats in BIG EAST Quarterfinals [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Swimming. Men's Swimming And Diving Opens Action At H2Okie Fall Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Swimming. Pigot Wins 100-Yard Breaststroke B Final [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Ice Hockey. Women's Hockey Stumbles at Vermont [uconnhuskies.com]

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

When now UConn Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie was out there recruiting, I'm beginning to wonder if he told recruits "come to UConn see the world".

The Huskies started their 2012-13 season in Germany before returning back stateside for a brief time. Now they are in the Virgin Islands at the 2012 Paradise Jam, a tournament they won in 2008.

On Friday night, they had a tough matchup with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the first round of the tournament.

And with a strong second half effort from Shabazz Napier, the Huskies were able to hold off the Demon Deacons for a 77-71 win at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

No. 23 UConn improves to 3-0 on the season and awaits the winner of the Quinnipiac-Iona game at 9 p.m. on Sunday night. That game will be televised by the CBS Sports Network. Wake Forest falls to 1-1.

Given that Napier didn't score until there was 10 minutes to go in the game, you wouldn't have thought he would have led the team in scoring. He actually tied Ryan Boatright for the team lead with 16 points. Napier added four assists while Boatright led the Huskies with seven rebounds and five assists.

Both DeAndre Daniels and Enosch Wolf had fine games for the Huskies as both finished with 12 points. Wolf also pulled down six rebounds. Not bad for a kid who had barely seen the floor before this season.

Codi Miller-McIntyre led all scorers in the game with 21 points and added five assists for the Demon Deacons. C.J. Haris chipped in with 17 points while Travis McKie added 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

UConn Huskies vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2012 Paradise Jam First Round box score

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The UConn Huskies women's basketball team has had five of its members selected for the 2012-13 Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List.

Here's the release:

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women’s basketball team had five standouts named to the 2012-13 Naismith Women’s Early Season Watch List as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Thursday morning. Stefanie Dolson, Kelly Faris, Bria Hartley, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Breanna Stewart all earned a spot on the early season list. The Huskies led all schools with their five selections.

Dolson, Hartley and Mosqueda-Lewis were also named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top-30 and the Preseason Wade Watch List, while Hartley and Mosqueda-Lewis were selected as Honorable Mention Preseason All-Americans.

The 50 player watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2012-2013 college basketball season. The Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded on April 8, 2013, in New Orleans, La.

“With so much returning talent this year, anticipation and excitement for women’s college basketball season among fans, players and coaches is extremely high,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “We look forward to watching these student-athletes compete and prove to the nation that they deserve to be recognized as the best women’s college basketball player in 2013.”

In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the top 30 players in the nation. In March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists.

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

The UConn women’s hoops team will hit the road for the first time of the 2012-13 campaign as they take on No. 16 Texas A&M on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The No. 2 Huskies enter Reed Arena with a 1-0 record after downing the College of Charleston behind Stewart’s 21 points.

For a full look at the 2012-13 Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

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

It's that time of the year where the Boston Red Sox fleece you for your money for tickets and then disappoint you. Hopefully that changes for the 2013 season.

Here's the release:

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox will host the 10^th annual Christmas at Fenway Presented by Stop and Shop, Saturday, December 1, when Sox Pax first go on sale online and at Fenway Park.  The popular ticket packages feature summer weekend games, Interleague play, and battles versus the New York Yankees.  In addition, individual tickets to select home games go on sale at 10 a.m. by phone, online, or for those selected to attend the event at Fenway. 

This year, Christmas at Fenway highlights a new, week-long Red Sox Holiday Fest that will bring team personalities and holiday cheer to all six states in New England.  Red Sox players including Andrew Bailey, Craig Breslow, Chris Carpenter, Pedro Ciriaco, Ivan De Jesus, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Mark Melancon, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are scheduled to participate at various times.  More details will be announced in the coming days. 

The list of the 12 popular Sox Pax presented by MasterCard is attached.  Each includes four games, and up to four tickets per game.  Fans may purchase two Sox Pax per transaction.

Online registration for the chance to attend Christmas at Fenway begins today at noon on redsox.com and ends Monday, November 26, at noon.  Selectees will be invited via email to visit Fenway Park at a specified time.  They will be asked to show their confirmation email and a photo ID for admission.  There is no charge for the event.

Christmas at Fenway will include current and former players signing autographs and talking with fans at roundtable discussions.  In addition, fans will be randomly selected throughout the day for special prizes and giveaway experiences (such as Opening Day tickets, dinner in the EMC Club, and Green Monster seats at a Yankees game).

Fans who go online, call, or attend Christmas at Fenway will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to select games starting at 10 a.m.  The phone number is 888-REDSOX6.

For single games, fans can purchase a maximum of ten tickets per transaction.  The select games are versus the Orioles, April 10-11; the Rays, April 12-14; the Royals, April 19-21; the A’s, April 22-24; the Houston Astros (making their Fenway Park debut as members of the American League), April 25-28; the Twins, May 6-9; and the Blue Jays, May 10-12.

Fans needing ADA accessible seating may call 877-REDSOX9; hearing impaired fans may call the TTY line at (617) 226-6644.

Tickets will remain on sale after Christmas at Fenway.  This year, redsox.com has a faster system with shorter times in the virtual waiting room and live streaming of Red Sox interviews and entertainment.

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

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

UConn Commit: LB Cory Jasudowich Of Cheshire Committed To Boston College In June [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Cory Jasudowich talks about commitment to UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Women's Basketball links

Dolson wants junior achievement [carl adamec – sny.com]

Auriemma’s Lawyers Withdraw Request For Dismissal [john altavilla – hartford courant]

NLI Faxed, Chong Officially A Member Of The Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

Saniya Chong hoping UConn becomes her second home [jim fuller – new haven register]

Signing Day [usa today]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Here's Where You Can Watch UConn's Paradise Jam Games [david borges – new haven register]

Tom Moore Doesn't Dwell on What Could Have Been for Him at UConn [david borges – new haven register]

R.J. Evans gives Huskies boost off the bench [kevin duffy – ct post]

Tyler Olander A Big Part Of UConn's Game Plan [hartford courant]

Tom Moore is content Miles away from UConn [new haven register]

Other UConn related links

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Heads to Midwest for BIG EAST Championship [uconnhuskies.com]

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

It's not the Ross we are hoping for the Boston Red Sox to sign but there's still plenty of time in free agency. But the Red Sox have made the David Ross signing official.

Here's the release:

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today signed catcher David Ross to a two-year contract through the 2014 season.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington. 

Ross appeared in 62 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2012, including 47 starts behind the plate, in his fourth season with the organization and his 11^th Major League campaign overall.  The 35-year-old threw out 42.4 percent of attempted base stealers (14 of 33), the fourth-best rate among Major League catchers with at least 40 games at the position.  A right-handed hitter, he batted .256 (45-for-176) with seven doubles, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 18 runs and 18 walks.  His average of a home run every 19.56 at-bats ranked third among National League catchers with at least 150 plate appearances, while five of his nine long balls either tied the game or put the Braves ahead. 

Atlanta went 54-35 (.607) in his 89 starts behind the plate over the last two seasons, the best winning percentage for any National League catcher with at least 65 starts in that time.  The only catcher in the Majors with a better record from 2011-12 was Mike Napoli (.618). 

Over the last four seasons, Ross has led the Majors with a 3.33 catcher’s ERA (min. 200 games), the best four-year stretch in the Major Leagues dating back to 1998.  He has thrown out 37.5 percent of attempted base stealers (99 of 264) over the last eight years, the second-best rate in the Majors after Yadier Molina’s 40.0 mark (min. 400 games).  In those eight seasons since 2005, he placed among the best National Leaguers in caught stealing percentage six times: 2005 (2^nd, 53.8), 2006 (2^nd, 41.4), 2007 (2^nd, 39.0), 2009 (1^st, 43.2), 2011 (4^th, 31.2) and 2012 (3^rd, 42.4).  

Ross compiled a .269 average (155-for-577) with 36 doubles, two triples, 24 homers and 94 RBI in 227 games with Atlanta from 2009-12, and his .463 slugging percentage in those four campaigns was second among National League catchers (min. 600 PA) to Buster Posey (.503).  He also placed fourth in that group in at-bats per home run (24.04), at-bats per RBI (6.14) and OPS (.816).  From 2006-07, he ranked second among National League catchers with 38 combined home runs for the Cincinnati Reds, including a career-high 21 shots in 2006.

He played in eight regular season games with Boston in September 2008 after signing with the club as a minor league free agent that August.  In 658 Major League games with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-04), Pittsburgh Pirates (2005), San Diego Padres (2005), Reds (2006-08), Red Sox (2008) and Braves (2009-12), he has hit .238 (405-for-1,701) with 89 doubles, five triples, 84 home runs, 248 RBI, 197 runs and 210 walks.  He was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.

Ross has appeared in six career postseason contests, including one with the Red Sox in 2008.  He went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI as the Braves’ starting catcher in the 2012 National League Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the signing, the Red Sox 40-man roster is now at 39.

Whether UConn Huskies men's head basketball coach Kevin Ollie stays at UConn long-term or not, I think this would have happened either way.

Here's the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut head men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie has pledged a gift of $100,000 towards the construction of the UConn Basketball Development Center.

"I thought it was very important to show my commitment to the UConn Basketball Development Center," said Ollie. "I have had the incredible opportunity to be a member of the Husky family and that experience has influenced every part of my life. I want to be an example for all former UConn basketball student-athletes, who have had the privilege of playing for two Hall of Fame coaches, to join me in supporting this facility. It will help ensure the long-term success of the programs that all of us helped establish."

The University of Connecticut Board of Trustees approved the final construction budget of $33 million for the UConn Basketball Development Center on Wednesday and the official groundbreaking will take place this spring. The University currently has donations and pledges for $24 million and continues to actively fundraise to secure the total costs of the project, which will be $38 million, including furniture, fixtures and equipment.

"UConn is fortunate to have so many strong supporters from around the country, but members of our own university community are also very generous to the school and Kevin is a great example of this," said President Susan Herbst. "As we continue to build and renovate so many facilities on our multiple campuses, an outstanding new home is needed for our championship men's and women's basketball programs."

"I want to thank Kevin and his wife Stephanie for making this gift to the UConn Basketball Development Center," said Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. "Kevin has experienced our program from all facets as a student-athlete, assistant coach and now the head coach. I am proud that Kevin has provided this leadership gift and it is indicative of the positive contributions that former Husky student-athletes can have on the future success of our programs."

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

photo credit: us presswire

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Big East Retains Opportunity To Play In BCS Bowls [hartford courant]

UConn Women's Basketball links

Chong To Sign National Letter Of Intent Wednesday [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Kevin Ollie’s Take [dom amore – hartford courant]

Wrapping Things Up at Gampel [dom amore – hartford courant]

It's All About PT, PPG and AARP for R.J. Evans [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from Vermont: “I’m not subscribing to that” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Post-game breakdown, video: Vermont [gavin keefe – the day]

Evans has adapted from starting role to a key player off the bench [john nash – the hour]

Evans a stabilizing force [john silver – sny.com]

Hanging Their Hat [uconn huskies basketball]

UConn men pull away, defeat Vermont [ct post]

Except when taking flight, Evans a well-grounded Husky [ct post]

No Letdown In Huskies' 67-49 Win Over Vermont [hartford courant]

With Nudge From Ollie, Napier Responds [hartford courant]

R.J. Evans Steady As A Rock Of Ages [hartford courant]

Shabazz Napier, Huskies handle Vermont [new haven register]

'Old man' Evans provides a lift [the day]

Huskies tame Catamounts [the hour]

Other UConn related links

W. Cross Country. Huskies Move Up Two Spots In National Rankings [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Cross Country. Andrea Grove-McDonough Named Northeast Region Coach of the Year [uconnhuskies.com]

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