The No. 1 UConn Huskies women’s basketball team may be in Cancun right now enjoying some fun and sun. But when it comes to the game of basketball they are all business.

Behind the hot hands of Tina Charles and Maya Moore, UConn rolled to an easy 109-51 victory over the Washington Huskies in the Caribbean Classic at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun. The win for UConn raises their record to 8-0 while Washington drops to 3-4.

Charles had a great night from the floor for UConn as she hit her first 11 baskets and finished shooting 13-of-15 for 29 points. She also pulled down 8 rebounds. Maya Moore had another double-double, her 4th of the season, with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Tahirah Williams came off the bench to score 13 points and pull down 8 rebounds while Tiffany Hayes had 10 points. Renee Montgomery added 9 points and 6 assists while Kaili McLaren had a good all-around game with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

Washington was led by Sara Moisman who had 11 points. Laura McLellan was the only other player for Washington in double digits with 10 points. Heidi McNeill pulled down a team-high 5 rebounds while adding 5 points.

This game was pretty much over after tip-off as UConn rolled out to a big early behind the play of Charles who just demanded the ball down in the post. Her teammates got her the ball often to help put Washington out of their misery.

Next up for UConn is a date with the Northern Colorado Bears tomorrow night in the Carribbean Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM and the game will be televised locally on CPTV. By the way, former UConn Husky Paige Sauer is an assistant coach with the Bears.

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Mark Teixeira: According to Jon Heyman, the Boston Red Sox are still the favorites to sign Mark Teixeira.  He also adds that the Red Sox may have offered 8 years, $180 million.

One source said he believed that Boston was in for close to $180 million over eight years and the Angels in for about the same. The Nats may be as high, or even higher than that. Some suggest they have either hit the $200 million mark, or gotten very close. Or that someone else has.

Heyman expects Teixeira to sign next week before Christmas. Let us know where you think Teixeira will end up in the poll in the sidebar to the left. [SI.com]

The honors keep rolling in for the UConn Huskies football team and this time it’s offensive guard Moe Petrus’ turn as Rivals.com has named Petrus to their All-Freshman First Team.

Petrus, a redshirt freshman from Canada, was just one of the reasons why Donald Brown rushed for 1,822 yards. He started all 12 games for the Huskies.

UConn was ranked 20th in the country in rushing yards per game and second in the Big East at 204.58 yards per game.

In addition, Petrus was named to the Rivals.com All-Big East Team along with Tywon Martin, Kendell Reyes, Aaron Bagsby and Dave Teggart

A full look at the Rivals.com All-Freshman Teams plus the All-Big East Freshman Team after the jump.

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It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they will take on transfer Jessica McCormack’s old team, the Washington Huskies in the Caribbean Classic in Cancun. Unfortunately, there is no television coverage of the game but you can listen to it at WTIC-1080 on your AM radio dial at 5:00 PM with tip-off scheduled now for 5:30 PM. And if you’re still at work, you can also listen to the game live online at WTIC.com.

Due to the transfer rules, Jessica McCormack can’t travel with the team. But she’s okay with that as she probably would not have wanted to talk to her former coach Tia Jackson.

This will be the first time in 316 games that a UConn women’s game won’t be televised.

The UConn women are going 28 days between home games and they aren’t complaining about it.

It appears that only John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant and Rich Elliot of the Connecticut Post are the only two beat writers in Cancun with the UConn women.

John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant explains that the Caribbean Classic is being played in a converted ballroom at the Moon Palace Resort and will only seat 400 people for the games.

Mel Thomas’ book tour kicks off today. I have an email out to find out if tomorrow’s event in East Haven will be canceled due to the impending snow storm.

Renee Montgomery isn’t concerned about where she’ll be taken in the WNBA Draft. Her only concern is UConn right now.

Tina Charles and Maya Moore were named the weekly Big East women’s honor roll.

The first two times UConn played Washington, they were ranked No 1. and undefeated like they are now.

UConn will be the biggest challenge Northern Colorado has faced since moving to Division I.

The UConn men’s flight to Seattle was canceled yesterday due to the inclement weather here in the Northeast.

Jeff Adrien, Kemba Walker and Hasheem Thabeet were all back at practice yesterday.

Matt Stout of the Norwich Bulletin has audio from Gonzaga’s head coach Mark Few about Saturday’s matchup with UConn in Seattle.

If you missed the news, UConn running back Donald Brown was named a First Team All-American by the Sporting News.

Donald Brown was ranked the top running back in the Big East by Brian Bennett of ESPN.com.

The UConn offensive line was ranked second in the Big East by Brian Bennett of ESPN.com.

UConn will look to avoid big plays on defense in the International Bowl.

5 UConn women’s soccer players were named to the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) All-New England teams.

The entire baseball world is awaiting your decision Mr. Teixeira.

As we get ready to be bombarded with snow here on the Connecticut shoreline and most of New England on Friday, things remain quiet with matters involving the Boston Red Sox. There really hasn’t been much movement on the Mark Teixeira front other than the comments from a mystery GM yesterday and then later from Buster Olney about the Orioles being out of it.

If you look to the left, there is a new poll up in the sidebar. Where do you think Mark Teixeira end up? Please take a moment and vote.

So while we wait for Teixeira’s decision (hopefully it’s the Red Sox before Christmas), let’s check out what else is going on with all matters involving the hometown team.

It doesn’t appear the Red Sox will alter from their organizational philosophy about free agents with Mark Teixeira.

Bill Reynolds of the Providence Journal says there something wrong about awaiting Teixeira’s decision.

Curt Schilling talks about why Boston might be best for Teixeira.

While Dustin Pedroia has been named to the US roster for the WBC, Josh Beckett will be skipping it to make sure he stays healthy. Kevin Youkilis is hoping for an invite as well.

In his latest column, Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports.com says that once Teixeira signs, other free agents will start to sign as well. He also says that the Red Sox and the Mets are the primary suitors for Derek Lowe.

Just a quick observation here but we really haven’t heard anything about Jason Varitek since the Winter Meetings. It makes you think he could end up back in Boston.

The design deadline for the Red  Sox spring training facility is today.

Gary Marbry of WEEI.com has a look at some odd stats for Kevin Cash, Mike Timlin and David Aardsma.

The official announcement came down from the Mets yesterday. The Mets and Red Sox will christen Citi Field with a 2-game exhibition series on April 3rd and 4th.

Curt Schilling talked again about his run-ins with Manny Ramirez while they were both members of the Red Sox.

The New York Times could make about $200 million if they sell their 17% share in the Red Sox.

Apparently the recession isn’t affecting ticket sales for the Red Sox. They sold 234,023 tickets over a 2-day period that started last Saturday.

Although he wasn’t there, Dustin Pedroia was honored by his hometown of  Woodland on Tuesday.

In the previous poll, I asked whether or not you were a fan of the new Red Sox logo. 55% of the voters don’t like the new logo.  My feelings are that while I like the logo as the new primary logo (it has that old time look and feel), I don’t think it should be worn on the field with the alternate logos.

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That’s all for now. Updates as needed throughout the day. Thanks for making SOX & Dawgs a part of your day.

Everybody's All-American.

Another day, another accolade for UConn Huskies running back Donald Brown. This time though he wasn’t named a second team All-American.

Instead, he was named a First Team All-American by the Sporting News. Brown is the first UConn player to be named a First Team All-American since UConn’s move to the FBS.

Brown led the nation in rushing with 1,822 yards and added 17 touchdowns. He was at or near the top in rushing nationally for the entire season.

Brown was also named a First Team All-American by ESPN.com and a First Team All-American by SI.com. He had already been named a Second Team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and the AP in addition to being named the Big East Offensive MVP and to the All-Big East First Team.

Although Brown has said he plans to return to UConn for his senior season, you have to wonder if he plans to stay if he’s a guaranteed first rounder in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Next up for Brown and the Huskies is a date with the Turner Gill led Buffalo Bulls in the International Bowl on January 3, 2009 in Toronto.

A full look at the 2008 Sporting News All-American Teams after the jump.

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