NCAA WBB Weekly Recap
(Fred Beckham / AP)
Around the NCAA Last Week.
Wednesday
Saturday
Sunday
No Stewart, No Problem For #1 UConn.
The UConn (9-0) Women’s Basketball team took the last week off for finals on campus. Monday the undefeated Huskies got back to work taking on the LSU Tigers (6-6), but with a limited lineup. Breanna Stewart sprained her ankle during practice this week and sat on the bench in street clothes. Saniya Chong was in uniform, but was still not 100% from an IT band issue and didn’t play. Natalie Butler, the sophomore transfer from Georgetown, did not play again due to the torn ligaments in her thumb, but is hopeful to play next Monday (12/28) against #6 Maryland (11-0).
Although the Huskies played 39 minutes with only seven players, that’s all they would need to defeat the Tigers, 86-40. Teams have to keep up with the UConn scoring and LSU was over powered from the beginning scoring only 8 in the first quarter and 14 in total for the first half. Freshman Katie Lou Samuelson started in place of Stewart and even though she struggled shooting from the field, she still put up 14 points on the night. Napheesa Collier did her part filling in for Stewart with 12 rebounds. Moriah Jefferson took over the load on the offensive end by leading scoring with 17 points. She also held leading scorer Jenna Deemer to two points, forcing the sophomore to miss all six shots from the floor. LSU was plagued with 28 turnovers and defensively the Huskies as a team had 15 steals and 9 blocks.
The Huskies with the win have not lost a game since playing against Stanford on November 17, 2014. UConn travels to New York City, where they face an undefeated #6 Maryland Terrapins team on next Monday.
Boykin Transferring
UConn also received word this week that Freshman De’Janae Boykin will transfer away from the school at the end of the fall semester. Boykin has struggle with an Achilles injury and had not played yet, but would like to move closer to home in Springdale, Maryland. Her choice of schools last year was between UConn, Tennessee, Maryland, and Penn State. Rumors have her going to Penn State, but Maryland, due to its location to her hometown could also be another landing place for Boykin.
Follow Kyle Wescott on twitter @MHSWescott
