Women's Basketball: Maya Makes It!

The UConn women have had their share of first-team All-Americans during the past 13 seasons. They are names synonymous with basketball royalty – Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti, Kara Wolters, Nykesha Sales, Shea Ralph, Svetlana Abrosimova, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.

But never have the Huskies had a freshman make it. Then again, then have may have never had a player quite like Maya Moore before.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a freshman make this kind of impact in the 23 years that I’ve been here,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “I don’t think anyone could have predicted what Maya has done, and the to do it on the level she’s done it. I think it is nothing short of remarkable.”

Moore, the first freshman ever selected Big East Player of the Year, trumped that distinction Tuesday by becoming only the second freshman in the history of women’s basketball to be named to an Associated Press All-Amercan.

Moore, who came to UConn as the two-time Naismith high school player of the year, is joined on the first team by Tennessee junior center Candace Parker, Stanford senior guard Candice Wiggins, LSU senior center Sylvia Fowles and Oklahoma junior center Courtney Paris.

Before Tuesday, Paris had been the only freshman to be an Associated Press All-American.

Ironically, her male counterpart on the Naismith dais last season, UCLA freshman Kevin Love, was also named a first-team All-American on Monday.

Moore, who led the top-ranked Huskies into the Elite Eight Tuesday against Rutgers, has had a record-breaking season.

On Sunday against Old Dominion, her 25 points enabled her to surpass Miami’s Tamara James as the Big East’s all-time freshman scoring leader.

Moore had 651 points prior to Tuesday’s game.

“When you think of some of the great players in the women’s game, those who have taken our game to the next level, I think when it’s all said and done, Maya Moore will be one of those players because she’s so transitional [in style] – inside and out,” Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said. “Not only does she have the size and athleticism, she has an arsenal of weapons. She can take you off the bounce, she can go right, go left, she can block and she can score from the top.”

Prior to Tuesday’s game, Moore, averaging 18.1 points this season (22.0 in the first three NCAA games) ,was only 44 points from breaking Wolters’ all-time single-season record at UConn (694), set during the her junior season in 1995-96.

Only Wolters, Kerry Bascom (680 in 1990-91), Taurasi (663 in 2002-03) and Bascom (656 in 1988-89) are ever scored more at UConn in one season.

Moore had also recorded 11 double-doubles, tying teammate Tina Charles for the most by a freshman in Big East history.

Moore was a 10-time pick as Big East freshman of the week, another conference record.

She also leads UConn in three-pointers (69 of 161, 42.9 percent) and is second in rebounding (7.7) to sophomore center Tina Charles and in free throw shooting to guard Renee Montgomery among players with more than 20 attempts (54 of 73, 74.0 percent).

Comments

[Jake jacoby]

Hi,

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Jake Jacoby

[Lella]

And congrats to your 3rd teamers: Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery. Hope to meet up with you in Tampa where Candace and Maya can put on a show.

[mel fan]

Congratulations Maya!!! An honor well deserved.

[Jim Walkley]

Let's be careful with what we are saying. I love Maya and I think she
is very talented and athletic but
I don't know if I will say she is the best to play for UConn after 4
years. Diana was and is still is a
unbelieveable talent and it will be hard to win 3 or 4 NCAA champ-
ionships in the next 4 years. Re-
member the team Diana played with in her freshman year - they didn't
rely on her like this team relies
on Maya. Maya's great but right
now Diana's accomplishments are
still the best that UConn has seen

[Dr. Edward Joyner]

It has been so good to see Charde Houston and Kali play so well. Charde's personal story and her resilience in the face of adversity is heartwarming and uplifting. She is a model of grace under pressure and courage under fire. She projects a dignity that young women would be wise to emulate.Geno Auriemma has given her a chance to overcome her unearned disadvantages and no matter where basketball takes her, she will have benefited from her time at UConn. His impact on young women goes beyond coaching. Consistent with his Italian culture, he has built a family forged by loyalty, love, and mutual respect.Charde is the best representation of that, and I pray that she will find happiness and contentment as she continues to develop as a phenomenal young woman.