Women’s basketball takes on UConn in Hartford

The women’s basketball team traveled to Hartford to play an exhibition game against the undisputed women’s basketball champions of the world, the University of Connecticut Huskies. 

The Sunday, Oct. 26 matchup was the second in three years between the two teams and the first at PeoplesBank Arena. The scoreline was predictable but did not detract from the lessons learned and memories made by the Owls. 

“Every little girl’s dream is to end up playing for UConn,” guard Maya Henry, a senior, said. “So, to be able to be in the same gym and have the experience to go against some of the best players in the country is just really amazing.” 

Henry was born-and-raised in Connecticut. She and fellow nutmegger, guard Jillian Martin, a graduate, have both had a chance to play Connecticut twice. For them, the moment was even more special. 

“I’ve watched these guys play since I can remember,” Martin said. “My parents brought me to multiple games at Gampel Pavilion and the XL Center.” 

The team had no time to be starstruck; they had a game to play. For most of the players, it was their first time taking the court in such a large arena. 

The crowd was made up of about 7,000. The Huskies’ student section sold out in less than an hour; they were raucous and present throughout. 

The Owls scored the first points of the game and briefly held the lead. Before too long, the disparity in talent became apparent. 

“They’re big; they’re strong; they’re athletic,” Henry said. 

The team kept pace. There was no inkling of discouragement from the bench, the coaches nor the players on the court. 

After suffering a bit, the team rallied at half and put on a performance that the whole university could be proud of. 

“Once they got into a little bit of a rhythm, they had a pretty good idea of what they wanted to do,” University of Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma said. “And you know, you can tell a lot about a team by what they are trying to do.”

Several Owls submitted individual performances of note. 

Guard Iyanna Cotten, a sophomore, appeared to be the most eager to take the Huskies on. She demanded the ball and was more than willing to shoot. Cotten finished with two three pointers and eight points on nine shots. 

Forward Jada Williams, a graduate, fought tooth and nail for every board, refusing to shy away from contact. She finished with four rebounds, tied with guard Hope Fox, a senior, for the team lead. 

Guard Taeya Steinauer, a sophomore, led both teams in minutes and shots taken. She finished with a team-high 10 points. 

Every Owl got to touch the court. The team continued to rally together until the final whistle. After the game, the team cheered Head Coach Kate Lynch when she entered the locker room. 

“I told the team, ‘If we can do those types of things against UConn, think about what we can do at our level,’” Lynch said. 

Lynch is familiar with the Huskies’ brand of basketball, having played against them her senior season as a player for the Owls. She used her on-court experience to prepare her team for what was to come. 

“I got my stuff blocked by Tina Charles like 10 times in a row,” Lynch said. “That’s just what comes with it, but to be able to step on the court with this level of players and play hard against them is a great opportunity for our team.” 

The game was an unforgettable memory for each player to cherish together. 

“It means a lot for my basketball career. I think it’s a cool milestone that I can say that I have experienced,” Martin said. “And I got to do it with the people that I love: my teammates, my coaches.” 

The game also gave the players a glimpse into how they may fare against more even competition. The verdict? They are ready. 

“We’re gonna be really, really good in the NE10,” Martin said. 

Auriemma agreed with Martin. 

“What they were trying to do is gonna really, really work against other teams that they play,” Auriemma said. 

The relentless mentality displayed by the team and their ability to stick with the toughest opponent of all was proof of the culture Lynch has built at the university.

 “I’m insanely proud to see everyone keep their heads high, keep working, keep pushing through,” Henry said. “Forget about the score. We didn’t worry about what everyone else was thinking or what the fans were saying. We really stayed together. Everyone is keeping with the culture.”