2018–19 UConn Huskies women's basketball team

The 2018–19 UConn Huskies women's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut (UConn) during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Huskies, led by Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma in his 34th season at UConn, played their home games at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and the XL Center and were sixth year members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 35–3, 16–0 in AAC play to win the AAC regular season championship. They defeated East Carolina, South Florida, and UCF to win the AAC Women's Tournament title. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Tournament. As the No. 2 seed, they defeated Towson and Buffalo to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. They defeated UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen and Louisville in the Elite Eight to reach their 20th Final Four. In the National Semifinal, they lost in the rematch of last year's national semifinal game to Notre Dame.

2018–19 UConn Huskies women's basketball
Paradise Jam Reef Division champions
AAC regular season champions
AAC Tournament champions
NCAA Tournament, Final Four
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 2
2018–19 record35–3 (16–0 The American)
Head coachGeno Auriemma (34th season)
Associate head coachChris Dailey (34th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Shea Ralph (11th season)
  • Jasmine Lister (1st season)
Home arenaHarry A. Gampel Pavilion
XL Center
2018–19 American Athletic Conference women's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 2 UConn †16–0 1.000  35–3  .921
UCF13–3 .813  26–7  .788
Cincinnati12–4 .750  24–11  .686
Houston9–7 .563  15–16  .484
South Florida7–9 .438  19–16  .543
Temple7–9 .438  11–18  .379
East Carolina6–10 .375  16–15  .516
Tulsa6–10 .375  13–18  .419
Tulane5–11 .313  15–16  .484
Wichita State5–11 .313  12–18  .400
SMU5–11 .313  11–19  .367
Memphis5–11 .313  11–20  .355
† 2019 AAC Tournament winner
As of March 17, 2019; Rankings from AP Poll

Media

Every Connecticut women's game was televised. Excluding exhibitions, most Connecticut games aired on SNY, an ESPN network, or a CBS network. Exhibition games and games that aired on SNY were also streamed on Husky Vision. Every game was broadcast on the UConn IMG Sports Network with an extra audio broadcast available online to listen to through Husky Vision.

Off-season

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightYearHometownNotes
Andra Espinoza-Hunter2G5'11"FreshmanOssining, NYTransferred to Mississippi State
Kia Nurse11G6'0"SeniorHamilton, ONGraduated/2018 WNBA draft
Gabby Williams15F5'11"SeniorReno, NVGraduated/2018 WNBA draft
Azurá Stevens23G/F6'6"RS JuniorRaleigh, NCDeclared for 2018 WNBA draft

Recruits
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Christyn Williams
G		 Little Rock, AR Central Arkansas Christian School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 98
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
F		 Winder, GA Winder-Barrow 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 98
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.

    Roster
    2018–19 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G/F 3 Megan Walker 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) SoMonacan Chesterfield, VA
    G 4 Mikayla Coombs 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) SoWesleyan Buford, GA
    G 5 Crystal Dangerfield 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) JrBlackman Murfreesboro, TN
    G 10 Molly Bent 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) JrTabor Academy Centerville, MA
    G 13 Christyn Williams 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) FrCentral Arkansas Christian Little Rock, AR
    F 20 Olivia Nelson-Ododa 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) FrWinder-Barrow Winder, GA
    F 24 Napheesa Collier 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) SrIncarnate Word Academy O'Fallon, MO
    F 25 Kyla Irwin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) JrState College State College, PA
    F 32 Batouly Camara 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) RS JrKentucky New York, NY
    G/F 33 Katie Lou Samuelson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) SrMater Dei Huntington Beach, CA
    G/F 34 Alexis Gordon 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) SoL. D. Bell Fort Worth, TX
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Alexis Gordon was only on the roster for the fall semester, after which she transferred from UConn.[1]

    Games

    Exhibition

    Vanguard

    The Huskies opened their exhibition schedule against Vanguard, a team they played as an exhibition in the 2015–16 season. Freshman Christyn Williams scored the first four points Connecticut and had 10 points by halftime. seniors Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier scored 26 points each. are dominating first half, coach Auriemma gave more playing time to the bench, who were outscored 15–0 in the fourth quarter. The final score was 96–30.[2][3]

    Southern Connecticut State

    After scoring 26 points in the opening exhibition game against Vanguard, Katie Lou Samuelson repeated that feat in the second exhibition game against Southern Connecticut. All 11 Huskies played in the game. Christyn Williams and Crystal Dangerfield were also double-digit scorers with 18 and 10 points respectively. The Huskies won the game 99–45.[4][5]

    Regular season

    Ohio State

    UConn opened the regular season with a game against Ohio State. Four Huskies recorded double digit scoring, led by Samuelson with 19, Dangerfield with 18, Collier was 17 and Walker with 15. Connecticut scored off the opening tip and never trailed, when the game 85–53.[6][7]

    Schedule

    [8]

    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/04/2018*
    1:00 PM, HuskyVision    		 No. 2 Vanguard W 96–30 
    		 26 – 2 tied  12 – Walker  8 – Dangerfield  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (8,209)
    Storrs, CT
    11/15/2018*
    7:00 PM, HuskyVision    		 No. 2 Southern Connecticut State W 99–45 
    		 26 – Samuelson  11 – Nelson-Ododa  9 – Collier  XL Center (6,337)
    Hartford, CT
    Regular season
    11/11/2018*
    12:00 PM, CBSSN    		 No. 2 Ohio State W 85–53  1–0
    		  19 – Samuelson  7 – Samuelson  5 – Samuelson  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (8,828)
    Storrs, CT
    11/17/2018*
    6:00 pm, SNY    		 No. 2 vs. Vanderbilt
    Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase    		 W 80–42  2–0
    		  19 – Dangerfield  16 – Collier  7 – Dangerfield  Mohegan Sun Arena (7,375)
    Uncasville, CT
    11/22/2018*
    7:30 PM, FloHoops    		 No. 2 vs. Ole Miss
    Paradise Jam Tournament Reef Division    		 W 90–50  3–0
    		  22 – Samuelson  10 – Collier  5 – Samuelson  Sports and Fitness Center (2,162)
    Saint Thomas, USVI
    11/23/2018*
    7:30 PM, FloHoops    		 No. 2 vs. St. John's
    Paradise Jam Tournament Reef Division    		 W 65–55  4–0
    		  19 – Samuelson  9 – Collier  6 – Collier  Sports and Fitness Center (2,373)
    Saint Thomas, USVI
    11/24/2018*
    7:30 PM, FloHoops    		 No. 2 vs. Purdue
    Paradise Jam Tournament Reef Division    		 W 86–40  5–0
    		  22 – Samuelson  10 – Collier  8 – Dangerfield  Sports and Fitness Center (2,703)
    Saint Thomas, USVI
    11/28/2018*
    7:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 2 No. 16 DePaul W 99–63  6–0
    		  24 – Collier  10 – Collier  7 – Tied  XL Center (7,186)
    Hartford, CT
    12/02/2018*
    4:00 PM, ESPN    		 No. 2 at No. 1 Notre Dame
    Jimmy V Classic/Rivalry    		 W 89–71  7–0
    		  28 – Williams  15 – Collier  6 – Samuelson  Edmund P. Joyce Center (9,149)
    South Bend, IN
    12/04/2018*
    7:00 PM, CBSSN    		 No. 1 at Saint Louis W 98–42  8–0
    		  22 – Collier  11 – Collier  10 – Dangerfield  Chaifetz Arena (7,105)
    St. Louis, MO
    12/08/2018*
    1:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 1 Seton Hall W 99–61  9–0
    		  26 – Samuelson  16 – Samuelson  6 – Samuelson  XL Center (9,536)
    Hartford, CT
    12/19/2018*
    8:30 PM, FS1    		 No. 1 at Oklahoma W 72–63  10–0
    		  23 – Collier  17 – Collier  4 – Collier  Lloyd Noble Center (5,808)
    Norman, OK
    12/22/2018*
    3:00 PM, P12N    		 No. 1 at No. 14 California W 76–66  11–0
    		  20 – Samuelson  11 – Samuelson  4 – Tied  Haas Pavilion (10,818)
    Berkeley, CA
    01/03/2019*
    9:00 PM, ESPN    		 No. 1 at No. 8 Baylor L 57–68  11–1
    		  16 – Collier  11 – Collier  4 – Collier  Ferrell Center (10,284)
    Waco, TX
    01/06/2019
    12:00 PM, CBSSN    		 No. 1 at Houston W 81–61  12–1
    (1–0)    		  19 – Samuelson  9 – Tied  6 – Dangerfield  Fertitta Center (3,644)
    Houston, TX
    01/09/2019
    7:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 3 Cincinnati W 82–38  13–1
    (2–0)    		  23 – Samuelson  10 – Samuelson  10 – Dangerfield  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (7,591)
    Storrs, CT
    01/13/2019
    1:00 PM, ESPN    		 No. 3 South Florida W 63–46  14–1
    (3–0)    		  19 – Samuelson  7 – Collier  5 – Samuelson  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (9,534)
    Storrs, CT
    01/16/2019
    8:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 2 at Tulane W 75–33  15–1
    (4–0)    		  34 – Walker  10 – Tied  5 – Dangerfield  Devlin Fieldhouse (2,055)
    New Orleans, LA
    01/19/2019
    12:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 2 at Temple W 88–67  16–1
    (5–0)    		  30 – Collier  12 – Collier  9 – Dangerfield  Liacouras Center (4,692)
    Philadelphia, PA
    01/23/2019
    7:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 3 SMU W 79–39  17–1
    (6–0)    		  22 – Collier  8 – Collier  8 – Dangerfield  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (9,402)
    Storrs, CT
    01/27/2019
    4:00 PM, ESPN2    		 No. 3 UCF W 93–57  18–1
    (7–0)    		  23 – Collier  11 – Walker  9 – Dangerfield  XL Center (12,139)
    Hartford, CT
    01/31/2019*
    7:00 PM, ESPN    		 No. 2 at No. 3 Louisville L 69–78  18–2
    		  20 – Collier  12 – Walker  6 – Collier  KFC Yum! Center (17,023)
    Louisville, KY
    02/02/2019
    12:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 2 at Cincinnati W 65–55  19–2
    (8–0)    		  20 – Collier  11 – Collier  5 – Dangerfield  Fifth Third Arena (2,996)
    Cincinnati, OH
    02/06/2019
    7:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 5 East Carolina W 118–55  20–2
    (9–0)    		  31 – Samuelson  8 – Samuelson  12 – Dangerfield  XL Center (8,469)
    Hartford, CT
    02/09/2019
    1:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 5 Temple W 109–74  21–2
    (10–0)    		  30 – Collier  14 – Collier  9 – Dangerfield  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,167)
    Storrs, CT
    02/11/2019*
    7:00 PM, ESPN2    		 No. 4 No. 11 South Carolina W 97–79  22–2
    		  31 – Collier  16 – Collier  6 – Collier  XL Center (11,740)
    Hartford, CT
    02/17/2019
    2:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 4 at UCF W 78–41  23–2
    (11–0)    		  18 – Collier  11 – Collier  7 – Dangerfield  CFE Arena (5,844)
    Orlando, FL
    02/20/2019
    7:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 3 Memphis W 102–45  24–2
    (12–0)    		  32 – Samuelson  12 – Collier  8 – Dangerfield  XL Center (8,869)
    Hartford, CT
    02/24/2019
    3:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 3 at Tulsa W 68–49  25–2
    (13–0)    		  21 – Walker  15 – Collier  6 – Samuelson  Reynolds Center (2,612)
    Tulsa, OK
    02/26/2019
    7:30 PM, SNY    		 No. 2 at Wichita State W 84–47  26–2
    (14–0)    		  32 – Collier  12 – Collier  8 – Dangerfield  Charles Koch Arena (6,156)
    Wichita, KS
    03/02/2018
    1:00 PM, SNY    		 No. 2 Houston W 83–61  27–2
    (15–0)    		  29 – Collier  9 – Tied  8 – Dangerfield  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,167)
    Storrs, CT
    03/04/2019
    7:00 PM, ESPN2    		 No. 2 at South Florida W 57–47  28–2
    (16–0)    		  17 – Dangerfield  7 – Walker  9 – Dangerfield  Yuengling Center (5,614)
    Tampa, FL
    AAC Women's Tournament
    03/09/2019
    2:00 PM, ESPN3    		 (1) No. 2 vs. (8) East Carolina
    Quarterfinals    		 W 92–65  29–2
    		  37 – Collier  17 – Nelson-Ododa  6 – Tied  Mohegan Sun Arena (5,935)
    Uncasville, CT
    03/10/2019
    4:00 PM, ESPN2    		 (1) No. 2 vs. (5) South Florida
    Semifinals    		 W 81–45  30–2
    		  24 – Walker  12 – Collier  4 – Dangerfield  Mohegan Sun Arena (5,872)
    Uncasville, CT
    03/11/2019
    7:00 PM, ESPN2    		 (1) No. 2 vs. (2) UCF
    Championship Game    		 W 66–45  31–2
    		  25 – Collier  14 – Collier  6 – Dangerfield  Mohegan Sun Arena (6,001)
    Uncasville, CT
    NCAA Women's Tournament
    03/22/2019*
    7:00 PM, ESPN2    		 (2 A) No. 2 (15 A) Towson
    First Round    		 W 110–61  32–2
    		  23 – Collier  14 – Collier  6 – Samuelson  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (4,159)
    Storrs, CT
    03/24/2019*
    7:00 PM, ESPN    		 (2 A) No. 2 (10 A) Buffalo
    Second Round    		 W 84–72  33–2
    		  27 – Collier  16 – Collier  8 – Collier  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (6,390)
    Storrs, CT
    03/29/2019*
    7:00 PM, ESPN    		 (2 A) No. 2 vs. (6 A) No. 20 UCLA
    Sweet Sixteen    		 W 69–61  34–2
    		  25 – Collier  11 – Walker  4 – Tied  Times Union Center (8,765)
    Albany, NY
    03/31/2019*
    12:00 PM, ESPN    		 (2 A) No. 2 vs. (1 A) No. 5 Louisville
    Elite Eight    		 W 80–73  35–2
    		  29 – Samuelson  13 – Collier  6 – Collier  Times Union Center (9,204)
    Albany, NY
    04/05/2019*
    9:30 PM, ESPN2    		 (2 A) No. 2 vs. (1 C) No. 3 Notre Dame
    Final Four/Rivalry    		 L 76–81  35–3
    		  20 – Samuelson  13 – Collier  9 – Dangerfield  Amalie Arena (20,062)
    Tampa, FL
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. A=Albany Region.
    All times are in EST.

    Rankings
    Main article: 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
    Regular Season Polls
    PollPre-
    Season    		Week
    2    		Week
    3    		Week
    4    		Week
    5    		Week
    6    		Week
    7    		Week
    8    		Week
    9    		Week
    10    		Week
    11    		Week
    12    		Week
    13    		Week
    14    		Week
    15    		Week
    16    		Week
    17    		Week
    18    		Week
    19    		Week
    20    		Final
    AP 2 2 2 2 1 (31) 1 (31) 1 (31) 1 (31) 1 (31) 3 (3) 2-T (1) 3 (1) 2 (2) 5 4 3 2 2 2 2 N/A
    Coaches 2 (2) ^ 2 (1) 2 1 (31) 1 (32) 1 (32) 1 (31) 1 (31) 3 (6) 4 (4) 2 (4) 2 (11) 5 4 2 2 2 2 2 3
    Legend
      Increase in ranking
      Decrease in ranking
      Not ranked previous week
    (RV)   Received Votes

    ^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.

    See also

    References
    1. https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2018/12/6/gordon-to-transfer-from-uconn-womens-basketball.aspx
    2. Stacy, Kelli. "UConn women dominate Vanguard 96-30 in preseason opener". courant.com. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
    3. Bonjour, Doug (2018-11-06). "Takeaways from UConn's easy win over Vanguard". Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
    4. Stacy, Kelli. "Five takeaways from UConn women's win over SCSU". courant.com. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    5. "UConn women thrash Southern Connecticut in exhibition final". The Day. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    6. "No.2 UConn opens season with 85-53 rout of Ohio State". SNY. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    7. "No. 2 UConn routs Ohio State 85-53 in Huskies' season opener". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    8. "2018–2019 Schedule". UConnHuskies.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
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