UConn at SMU Game 2 Preview

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 UCONN vs SMU

Day: Sunday

Date: Jan. 11, 2015

Location: Moody Coliseum
Dallas Texas

Time: 3:00

TV: SNY

Records UConn 13-1, SMU 4-10 

 

                        Overview

 

Prior to the first meeting this year, UConn came into that game on a seven game winning streak. Add five more to that making it twelve straight. SMU came into that game on a four game losing streak. You can add three more to that making it a seven game losing streak. This is NOT the time that SMU wants to see UConn come to town.
  

UConn won the matchup on 12/27 by a score of 96-45 in the game before the big Duke game. I was thrilled to see how they stayed focused and didn't look ahead to such a big OOC game. Jefferson had her shooting slump break out game and hasn't stopped hitting at a ridiculous clip. I hope this doesn't jinx her!!!!

I'll list the stats from the first game for each player in their profile below for both teams.
 

 

UConn Starters
 

11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard

First SMU Game - 26 minutes, 13 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 TO 

MPG 25.6, FG% .571, 3PT% .457, PPG 12.9, RPG 3.4, APG 3.4, 23 steals, 0 blocks

4 Moriah Jefferson 5'7" Junior Guard

First SMU Game - 26 minutes, 24 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 TO
 

MPG 28.0, FG% .571, 3PT% .500, PPG 12.4, RPG 2.1, APG 4.6, 37 steals, 2 blocks

 

 

23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward

First SMU Game - 31 minutes, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 TO
 

MPG 30.5, FG% .496, 3PT% .477, PPG 13.8, RPG 4.5, APG 2.7, 21 steals, 2 blocks

3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward



First SMU Game - 18 minutes, 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists, 0 TO's
 

MPG 25.7, FG% .577, 3PT% .222, PPG 14.8, RPG 4.9, APG 2.9, 9 steals, 4 blocks

30 Breanna Stewart 6'4" Junior Forward

First SMU Game - 29 minutes, 6 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assists, 3 TO's
 

MPG 30.5, FG% .509, 3PT% .341, PPG 16.6, RPG 7.2, APG 3.0, 22 steals, 27 blocks

UConn Bench

41 Kiah Stokes 6'3"  Senior Center

First SMU Game - 20 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 5 blocks
 

MPG 19.7, FG% .538, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.2, RPG 7.9, APG 1.1, 9 steals, 53 blocks

 

12 Saniya Chong 5'8" Sophomore Guard

First SMU Game - 20 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 TO
 

MPG 19.9, FG% .420, 3PT% .302, PPG 5.2, RPG 1.9, APG 1.6, 8 steals, 5 blocks

15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard

First SMU Game - 22 minutes, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 TO
 

MPG 14.6, FG% .656, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.7, RPG 4.8, APG 1.2, 18 steals, 5 blocks

UConn Complete Stats



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SMU Starters

 



10 Alicia Froling 6'3" Freshman forward

First SMU Game - 25 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 TO

MPG 28.5, FG% .483, 3PT% .250, PPG 11.3, RPG 7.6, APG 0.7, 4 steals, 23 blocks

 

31 Destynee Hives-McCray 6' Forward RS Junior forward

First SMU Game - 21 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 TO
 

MPG 25.8, FG% .500, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.3, RPG 4.9, APG 1.0, 6 steals, 3 blocks

 

 

3 Gabrielle Wilkins 5'9" Junior guard

First SMU Game - 16 minutes, 0 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 TO's
 

MPG 27.4, FG% .300, 3PT% .348, PPG 9.7, RPG 6.1, APG 2.0, 13 steals, 6 blocks

 

00 Kiara Perry 5'10" Sophomore guard

First SMU Game - 26 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists, 4 TO's
 

MPG 29.6, FG% .313, 3PT% .077, PPG 8.5, RPG 4.4, APG 2.5, 22 steals, 3 blocks

 

 

12 Morgan Bolton 5'6" RS Sophomore guard 

First SMU Game - 24 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 7 TO
 

MPG 20.7, FG% .339, 3PT% .281, PPG 4.8, RPG 2.0, APG 2.7, 8 steals, 0 blocks

  

 SMU Bench

 

 11 Keely Froling 6'2" Freshman forward

First SMU Game - 21 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists, 4 TO's

MPG 26.1, FG% .278, 3PT% .216, PPG 5.2, RPG 6.0, APG 0.7, 4 steals, 3 blocks

32 Raven Short 5'11" RS Senior guard

First SMU Game - 20 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assists, 6 TO's

MPG 15.7, FG% .290, 3PT% .250, PPG 2.4, RPG 2.6, APG 1.1, 4 steals, 5 blocks

4 Mikayla Reese 5'8" Freshman guard

First SMU Game - 13 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TO

MPG 10.7, FG% .250, 3PT% .182, PPG 2.6, RPG .6, APG 1.0, 1 steals, 0 blocks

25 Taylor Brame 5'11" Freshman forward

  

First SMU Game - 4 minutes, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 TO

 

 MPG 14.4, FG% .462, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.4, RPG 4.4, APG 0.6, 2 steals, 0 blocks

15 Stephanie Collins 6'5" Freshman Center

First SMU Game - 12 minutes, 0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assists, 0 TO's

 MPG 14.4, FG% .462, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.4, RPG 4.4, APG 0.6, 2 steals, 0 blocks

  

SMU Stats

 

 

 

 Game Analysis

 



UConn hammered  SMU in their first meeting and I can't see much being different in this game.

UConn will force the pace and SMU had 30 turnovers in the earlier meeting allowing UConn to have multiple fast break opportunities. Look for more of the same. Add in the low shooting percentage from the Mustangs, and UConn's strong defensive rebounding will have them running for much of the game.

In the half court, UConn will be looking for strong post play from Tuck, Stokes, Stewart and Williams against the smaller Mustangs, who start 6'3" and 6'1" forwards with 3 guards. Stewart and Tuck should have a field day. That being said, I also said the same thing last game and Stewart had her worst scoring game of the season. But she is working hard to get back on track. Carl Adamac has a great article on Stewart and the team. Check it out.

Final Prediction

 

I don't see anything different in this game other than Stewart not scoring 6 points like she did in the first match up. UConn has done a great job spreading around the scoring and I can see 5-6 players in double figures.

I'm seeing an easy 40+ win. I have it on good authority (thanks Tony) that Lauren Cox, UConn recruiting target, will be on hand for the game. I'm sure she will be impressed.