UCONN versus SMU
Day: Wednesday
Date: February 24rd, 2016
Location: Storrs, Ct
Time: 7:00
Time: 7:00
TV: SNY
No. 1 UConn 26-0 (15-0) SMU 12-14 (7-8)
Head to Head games
UConn - 5-0
2/4/14 W 102-41 H
2/25/14 W 81-48 A
12/27/14 W 96-45 H
1/11/15 W 87-28 A
1/23/16 W 90-37 A
12/27/14 W 96-45 H
1/11/15 W 87-28 A
1/23/16 W 90-37 A
Overview
SMU is playing much better this year. They are 3-3 since the last UConn game, a 90-37 win for the Huskies. They were very young last season and you can tell how much they have improved by just looking at their record. Last season at this time they were 6-20 and 2-13 in the conference compared to 12-14 this year with a conference record of 7-8. Just to compare a few games, last year they lost to Arizona State 77-42 and this year they lost 64-57. They also only lost by two, 72-70 to No. 10 Mississippi State and beat Temple 69-67. While they are a much improved team coming into this game and should do better, the first matchup told us differently. It's a lot more difficult playing well against UConn, improvement or not.
UConn just came off a nice win against solid win against East Carolina 84-41 in their last road game of the season. The defense is clicking into high gear and this comes at a tough time for SMU, who only scored 37 points in the first matchup. Tuck missed the first game and this would be a good time for her to find her missing post game.
They play Tulane next and then a big game against South Florida, both at Gampel. The AAC tournament is basically a home game and then they play the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Storrs and then the sweet sixteen game and elite eight game in Bridgeport. Easy travel.
They play Tulane next and then a big game against South Florida, both at Gampel. The AAC tournament is basically a home game and then they play the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Storrs and then the sweet sixteen game and elite eight game in Bridgeport. Easy travel.
Stat by Stat Comparison
Leader is bolded.
Leader is bolded.
UCONN SMU
88.6 Points Per Game 60.2
48.3 Opp Points Per Game 61.6
.529 Field Goal % .361
.330 Opp Field Goal % .357
.326 3 Point Field Goal % .257
.308 Opp 3 Point Field Goal % .297
.792 Free Throw % .710
41.2 Rebounds Per Game 43.4
30.1 Opp Rebounds Per Game 40.3
22.0 Assists Per Game 13.4
12.4 Turnovers Per Game 18.2
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .7
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .7
12.4 Steals Per Game 6.2
6.7 Blocks Per Game 6.0
UConn Starters
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
Stewart had close to a quadruple double the last time these two teams met. She had 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 9 blocks in 26 minutes. An amazing effort!
2015-16 Stats
25 Games - MPG 28.9, FG% .589, 3PT% .417, PPG 19.5 RPG 8.4, APG 4.2, 44 steals, 89 blocks
25 Games - MPG 28.9, FG% .589, 3PT% .417, PPG 19.5 RPG 8.4, APG 4.2, 44 steals, 89 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
The last time they met Morgan sat out resting her bad knee. She hasn't looked like the old Morgan since her rest. Hopefully she finds it in this game.
2015-16 Stats
21 Games - MPG 26.3, FG% .498, 3PT% .271, PPG 13.0, RPG 5.4, APG 3.1, 15 steals, 8 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
Jefferson was terrific in the first matchup playing a team high 32 minutes. She was 8-11 from the field, 3-4 on threes scoring 19 points and adding 6 assists. She did have 4 turnovers but added 6 steals.
2015-16 Stats
25 Games - MPG 31.0, FG% .585, 3PT% .419, PPG 13.6, RPG 2.4, APG 5.6, 74 steals, 6 blocks
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
One of Kia's poor shooting games, missing all four of her three point shots. She scored 9 points and added 3 assists n 24 minutes. On the plus side she didn't have any turnovers and had 2 steals.
2015-16 Stats
26 Games - MPG 27.6, FG% .422, 3PT% .343, PPG 9.1, RPG 2.0, APG 2.9, 37 steals, 6 blocks
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
Katie Lou did score 13 points in the first matchup, but she was 1-7 on threes in her 28 minutes. Her one assist and 3 turnovers was on the negative side of the ledger.
2015-16 Stats
26 Games - MPG 22.2, FG% .451, 3PT% .348, PPG 9.6, RPG 3.2, APG 2.3, 29 steals, 4 blocks
UConn Bench
Collier had a decent game in the first matchup. In her 19 minutes, she was 3-4 from the field for 6 points and added 6 rebounds. She stuffed the box score with 2 blocks and 2 steals as well.
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Junior Guard
The first matchup was one of Saniya's better games. She was 3-5 from the field and 2-3 on threes. She had 10 points in her 23 minutes.
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Gabby started the game the last time UConn played SMU and she had a nice game, although her minutes were limited with 17. She was 5-8 from the field in scoring 10 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. She was a menace on defense adding 4 steals.
2015-16 Stats
26 Games - MPG 19.5, FG% .633, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.8 RPG 6.2, APG 1.3, 50 steals, 10 blocks
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
Collier had a decent game in the first matchup. In her 19 minutes, she was 3-4 from the field for 6 points and added 6 rebounds. She stuffed the box score with 2 blocks and 2 steals as well.
2015-16 Stats
26 Games - MPG 18.4, FG% .536, 3PT% .200, PPG 7.0, RPG 5.7, APG .8, 38 steals, 34 blocks
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
The first matchup was not Natalie's best effort. she played 17 minutes but was only 1-4 from the field for her 2 points. She only had 3 rebounds. She did have 2 blocks.
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 15.1, FG% .598, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.3, RPG 5.1, APG 1.1, 10 steals, 14 blocks
5'8" Junior Guard
The first matchup was one of Saniya's better games. She was 3-5 from the field and 2-3 on threes. She had 10 points in her 23 minutes.
2015-16 Stats
21 Games - MPG 15.3, FG% .421, 3PT% .388, PPG 4.9, RPG 1.6, APG 1.3, 16 steals, 2 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
Courtney had 6 points in nine minutes in the first matchup. She hit 2-3 threes for her total. She added 2 assists. Nice job for Ekmark!
2015-16 Stats
22 Games - MPG 9.9, FG% .500, 3PT% .370, PPG 2.4, RPG 1.3, APG .8, 6 steals, 1 block
20 Tierney Lawlor
5'7" Junior Guard
Tierney was scoreless in 4 minutes
2015-16 Stats
22 Briana Pulido
5'7" Senior Guard
Tierney was scoreless in 4 minutes
20 Games - MPG 3.2, FG% .429, 3PT% .400, PPG .5, RPG 0.2, APG 0.2, 1 steals, 0 blocks
5'7" Senior Guard
Briana was scoreless in 1 minute but grabbed a rebound.
2015-16 Stats
17 Games - MPG 2.5, FG% .250, 3PT% .143, PPG 0.4, RPG 0.1, APG 0.1, 1 steals, 0 blocks
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SMU Head Coach
Rhonda Rompola
From the SMU team web site -
After 35 years on the Hilltop as a coach and student-athlete, Rhonda Rompola will step away from SMU and from coaching at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, as the long-time coach announced today that she will retire at season’s end. In all, Rompola has played or coached in 35 of the 40 seasons SMU has sponsored women’s basketball as a varsity sport.
“This has been an incredible journey,” said Rompola. “I want to thank my student-athletes, both past and present. I also want to thank my staff. They have been a blessing to me, and we have such a special relationship. Lisa (Dark) has coached every game with me and Deneen (Parker) has been with me for 21 of my 25 years as a head coach. To find that type of loyalty is rare. “However, I’ve coached the game for 30-plus years and it’s extremely demanding of your time. I am really looking forward to spending more time with my husband and family."
Good luck to Coach Rompola and enjoy your family time!!
SMU Starters
02 McKenzie Adams
5'9" RS Sophomore Transfer Guard
5'9" RS Sophomore Transfer Guard
Adams had a nice game against UConn in the first matchup. She played 34 minutes and while she only shot 4-16 from the field and 2-6 from the line, she was aggressive in her play the entire game. She had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assists. What was impressive was that she didn't have a turnover in a game the team had 25.
MPG 32.9, FG% .310, 3PT% .326, PPG 13.6, RPG 3.5, APG 2.1, 23 steals, 7 blocks
15 Stephanie Collins 6'5" Sophomore Forward
Their big girl had little impact against UConn in the first matchup. In her 26 minutes and was 0-3 from the field and 1-2 on free throws for her one point. She had 5 rebounds but she also had 5 turnovers.
12 Morgan Bolton 5'6" RS Junior guard
MPG 16.4, FG% .375, 3PT% .222, PPG 4.1, RPG 4.4, APG .6, 6 steals, 7 blocks
20 Dai'ja Thomas 6'2" Freshman Forward
MPG 16.5, FG% .451, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.4, RPG 4.0 APG 1.1, 9 steals, 26 blocks
04 Mikayla Reese 5'8" Sophomore Guard
10 Alisia Froling 6'3" Sophomore Forward
Froling is still the future of this program. In the first matchup she had a nice outing. in her 32 minutes she was 6-13 from the field for 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. She also had 4 turnovers.
MPG 31.2, FG% .478, 3PT% .229, PPG 12.7, RPG 11.0, APG 1.1, 5 steals, 35 blocks
3 Gabrielle Wilkins 5'9" Senior guard
Wilkins had a tough game against UConn the first time this season. She was 1-10 from the field and 0-3 on threes for her 2 points. She added 4 assists and 3 turnovers.
MPG 27.5 FG% .341, 3PT% .167, PPG 8.0, RPG 5.5, APG 2.0, 45 steals, 9 blocks
Their big girl had little impact against UConn in the first matchup. In her 26 minutes and was 0-3 from the field and 1-2 on free throws for her one point. She had 5 rebounds but she also had 5 turnovers.
MPG 28.8, FG% .460, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.3, RPG 6.3, APG 1.5, 10 steals, 64 blocks
Bolton played 22 minutes against UConn in the first matchup and scored 3 points and grabbed 3 rebounds on 1-4 shooting and 1-2 on threes. She also had 5 turnovers.
MPG 26.9, FG% .256, 3PT% .228, PPG 5.2, RPG 2.7, APG 2.3, 26 steals, 2 blocks
SMU Bench
11 Keely Froling 6'2" Sophomore forward
Keely hurt her ankle only 7 minutes into the game in the first matchup and did not return. I'm sure she is looking forward to contributing in this game.
MPG 16.4, FG% .375, 3PT% .222, PPG 4.1, RPG 4.4, APG .6, 6 steals, 7 blocks
Thomas played 23 minutes in the first UConn matchup. She had 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. She had a refreshing zero turnovers.
MPG 16.5, FG% .451, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.4, RPG 4.0 APG 1.1, 9 steals, 26 blocks
04 Mikayla Reese 5'8" Sophomore Guard
Reese played only 3 minutes in the first matchup.
MPG 10.0, FG% .250, 3PT% .195, PPG 2.2, RPG .8, APG 1.0, 6 steals, 1 block
Game Analysis
UConn forced the pace as always and turned SMU over 25 times in the first matchup. Look for UConn to pressure hard and get plenty fast break opportunities. SMU only shot 25% in that game and UConn's strong defensive rebounding will have them running again for much of the game.
SMU's strength is their size, as they start 6'5" Collins and 6'3" Alisia Froling, and bring 6'2" Keely Froling and 6'2" Dai'ja Thomas off the bench. But it's a young group as the first three are sophomores and Thomas is a freshman. As a group, they block a lot of shots, but only 3 against UConn in the first game.
SMU is not a very good shooting team. They still shoot only 36% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc. I am not sure they can come close do that against the Huskies in this outing.
UConn has a clear advantage at guard play. SMU just doesn't shoot well and Nurse, Jefferson and Chong should be able to lock them up like they did in the first matchup.
Not much more to analyze. UConn's defense will dominate and UConn's offense will feed off of that. And there is not much that SMU can do about it.
I predicted only a 45+ point win in the first matchup. Not too far off the 53 point win. At home with the team looking to build momentum? I'd look for 100+ points for UConn, something they haven't had in a while. 55+ in this one.
SMU's strength is their size, as they start 6'5" Collins and 6'3" Alisia Froling, and bring 6'2" Keely Froling and 6'2" Dai'ja Thomas off the bench. But it's a young group as the first three are sophomores and Thomas is a freshman. As a group, they block a lot of shots, but only 3 against UConn in the first game.
SMU is not a very good shooting team. They still shoot only 36% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc. I am not sure they can come close do that against the Huskies in this outing.
UConn has a clear advantage at guard play. SMU just doesn't shoot well and Nurse, Jefferson and Chong should be able to lock them up like they did in the first matchup.
Not much more to analyze. UConn's defense will dominate and UConn's offense will feed off of that. And there is not much that SMU can do about it.
Final Prediction
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