UConn-Memphis Game Preview
UConn (14-0, 4-0) vs Memphis (7-6, 0-1 AAC)
Saturday, January 4, 3:00 pm
FedEx Forum, Memphis TN
SNY & ESPN3
Probable Starters
UConn Huskies
| #4 Moriah Jefferson | 5-7 G, So | 10.5 pts | 4.5 asst | 2.7 reb |
| #14 Bria Hartley | 5-10 G, Sr | 14.9 pts | 4.9 asst | 3.9 reb |
| #23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | 6-0 F, Jr | 10.8 pts | 1.3 asst | 3.3 reb |
| #30 Breanna Stewart | 6-4 F, So | 18.1 pts | 3.1 asst | 8.0 reb |
| #31 Stefanie Dolson | 6-5 C, Sr | 14.7 pts | 3.7 asst | 10.1 reb |
Other Key Players
| #13 Brianna Banks | 5-9 G, Jr | 5.9 pts | 1.8 asst | 2.1 reb |
| #41 Kiah Stokes | 6-3 C, Jr | 6.2 pts | 0.6 asst | 7.8 reb |
| #3 Morgan Tuck | 6-2 F, So | 5.5 pts | 1.0 asst | 2.2 reb |
| #12 Saniya Chong | 5-8 G, Fr | 6.9 pts | 1.5 asst | 2.4 reb |
Memphis
| #4 Ariel Hearn | 5-7 G, So | 18.6 pts | 3.1 asst | 3.8 reb |
| #24 Mooriah Rowser | 5-9 G, RFr | 9.2 pts | 0.6 asst | 3.1 reb |
| #34 Devin Mack | 5-10 G, Sr | 5.2 pts | 0.5 asst | 2.7 reb |
| #21 Asianna Fuqua-Bey | 6-1 F, So | 8.7 pts | 0.7 asst | 7.7 reb |
| #15 Pa’Sonna Hope | 6-2 F, Sr | 7.2 pts | 0.3 asst | 7.4 reb |
Other Key Players
| #1 Breigha Wilder-Cochran | 5-9 G, Fr | 1.8 pts | 4.6 asst | 3.0 reb |
| #3 Taylor Williams | 6-1 G, Fr | 5.0 pts | 0.8 asst | 4.0 reb |
| #25 Jasbriell Swain | 5-8 G, Sr | 1.8 pts | 0.9 asst | 4.0 reb |
Overview
Here we go again, Husky fans. For the third consecutive game, UConn will face an uptempo, guard oriented team in the Memphis Tigers. The stats for the Memphis starters were so eerily similar to those for the UCF starters that in several cases it was just a case of changing the player’s name and jersey number.
Sophomore point guard Ariel Hearn leads her team in points (18.6), steals (28 or 2.2 spg), and three point field goal percentage (45.3%). I was a bit taken aback when I read that Hearn leads the AAC in three point FG% but it’s true according to AAC rules so don’t be shocked when it’s mentioned during the game. The rules state a player must have appeared in 75% of her team’s games so Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and her 50% three point FG% don’t make the rankings (yet) as she’s only played in 43% of UConn’s games.
Meaningless trivia time – Hearn won her spot as the starting lead guard due to a hand injury by the previous starter, Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s from Springfield MA and a player that both Blakeon18 and I have seen several times. She ended up transferring out of Memphis with one year of eligibility remaining but I can’t find where it was she landed.
Hearn and her teammates do stand apart from UCF in one regard – they are much better shooters. As a team the Tigers hit a respectable 40.6% of their shots overall (UConn makes 50.2% but they are on a different level from other teams) and 35% from the perimeter. The Tigers are also more likely to pass the ball and make more assists, but not much more likely. In fact, Cincinnati, Memphis, and UCF are 7th, 8th, and 9th, , respectively, in the league in assists.
Another key player for Memphis is Asianna Fuqua-Bey. She seemed to have more of an impact at the beginning of the season as recent results have been more uneven but it’s not called “sophomore slump” for nothing. Still, the Huskies will need to keep their eye on the Tigers’ most effective post player.
Another similarity that Memphis shares with UCF is that the post players are 1. on the smallish side with 6-2 Pa’Sonna Hope the tallest player on the team and 2. they are prone to fouling. Fuqua-Bey and Hope have both fouled out this season, as has Hearn.
Bottom Line
As a reference point, Memphis has played three good teams to date: Texas A&M (loss, 69-59), Syracuse (loss, 77-58), and Texas (loss, 65-35). All of those games were at neutral sites. Those consecutive losses seemed to take a bit of steam out of the Tigers. After thos games, Memphis beat Alabama-Birmingham by one point then struggled to put away a 1-8 Mississippi Valley State.
This quote after Memphis’ recent loss to Temple seems very telling, “I thought overall, defensively, we didn’t follow our game plan very well,” Head Coach Melissa McFerrin said. “I thought defensive rebounding was key in the game. At halftime, they had 11 second chance points and we were taking tough shots on offense in the first half. Their size and their ability to block shots and contest shots were challenging for us in the first half. We have to learn to make the extra pass.”
Road games are always tough and no opponent should be overlooked but it’s very tempting to say that if the Huskies play their trademark stifling defense and keep after the rebounds, they will will this game easily.
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