Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had made only 9 of 39 field goals in her last four games, likely the most prolonged shooting slump of her heralded career. She was dressed down at practice Thursday by Geno Auriemma who feels she’s been too easily frustrated.
“At some point, when you are a really good player and a really good shooter, at some point they will go in,” Auriemma said. “You can’t stop shooting. You can’t be tentative. You can start to doubt and question yourself. If you do all those things, your touch will eventually come back. But it’s just one day. We’ll see what she does Monday. It gives her another chance to see if she can add to it.”
Mosqueda-Lewis scored three straight hoops early in the half to get loose and ended the first-half with 11 of UConn’s 31 points. She ended the day with a game-high 23 points, shooting 10 of 16.
“It was all about trying to be so hesitant about my shooting,” said Mosqueda-Lewis, who shot 10 of 16 (3 of 9 from three) in 34 minutes.Strange stat: Kelly Faris took only one shot, a made three in the second half.
“The way she’s been shooting, that [the one shot] had a real impact on the game,” Auriemma joked.
But she added six rebounds and six assists. But Auriemma said after the game that she isn’t playing well.
“I never worry about her. I know how she is going to play defensively and rebounding, but the truth is, she’s been lousy the last couple of games. Lousy. And it bothers her a lot.”
After playing a season-high 35 minutes at Louisville, Caroline Doty played just 14 on Saturday. She scored three points on a three in the first two minutes of the second half.
UConn recruit Saniya Chong was at the game with some of her Ossining (NY) teammates.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
4 Responses to Mosqueda-Lewis Breaks Out – For Now
Leave a Reply
- -- ADVERTISEMENT --
UConn Women Photos
Text Alerts
FREE Huskies, breaking news, and/or weather alerts sent to your mobile phone.*
*Or text UCONNFB, UCONNMB, UCONNWBNEWS, WEATHER, NEWS to 37798 Text STOP to 37798 to end your subscription. Your carrier's standard message and data rates may apply. Questions? Click here for frequently asked questions.- -- ADVERTISEMENT --
FREDDYKOOL: HEY “MO” U R PRETTY “KOOL”
Kaleena and Kiah are the keys to UConn’s run in the tournament. If Kaleena plays the way she’s capable of playing, including shooting lights out, and Kiah can rebound, block shots, and provide added size against bigger teams, like Baylor and Stanford, UConn has a chance to win it all. They’re a long way from being there, but it’s looking a bit better.
I love it ‘Special K” What a great nickname. Kaleena finaly got her breakout game. Believe it folks, KML is here to stay. She ever has to score, but it’s nice. She’s a great rebounder, passer, defender, play maker, you saw what she is made of in the Gtown Game. She was tough. And that’s what was lacking in the ND game–but she’s a Freshman and not used to the rough Big East play. Stokes, Hayes, Dolson, Bria Doty are the kind of Team Geno has always put together–teammates, that can pass and defend. Look out Muffet, UConn is riding high.
And two of the most beautiful Women in Big East WBB–KML and Stokes.
Good to see KML break out, break through, break the slump. And it was good to see Bria and Tiffany continue attacking the rim from outside, shooting timely three’s and driving to the the hoop. Kelly needs to stop spotting up outside the three-point line, or fake the shot from there and come in and take a closer, two-point jumper, or even drive and/or dish, anything but sitting there for three seconds thinking: “How will I clank this one?” That will get her back into the offensive flow, but not that agony of indecision out there in wishful-thinking land. She’s too valuable not to be able to start to make a play, when the defense sags off her. Kelly should make them pay from closer in. Just say’n.