The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UConn’s Collier working through frustration
TAMPA, Fla. — If the comment had been made by wisecracking UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, it likely would have been greeted with some infectious laughter, yet another caustic barb from the Hall of Famer.
However, Napheesa Collier is known for being rather serious in her dealings with the media. So when the Huskies’ All-American forward bemoaned the fact that she is struggling to get shots to fall, there wasn’t even a raised eyebrow or an incredulous smirk to be found among the assembled media.
Collier made 12 of 15 shots in Saturday’s 100-49 win over South Florida, bringing her field goal percentage in three career games at the Sun Dome to 78 percent. There was one remarkable layup in the lane while being fouled, a few more smooth finishes around the basket and even a 3-pointer mixed in during her 25-point performance. Collier could deal with the 3-pointer that she missed, but she was somewhat miffed at the two layups she misfired on.
“It is definitely a lot harder to get shots than it was last year, teams are going to play harder,” Collier said. “It has been hard and hopefully my shots start falling soon.”
Collier made more shots than she missed 11 times in her first 13 games as a sophomore, including one game when she was 11 for 12 from the field and another when she finished 10 for 11. Often finding herself playing a little further from the basket this season, especially when she is on the court with Azurá Stevens, Collier missed more shots than she connected on in five of the Huskies’ first six games. That matched her
total from the entire 2016-17 season.
“Because she had such a phenomenal year last year it really seems like she is struggling, and yet but any other stretch of the imagination she is having a great year,” Auriemma said. “I don’t know how you can duplicate last year. I don’t know how you do that. (Saturday) was more like it, she got the same shots she’s been getting last year but just a different look about her and a lot more confidence. I don’t know if she can maintain that but we’ll see.”
Collier not only had her best scoring output of the season. She also secured 11 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season to go with four assists, two steals, four blocked shots and no turnovers in 28 minutes. Still, Collier is striving to play even better.
“I think I’ve not been
great,” Collier said. “I think one thing I wanted to get better at from last season is defense and I don’t think I’m (there yet) and my shots aren’t falling as much as I want them to.”
Collier has scored in double figures in the last 12 games and has shot at least 60 percent from the field in each of her last three games. Collier is on pace to set career highs in assists, steals and 3-pointers and her assist/turnover ratio of 2.6 is the third best among qualifying AAC players. She is now making 55 percent of her field-goal attempts, which pales in comparison to the 67.8 percent mark she had a season ago. She may not approach those lofty standards this season, but that doesn’t mean she’s not going to try.
“I know the work that I’ve put in, I know eventually the shots are going to start falling,” Collier said.