The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Samuelson to miss AAC tourney
Huskies plan on having injured star back for NCAAs
STORRS — If the UConn women are to capture their sixth straight American Athletic Conference title, they’ll need to do so without one of their most pivotal players.
Two-time All-American Katie Lou Samuelson will miss this weekend’s AAC Tournament as she recovers from a back injury.
“Everybody’s big concern is let’s make sure she has enough time to get rest and be 100 percent before we put her out on the court again,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said Friday before practice at the Werth Center. “Right now, that’s the plan. I don’t see why we won’t stick to the plan.
“We just made that decision that it would be best for her not to play this weekend.”
Samuelson has been dealing with back spasms since she was injured in a collision last Saturday against Houston. The senior is averaging 18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists, earning a spot on the All-AAC First Team Friday.
UConn (28-2, 16-0 AAC) is seeded No. 1 in the AAC Tournament and will face No. 8 East Carolina in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. The Huskies have not lost a game in AAC play (117-0) since the league began in 2013-14.
“I don’t prescribe to putting somebody out there who can’t play the way they’re comfortable playing,” Auriemma said. “They’re not going to do anything, and they’re going to constantly be concerned about their injuries. If somebody’s got a different kind of injury, but when it’s your back, I don’t think anything works.”
The hope is that Samuelson, who hasn’t practiced since prior to her injury, will be able to return for the start of the NCAA Tournament on March 22 or 23.
“Fortunately for us, it’s not the Final Four. It’s a conference tournament, and we’re going to go in and try to win it,” Auriemma said. “We’ll have Lou back and ready to go 100 percent for the NCAA Tournament.”
Samuelson is the Huskies’ best perimeter threat, shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent on 3-pointers. Her absence means that Napheesa Collier, the AAC Player of the Year, will likely draw more attention in the paint.
“They’re able to pack the lane a lot more. That’s where I usually work from,” said the 6-foot-2 Collier, who is averaging a team-high 20.2 points. “I just need to be able to hit outside shots and work more from the perimeter.”
Of course, Collier can’t replace Samuelson by herself. The Huskies’ other regular three starters — Crystal Dangerfield, Megan Walker and Christyn Williams — will be asked to contribute a bit more this weekend.
“We’ve definitely got to step up now — bigger roles,” Walker said. “We’ve been in this position in practice. Coach, he sets us up for these kinds of things. We’ve just got to do it; go out there and play hard for her.
“We’re supporting her. We want her to get better. We’ll handle business.”
Added Dangerfield: “We’re definitely going to miss her leadership out there on the floor, her
“Fortunately for us, it’s not the Final Four. It’s a conference tournament, and we’re going to go in and try to win it. We’ll have Lou back and ready to go 100 percent for the NCAA Tournament.”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma
scoring, her rebounding, (her) defense — it’s really everything that she does for this team.”
⏩ Congrats, Coach: Former UConn assistant Marisa Moseley was named Patriot League Coach of the Year Friday. In her first year at Boston University, Moseley has led the Terriers to a 15-13 record (11-7 in conference), the program’s first winning season since 2012-13.