UConn basketball to retire the numbers of Ray Allen and Rebecca Lobo in March

UConn announced on Friday that it will retire the numbers of former basketball greats Ray Allen and Rebecca Lobo during games the first weekend of March at Gampel Pavilion.

Lobo's No. 50 will be retired during a March 2 game against Houston and Allen's No. 34 will join Lobo's in the rafters of Gampel the following day when the Huskies face South Florida.

"Rebecca and Ray are two UConn basketball icons who were integral to the success and growth of both programs and I am thrilled that we will be able to recognize them in this special way," athletic director David Benedict said in a release. "Rebecca and Ray continue to be tremendous ambassadors for UConn and we are proud of all their accomplishments and grateful for their continued support of the University community."

Allen and Lobo are members of their respective Huskies of Honor classes and both were recently enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Allen as part of the Class of 2018 and Lobo a member of the Class of 2017.

Lobo led UConn to its first unbeaten season and NCAA women's championship in 1995. She finished with 2,133 career points, 1,268 rebounds and 396 blocked shots in 126 games, earning National Player of the Year honors in 1995. She currently serves as a commentator and studio analyst for ESPN.

"I spent four amazing years wearing the No. 50 on my UConn jersey and am honored and thrilled that it will have a permanent home in the rafters of Gampel Pavilion," Lobo said. "We all know that before long there will be plenty of other UConn women's jerseys hanging next to mine. I am forever grateful to Coach Auriemma and CD for the impact they had on my life and would like to pass along congratulations to Ray as well."

Allen, a two-time All-American, was the USA Basketball Athlete of the Year and finished his career with 1,922 career points and a 44.8 threepoint shooting percentage, still a school record. He went on to enjoy a productive 18-year career in the NBA, making the all-star team 10 times, winning NBA titles with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, and finishing 24,505 career points and 2,973 3-pointers, still an NBA record

"It's truly a great honor," Allen said. "I know in the history of the program, nobody has had their number retired and to be the first is really unfathomable to me. I haven't had my number retired anywhere I've played and to have UConn think that highly of me ... I am just honored and humbled. I also want to congratulate Rebecca and I hope this can set a precedent going forward as a way to honor men and women who have had exceptional careers in college and afterward."

— Day Staff Reports