STEPPING IT UP
Griffin, Edwards give UConn a boost in Juhasz’s absence
HARTFORD — Aubrey Griffin intercepted NC State’s pass in front of the UConn women’s basketball team bench Sunday afternoon at the XL Center.
She dribbled the ball up court and made the fast-break layup. Less than 20 seconds later, on the Wolfpack’s very next possession, Griffin again stole the ball and scored.
Not to be outdone, fellow forward Aaliyah Edwards made two straight layups to extend UConn’s lead from three to seven to end the first half.
As the Huskies pulled away for a 91-69 win over nationallyranked NC State, there was much focus on Azzi Fudd’s 32 points and Nika Mühl’s program-record 15 assists. Yet it was the play of the forwards that helped set the tone for No. 3 UConn (3-0).
Playing without Dorka Juhász (broken thumb) the Huskies were thin up front, but Griffin and Edwards were key contributors
at both ends of the floor.
Griffin finished with a careerhigh six steals, Edwards recorded her second double-double of the year (20 points, 12 rebounds), and freshman Ayanna Patterson chipped in with five rebounds off the bench.
UConn outscored NC State 38-26 in the paint.
While Griffin is a combo guard/forward, Sunday showed
UConn coach Geno Auriemma that his post players not only can raise up to the occasion when needed, but will be able to hold down the fort without Juhász for the time being.
“Our post players are going to decide the fate of our season because right now we’re not whole yet,” Auriemma said Sunday. “We don’t have everybody there and I know it’s gonna happen, I know how people are going to struggle shooting the ball because they always do … so we’re gonna go as far as our post players take us. So, they’re gonna
have to be great every night.”
Juhász suffered her broken thumb during UConn’s game against No. 3 Texas last Monday. The injury will force her to sit out at least three games (including Sunday’s win over NC State) while she recovers.
Prior to getting injured, Juhász and Edwards led UConn with 10.0 rebounds per game. Juhász was also leading the frontcourt with an average of 33.5 minutes per game.
While the Huskies will lack in size with Juhász’s out — at 6-foot-5, she’s UConn’s tallest starter — they’re getting speed and
agility in her absence.
Griffin started in place of Juhász on Sunday for her sixth career start and first since Jan. 31, 2021.
The redshirt junior, who missed all of last season due to injury, wasted no time in sparking UConn’s energy on both sides of the court. At halftime, Griffin was one of UConn’s three scorers (six points) and had a game-high five steals.
A quarter later, she added six more points (marking her third-straight game in double figures) and another steal — tallying a career-high six steals.
“Man, she’s like a oneperson whirlwind out there,” Auriemma said. “She had a great shoot around this morning. She was all over the place. You
could just see her intensity level was at another level this morning and I really challenged her to be disruptive, to be crazy, play crazy, play relentlessly, play carefree, just play. Be a factor.”
Added Nika Mühl: “Aubrey was a beast today. I loved it. It’s nothing new. She does what she does. She does that every day in practice. She’s definitely the biggest guy on defense for us. She’s the best defensive player and you could see that today.”
Griffin played 32 minutes Sunday marking her high in a single game since her 32 minutes on Jan. 23, 2021 against Georgetown. She also finished with season highs in rebounds (6) and assists (2). six rebounds.
While Griffin said she attacks each game with the same mentality and energy, Auriemma hopes her performance on Sunday only increases her self-confidence and convinces her that she can still play like her old self before getting injured last year.
“It’s a process … she’s trying to remember bodywise, mentally, what it was like when she playing really really well (before she got injured),” Auriemma said. “… I hope today was a reminder of all the things she can be. We don’t have anybody like her. They didn’t either so it was pretty special.”
Edwards reached 20 points for the first time since scoring 24 at Butler as a freshman on Feb. 27, 2021.
The last time she had12 rebounds or more was also during her freshman year (12 vs. High Point on March 21, 2021).
“Now you take Dorka out and Aaliyah had to be great tonight,” Auriemma said. “That’s it. You can’t be good. Because good won’t make it anymore. So, between her offensively, defensively, running the floor, I mean all that stuff, she played like she was as a freshman. She played like an All-American type player, like an All-American type performance.”
After deciding to focus on UConn this fall instead of competing with Team Canada at the World Cup, the junior is elevating her game early this season. She’s shown a dedication to attacking each game and challenging herself to play at a higher level than this time last year.
“I’m proud of myself for sure,” Edwards said. “I just came out with that competitiveness, because I knew that we were down with Dorka and so for my team, I need to play well and just came out and did what I do best.”
While the Huskies will be out Juhász for Phil Knight Legacy Tournament in Portland, Ore. this weekend, Griffin and Edwards’ performance on Sunday showed UConn’s frontcourt will be in good hands until Juhász’s return.