Spring Break
Paths cross for a second time
San Diego State's Morris and UConn's Montgomery competed at U-20 National Trials
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Sports
"I think what it did is it allows you to kind of put something on tape that they can see," Auriemma said. "Sometimes, when you're practicing all the time and when you're playing inferior opponents, you know, that don't force you to do something different, you miss out on that. You tend not to look at the tape the same way if you're a player."
The Aztecs travel from the West Coast after two straight wins. The team almost lost a nine-point lead at the half after a Long Beach State run, but ultimately won, 67-59. Last year, they had the best record in the program's history, 18-13, just two years after going 3-24, (0-16 in the Mountain West Conference).
San Diego State is led by Morris, who transferred from UC Berkeley two seasons ago, and Paris Johnson. Morris averaged 14.1 points a game and scored double digits in 22 games last year. Johnson averaged 12 with 6.4 rebounds per game during the 2007-08 season. The team almost pulled off the improbable, just three points away from clinching an NCAA tournament automatic bid last season.
"I remember them last year and that is going to be a little bit different," Auriemma said. "I remember they were really up-tempo and they want to go, go … they just play. And I'm sure they're going to come in here and do the exact same thing [tonight]."
In the team's season opener this year against Northwestern State, the Aztecs combined for 15 blocked shots. It was the most in the decade-old history of the Mountain West Conference. Johnson posted a double-double in that game, scoring 14 points and hitting the boards for 12 rebounds.
Morris has been dubbed the key to her team's success this season by several California newspapers, including the San Diego Union-Tribune. At the beginning of this season, however, Morris was missing from the Aztec lineup.
She was listed as one of the probable starters for tonight's game.
Another probable starter, for UConn, is Caroline Doty. She was the first freshman to start a season opener since Tina Charles in 2006-07. So far, she has impressed Auriemma.
The Aztecs travel from the West Coast after two straight wins. The team almost lost a nine-point lead at the half after a Long Beach State run, but ultimately won, 67-59. Last year, they had the best record in the program's history, 18-13, just two years after going 3-24, (0-16 in the Mountain West Conference).
San Diego State is led by Morris, who transferred from UC Berkeley two seasons ago, and Paris Johnson. Morris averaged 14.1 points a game and scored double digits in 22 games last year. Johnson averaged 12 with 6.4 rebounds per game during the 2007-08 season. The team almost pulled off the improbable, just three points away from clinching an NCAA tournament automatic bid last season.
"I remember them last year and that is going to be a little bit different," Auriemma said. "I remember they were really up-tempo and they want to go, go … they just play. And I'm sure they're going to come in here and do the exact same thing [tonight]."
In the team's season opener this year against Northwestern State, the Aztecs combined for 15 blocked shots. It was the most in the decade-old history of the Mountain West Conference. Johnson posted a double-double in that game, scoring 14 points and hitting the boards for 12 rebounds.
Morris has been dubbed the key to her team's success this season by several California newspapers, including the San Diego Union-Tribune. At the beginning of this season, however, Morris was missing from the Aztec lineup.
She was listed as one of the probable starters for tonight's game.
Another probable starter, for UConn, is Caroline Doty. She was the first freshman to start a season opener since Tina Charles in 2006-07. So far, she has impressed Auriemma.
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