The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux Kalana Greene dribbles during UConn's game against Marquette last Saturday.

In its best start since the 2002-03 season, the No. 1 women's basketball team will look to win its 24th straight game when it heads to New York to face St. John's tonight at 7.

Despite the Red Storm's conference standings (3-6, tied for 10th), head coach Geno Auriemma said that this is not a team that can be easily overlooked.

"They have made things difficult for teams and I think it really translates on the defensive end," he said. "And where they've struggled at times has been on the offensive end. But in our league, you know, they scored 80 one game, they scored 30 the next game. So it's just a matter of style of play."

And style of play is exactly what he said he believes will make the difference, though Auriemma offered no predictions on the score of the game.

The Huskies will continue their season without one of their players, Jessica McCormack, who returned home to New Zealand for surgery.

McCormack, a transfer from the University of Washington who arrived prior to the start of the 2008-09 academic year, had lingering Achilles pain. The problems started in January 2008, according to a statement made by UConn team physician, Dr. Tom Trojian.

"She has had numerous non-operative treatments that are usually successful but continues to experience discomfort, which led to this decision," he said in the statement.

Auriemma said that he anticipates McCormack to have a role in the future with the Huskies.

As a result of her departure, however, McCormack will not be eligible to play until the second semester of the 2009-10 academic year in order to fulfill the one year of sitting out.

"Yeah, I guess that's the price that we're paying for all those years when nothing happened," Auriemma said.

Still, the Huskies are moving forward after another Big East win that came on Saturday against Marquette. Maya Moore scored 22 points, the 10th time this season that she has tallied at least 20 in a game, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Lorin Dixon added seven points and five rebounds after going through what looked like a slump similar to last season. Now, she is looking to what could be considered a homecoming for both her and teammate Tina Charles, as the two return to New York.

Continued...

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