Jefferson’s defensive excellence helps lift Huskies past No. 3 Notre Dame

Moriah Jefferson’s outstanding defensive play helped the Huskies beat No. 3 Notre Dame Saturday.

STORRS, Dec. 5 – The Connecticut women’s basketball team needs games like Saturday afternoon’s contest with No. 3 Notre Dame at Gampel Pavilion. They need opponents that aren’t intimated by the championship banners, Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma or senior superstar Brianna Stewart. The Irish come right the Huskies. On Saturday, Notre Dame freshman Marina Mabrey showed no fear. She went right at the Huskies, finishing the first half with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting.

That set the stage for senior Moriah Jefferson. “The soft-spoken, big smile wisp who will pick your pocket and make you feel good about it,” writes columnist Rick Wilson of Litchfield County Sports. “Sixty-seven inches, give or take an inch and 125 pounds of deceptive and deadly. There’s a touch of alley-cat here.”

Jefferson helped the No. 1 Huskies improve to 6-0 with a 91-81 victory. Read more about it in Rick’s column or view the highlights on You Tube.